Teachers have been told not to ask a classroom of children what they did at the weekend an attempt to “poverty proof” schools.

Staff should not initiate group discussions about what activities pupils did during school holidays as this can lead to less well-off children feeling awkward and uncomfortable, according to the charity Children North East.

Luke Bramhall, who leads the organisation’s Poverty Proofing the School Day project, said that teachers must be sensitive in their choice of conversation topics to ensure pupils do not feel excluded.

“Students have told us at some schools, they have discussions after the holidays or after Christmas as a whole class. Students are asked to tell everyone what they got for Christmas,” he said.

“Students lie about what they got for Christmas because they want to fit in or they didn’t get as much as others."

Mr Bramhall added: “On a Monday morning, sometimes if there is ‘a pass the teddy bear round [and talk] about where you went and what you did on the weekend’, students have reported that it is difficult, awkward and uncomfortable.”

While these are “important discussions”, it is important that teacher create the right “narrative” so that children from deprived households to do feel left out, he said.