If I told you the financial choices you make today are largely influenced by the attitudes you formed when you were 7 years old, would you believe me?

Research shows that our money habits, including how we think, feel and act with money, begin in early childhood. Despite this, most children don’t access financial education until their teenage years - when habits are already set. Their teachers are often left without the tools or training to teach financial education with confidence. And their families find it too difficult or stressful to talk about money at home.

Lack of financial education creates a nation where financial literacy is low. This means more people struggling to navigate the financial landscape and can lead to limited savings, more debt and slower economic growth.

At JFF, we are working collaboratively to change this. Alongside other charities, we are filling gaps and providing free support for schools, so no child misses out on financial education during their formative years. At the same time, teachers are working hard to make lessons fit into a crowded curriculum. And the financial services industry offers funding to reach children who might otherwise be excluded.

But as long as life skills are deprioritised within the primary curriculum and provision remains dependent on short-term funding, millions of children will leave education unprepared to make informed financial decisions.

Money affects us all, no matter who we are, where we work or how much of it we have. Learning to manage money is as fundamental to a child’s development and future wellbeing as learning to read or write. Collaboration is key and government needs to make this a priority.

What can government do?

We warmly welcome the recent news, as set out in the government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review final report, to make financial education a compulsory part of the primary curriculum in England through Citizenship from 2028. This is a really positive first step towards making sure these essential life skills are prioritised on the national curriculum. But, success depends on how it is implemented in classrooms. We need to ensure teachers receive the practical tools, guidance and confidence to teach financial education in ways that work for their students. That requires funding for free resources, training and tailored support to ensure that every school can implement financial literacy successfully. Government has a crucial role to play and we need action now:

• Support teachers to implement the new financial literacy curriculum through free educational materials and assessment frameworks to ensure equitable delivery.
• Commit funding through initiatives like the Dormant Assets Scheme to support quality education resources and providers to ensure financial education reaches every child at no extra cost to schools.
• Invest in teacher training so every educator feels confident embedding money lessons.
• Increase funding for tailored resources for children with additional needs, so all children can fully participate in financial education.
• Provide accessible guidance to support families to talk about money at home.

This is a moment to celebrate but also a moment to make sure we get financial education right for every child. We already have the expertise and organisations required to make meaningful change. With government support, we can increase collaboration, scale efforts, and ensure financial education is supported over the long-term.

When schools, families, charities and the finance sector all work together, every child has the chance to grow up confident with money, able to make informed choices, and ready to thrive as an adult.

Next steps:  Get involved at www.justfinancefoundation.org.uk/charity-corporate-partnerships