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Survey reveals some British pupils have been eating rubbers for not affording lunch

A new survey on food poverty in British schools due to be published next month by Chefs in Schools has brought into the open that many schools in England are already seeing a "heartbreaking" increase in hungry children, even before winter and big energy bills force more families to choose between switching on the heating and buying food. Some British pupils are so hungry that they are eating rubbers or hiding in the playground by pretending to have their meals because they cannot afford lunch.

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"It's absolutely heartbreaking for our chefs. They are actively going out and finding the kids who are hiding in the playground because they don't think they can get a meal, and feeding them," she said. Duncan said the survey reveals that teachers are buying toasters so that they can dish out breakfast to children who are too hungry to concentrate. One school in Streatham, south London, had a hardship fund that used to support 50 children but is now supporting 100.