Economic growth alone will not cut child poverty, warns the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s annual UK poverty report. It warns that even with strong growth, child poverty rates may remain unchanged or rise if higher-income households benefit more than lower-income ones.

The report calls for targeted policies, including scrapping the two-child limit and introducing a protected minimum level of Universal Credit support. Action for Children’s chief executive Paul Carberry also urges removing the two-child limit and benefit cap.

The warnings come as the deaths of at least 74 children over the last five years were linked to temporary housing – more than one death every month – according to latest official data collected by the NHS-funded Child Mortality Database.

The government plans to tackle housing issues with £1bn for councils. Andy Smith, president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said the report echoes findings on pressures facing children’s services. He stressed that early intervention and family support must be central to England’s new child poverty strategy.