Families living on income support are struggling to feed their children nutritious meals in the school holidays.

A new report produced by a children’s charity has highlighted the extent of the problem and the impact it is having on childrens' health. The survey identified that the key factor causing food poverty in the school holidays is the lack of free school meals, the value of which can amount to £25 a week for a family with three children.

The report Food Poverty in the School Holidays is published by Barnardo’s today and estimates the cost of the extra meals needed in holiday times is putting an unbearable financial burden on stressed families living on income support and job seekers allowance. The financial difficulties are most acute during the six-week summer break, but it also applies to the Christmas, Easter and half term breaks.

Schools are out for 13 weeks in total – a quarter of the year and families have to pick up the tab for the extra food, without any increase in their income.

Barnardo’s Principal Policy Officer Neera Sharma said: “Poverty really hits children in the school holidays because there are more demands on their parents and less money to meet these demands.”

“There is increasing evidence, which has been borne out by our projects that families who live on benefits cannot afford to feed their children a healthy diet.”

“While that situation is allowed to continue, children of parents on low incomes are going to be more likely to suffer ill health both now and in later life. People of all ages in poorer households have lower nutrient intakes than people in richer households.”

Barnardo’s is calling on the government to look at the problem and increase financial support to families during school holidays to compensate for the lack of free school meals.