Kingsmead Eyes at the V&A Museum of Childhood

Photographer Gideon Mendel with pupils from Kingsmead school Photograph: PR

Emete Armstrong's picture of her dolls Jessica, Joey and Sam. Emete, 11, is one of 13 children in her family and they have now moved off the Kingsmead estate to a bigger house in Stoke Newington, Hackney Photograph: Emete Armstrong

Jordan Lema, 10, lives in Dalston, Hackney, with his mum and dad, sister Milvie, 14, and brother Bradley, aged one (pictured on their sofa). They ­recently left their flat on the Kingsmead to move to a bigger house, and though Jordan was happy to get his own ­bedroom, he misses his estate friends Photograph: Jordan Lema

Jordan's mother Filomena on the phone. She rings her family twice a week. “She has been ­calling my dad in Congo. He went on holiday and is ­coming back next week. He went to help out with the money and to build a new house for us when we holiday there" Photograph: Jordan Lema

Paula Kastrati, 10, lives with her brother, Prince, 11, and their parents. Their mother, ­Mariana, who is Kosovan, is ­studying IT at college. Their father, Miguel, who is Albanian, is a security guard. This is Paula's self-portrait with her face covered with bubbles Photograph: Paula Kastrati

Sally's father Eugene in his dressing gown. Eugene holds down two jobs – one in a ­restaurant, another as a security guard. “He leaves at 6am and comes home at 11pm,” says Sally. “But I see him on Wednesdays, his day off. He picks us up from school" Photograph: Sally Hammond

Sally Hammond, 10, lives with her parents and her brother, Jesse, nine, in a fourth-floor flat on the Kingsmead estate. She has two older siblings in Ghana, where her parents come from. This is a self-portrait in her dressing gown Photograph: Sally Hammond

Cake with sugar sprinkles by Zainab Photograph: Zainab

Portrait by Shirleen Photograph: Shirleen

Goalposts by Tremaine Photograph: Tremaine

Close-up by Simon Photograph: Simon

Dominoes by Paula Kastrati, 10 Photograph: Paula

Stone sculpture by Ashley Photograph: Ashley

Fairground ride by Emete Armstrong, 11 Photograph: Emete

Fisheye by Kyle Photograph: Kyle

Portrait by Theo Photograph: Theo

Reflection by Sahib Photograph: Sahib

Teabags in mugs by Melanie Photograph: Melanie

Resting on a wall by Tafari Photograph: Tafari