Almost two thirds of London teachers fear children in their classes will experience hunger during the summer holidays because their parents or carers cannot afford to feed them, a survey found.
The survey commissioned by food rescue charity The Felix Project estimated that up to 98,000 school children in London could experience holiday hunger.
Some 64 percent of teachers said they are concerned at least one student in their class to go hungry during the UK’s summer holidays.
Of the 64 percent, 45 percent were concerned that one student in their class would go hungry, whilst 14 percent were worried about between four and six pupils in their class being impacted.
More worryingly, three percent said that they were concerned for up to 10 children in their class, with two percent expressing concern for more than 11 students.
Nationally, the percentage of teachers who believe at least one child in their class will face hunger is marginally higher at 67 percent.
The report adds that in the most deprived areas where more children are eligible for free meals, almost one in four (24 percent) teachers say up to six children will go hungry.
This figure is reduced to just four percent in more affluent areas.
The Felix Project says it delivers food that would otherwise go to waste to 170 schools a week. This year, 28 schools are set to remain open in London to receive large food deliveries. More food will also become available at new and existing sites to bolster demand during the school holidays.
Among the open schools is William Ford Junior School in Dagenham where pupils past and present will have access to weekly food distribution.
David Huntingford, headteacher at the school, said: “These results are shocking but not surprising, I believe we will have some classes where between 6-10 children are at risk of going hungry this summer. During term time we offer a food bank that supports around 68 families, and it is vital for so many of them.
“When this service is closed, we know many parents worry about how they will afford to put food on the table, so having it open over the summer will be huge relief for many.”
CEO of The Felix Project, Charlotte Hill OBE added: “For so many the holidays are a real struggle. With schools closed and free school meals unavailable, it is the parents and carers who must cover the cost of that meal.
“But for so many, on already tight food budgets, the extra burden is just unmanageable. All this means kids will go hungry. It is a sad reality, and The Felix Project is doing what it can to support people in need.
“During the summer months there is often more surplus food available, but with more food comes more logistics and more costs and that is why we are launching an urgent summer appeal. Please help us be there to rescue more food and feed more children over the holidays.”
In an identical survey last year, also carried out by The Felix Project via Teacher Tapp, 68 percent of 1,118 teachers in the capital said they were concerned at least one child in their class would experience hunger during the summer holidays as their parents could not afford to feed them.
The Felix Project has previously collaborated with City Hall and the Mayor of London to deliver 3.6 million meals to children in London in 2023. The trust rescues high quality food that cannot be sold and would otherwise go to waste, ensuring it finds a home among those who need it the most.
The government has announced plans to expand free school meals to all children whose households are on universal credit in a bid to save families money. The government has also said it will continue to fund free holiday clubs through the Holiday Activities and Food programme which provides six weeks of activities and meals for any child from a low income family who needs it.
The survey commissioned by food rescue charity The Felix Project and carried out by Teacher Tapp gathered responses from 1,021 teachers.
