Schools are acting as a "fourth emergency service" feeding families due to the cost of living crisis, a report claims.
A headteacher made the claim in a study, led by the University of Bristol, which researched food charity in schools.
It cited a pupil's letter to school which said: "We haven't got any food for tonight, Please can you help?".
The paper said schools were now a "safety net".
According to the study, led by Dr William Baker, schools have also stepped in to provide clothes, shoes and cleaning products.
Dr Baker said: "It's striking and concerning how normalised and embedded the food aid had become within schools in England."
He added: "The cost of living crisis has been incredibly challenging for families across Bristol and parents are now regularly reaching out to schools to ask for help with food."
