There are now more than 4,000 food banks running in schools in England, which equates to one in every five primary and secondary schools in the country, according to new research.
The study, led by the University of Bristol, found that more food banks are now based in schools than outside them, and that they are more prevalent in schools in deprived areas.
Schools are playing a crucial role against a background of child food insecurity among low-income families, argues the paper, which calls for the need for policy makers to be aware of the issue and for an overhaul of the social security system to deal with it.
Over the past 15 years, the number of food banks in the UK has risen dramatically, and the report says how they have become a safety net amidst an ongoing period of austerity and welfare state decline.
