Across England, families are struggling with the cost of food, with some children arriving at school hungry. Entrenched poverty, low and insecure incomes, gaps in the welfare system and the cost-of-living crisis have made it even harder in recent years for families to get the food they need. As a result, food banks, pantries and other forms of food provision have become a growing feature of school life, with teachers and support staff taking on responsibilities that extend well beyond education.

Drawing on a wide range of data, theory and evidence, this book examines the rise of food aid in schools. It explores how and why these forms of provision have developed, what they reveal about the collateral damage of poverty and inequality and what they mean for the changing role of schools.