Content warning: this article discusses food poverty, which might be upsetting for some readers.

Children across the UK have gone back to school this month and for many this return marks the first time they have been at school without any COVID-19 restrictions in place since March 2020, over a year and a half ago.

Even though schools faced closures throughout the last year, during the past several months schools were open with strict COVID-19 guidelines in place. Classes were split into ‘bubbles,’ masks were worn, and one way systems put in place. 

So while some may argue that a summer holiday was not necessary this year, school children probably needed a break after the extremely stressful and constantly changing year they have had. 

There is something to be said for the importance of maintaining structure. In a time where everything is so uncertain, keeping to the regular rhythms of the school year in spite of the lockdown provides the routine that so many children and parents rely on. Going ‘back to normal’ includes the normal term timings of the school year and the summer holiday has felt as though it provided a fresh start for schools and schoolchildren now that restrictions have been lifted.

In a time where everything is so uncertain, keeping to the regular rhythms of the school year in spite of the lockdown provides the routine that so many children and parents rely on

However, it cannot go amiss that for some families, a long summer holiday does not signify a break but rather a long stretch of time in which they have to worry about how to feed and occupy their children. This has only been exacerbated by the pandemic and school closures throughout the past year and a half.

In March last year Marcus Rashford penned an open letter to MPs, in which he shared the humbling statistic that Wembley stadium could be filled more than twice with children ‘who have had to skip meals during lockdown due to their families not being able to access food.’ 

Children all over the country rely on free school lunches to be their one hot meal a day. When this is taken away due to a pandemic it leads to thousands of children across the UK not being able to eat, an immense ‘system failure,’ as Rashford explained. 

Schools can be a lifeline for low income families. Not only is it a place for children to receive food but can also be a safe haven for students, giving them opportunities to get involved with sports and clubs that they would not otherwise have access to. I imagine many working parents are grateful that schools are back and they no longer have to worry about childcare. For those who cannot afford childcare, their children will be able to spend the day at school, rather than home alone. 

Schools can be a lifeline for low income families. Not only is it a place for children to receive food but can also be a safe haven for students, giving them opportunities to get involved with sports and clubs that they would not otherwise have access to

Let’s also not forget that students have had to deal with homeschooling for the past year and a half. Not only is this made harder for parents who work long hours, but many low-income students will not have had access to the technology needed to fully participate with at-home learning. For school children sharing a small space with other siblings, or for children who have to take care of their brothers, sisters, or parents, this is only made a bigger challenge. This has been reflected in exam results. In August this year, for independent school pupils in England, 70% of A-level results were A* or A, compared with 39% for comprehensive pupils. This only emphasises my point that the pandemic has had a huge effect on the grade gap.

As someone who has been fortunate enough to never be in a situation where I was worried about putting food on the table, I have spent my entire life being quick to complain that summer holidays were not long enough. I am sure that there are plenty of children around the country who would vehemently shake their heads if you asked them if they wanted summer to be cut short. 

But there are also thousands of children who are desperate for the safety net of school lunches. There are thousands of parents counting down the days until they no longer have to worry about childcare or keeping their children safe while they are at work. I think it is clear that these problems outweigh those of privileged children wanting more time off to spend in their villa in Spain. Unemployment due to the pandemic, increased electricity bills, and increased food bills are all things which many families have had to deal with over the past year. 

However, is shortening summer holidays the answer? Can we rely solely on schools to deal with the issues of child hunger and poverty? More importantly, should we? The fact is, schools cannot be open 12 months in the year and children should not be going to bed hungry during the winter, spring, and summer holidays when schools are closed. The government should be doing more to fill in the gaps.

The government should be doing more to fill in the gaps

Schools opening again provides families all over the UK with an immense sense of relief. And while some people may see this as a positive, for me it highlights the pitfalls of our government and the extent of the food poverty problems in our country. Free school lunches should not be a child’s only guaranteed meal a day, and while going back to school is most likely something plenty of children are looking forward to after being away from their friends for so long, it should not be a lifeline for as many children across the UK as it is.

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