Poorer children often get most nutrition from school meals

A report by the children's charity Barnardo's says many parents cannot afford the cost of providing the extra meals.

The added strain on budgets can lead to "unacceptable levels of poverty and social exclusion", the report says.

Children are also often fed cheaper and less nutritious meals than at school, it adds.

I've gone without food before because there isn't any money left. Rachel, single mother

One of the report's authors, Neera Sharma, said their research proved holidays were an added burden for families dependent on income support.

"Poverty really hits children in the school holidays because there are more demands on their parents and less money to meet these demands.

"It is ironic that the increased financial pressure on parents to pay for meals in the school holidays coincides with a time when they need extra income to pay for holiday activities," she said.

Government figures show that in 2002/3 more than 3.5 million children in the UK were living below the poverty line - measured as households with an income of less than two thirds of the national average after housing costs.

That is down from a peak of more than 4 million in 1997/98.

But Barnardo's says the lack of government provision to ensure poorer children get nutritious food during school holidays flies in the face of programmes to improve their health, such as free milk tokens.

'Save up'

Barnardo's survey focused on families who are living on benefits and whose children would normally receive free school meals.

Rachel, a single mother from Bath bringing up two children on income support, told researchers she struggled to make ends meet during school holidays.

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She said her weekly food bill almost doubled because of the extra cost of feeding her school-age daughter.

"She has five main meals a week at school and in the holidays I somehow have to find the extra money to give her them."

"I've gone without food before because there isn't any money left. I go without or eat their leftovers," she said.

The quality of food eaten by the whole family worsened during the holidays, she added.

"I can't afford to buy posh, expensive food. Most of the time I have to buy the unhealthier food like waffles and burgers because it's cheaper. "

Julie Neate, a single parent with four children - three of whom get free school meals - told researchers she too had less money in school holidays.

"I have to find an extra 15 meals a week. They never stop eating. I have to save up during the term for the school holidays," she said.

As well as compensating parents for the loss of school meals, Barnardo's wants the government to introduce a grant to help parents pay for school holiday activities and introduce a minimum income standard for parents.

Barnardo's call has been supported by another leading children's charity, the Child Poverty Action Group.