Rising food costs during the school holidays are placing a significant financial strain on parents, with new research suggesting the six-week summer break can add more than £2,500 to household food bills. The findings highlight the wider cost-of-living pressures facing families once children are at home for meals and snacks that would otherwise be provided, at least in part, by schools during term time.

The estimate reflects the cumulative cost of extra breakfasts, lunches and snacks for children who would normally receive free or subsidised meals, or packed lunches, while at school. Campaigners and researchers have repeatedly warned that the summer holidays place disproportionate pressure on lower-income households, some of whom rely on holiday clubs, food banks or council-funded programmes to bridge the gap in free school meal provision.