In data collected between 21-26 May, 370,000 (23%) children who would normally have received free school meals still had not been offered any substitute such as vouchers, food parcels or payment substitute since schools closed.
The figures showed that of those eligible, 930,000 children (58%) have been offered a free school meal substitute at home, and 250,000 (16%) of children were reported to be attending school and receiving free school meals there.
Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said: “The Government needs to commit now to providing free school meal provisions to those children eligible for free school meals during the school holidays and not wait until the last minute, which leads to confusion and a higher likelihood of families in hardship missing out on the provisions they desperately need.
“The Government should confirm they will continue to provide free school meals to vulnerable migrant children (children with no recourse to public funds), as currently this is only a temporary measure.”