Schools are stepping up to the plate to feed hungry kids this half-term as they roll-out a new "pop up" food bank.

Three different primary schools in Dartford have pledged to support children eligible for free schools meals and those families close to the breadline throughout the holidays and beyond.

Together Oakfield, West Hill and Temple Hill form the multi-academy Galaxy Trust, where more than 600 of its 2,100 pupils aged between 3 and 11 receive free school meals.

At Temple Hill Academy the proportion of disadvantaged students eligible for the government's "pupil premium" funding is above the national average.

Garry Ratcliffe, chief executive of the Galaxy Trust, said: "No children should be hungry, I really believe as school leaders it is our job to support families.

"Schools should be at the heart of their communities and I think our food bank does that."

He added: "We recognise that things are really tough for many families at the moment – especially those families already in receipt of free school meals.

"But we also recognise that some families will have lost income due to being furloughed, losing their jobs, having their normal hours cut."

The schools chief said it would be extending its programme to all families with a child attending its academies – not just those eligible for free school meals – to reflect the harsh economic realities of Covid-19.

Families who find themselves struggling can come to the "pop up" food bank at Temple Hill Academy and grab a bag of food worth £7 for just £1 on Friday between 9am and midday. It will be open again next week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between the same times.

Garry explained some parents who were financially stable before the pandemic had confessed they were struggling and so the school would therefore be charging a nominal fee to eradicate any stigma so they didn't feel "embarrassed" about asking for help.

The pop up food bank forms part of the Trust's wider series of "pledges" to tackle holiday hunger and promote pupil welfare.

This includes respecting confidentiality by not sharing a child's free school meals status and using the "pupil premium" designation as a reason to widen a child's opportunities rather than restrict them, he said.

According to Garry, disadvantaged pupils, in particular, do not make the same progress nationally in reading, writing and mathematics as other pupils with similar starting points.

As part of their extended meal ticket offer, the school has pledged to "prioritise intervention and catch-up for pupils eligible for free school meals", as well as seeking to educate children about the value of a well-balanced, nutritious lunch.

"There is a decisive link with hunger and learning," said Garry, adding "children who receive free school meals do not perform as well as their peers would who do not.

"The gap is big enough already and we don't want that gap to get bigger."

The move comes amid controversy over the government's decision not to further extend a campaign – led by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford – to fund £15-a-week free school meals provision during the half-term and Christmas breaks

It has provoked widespread community action which has seen a flurry of local businesses and people offer to help families on the breadline feeling the pinch.

Support from local Dartford councillors as well as from ASDA Greenhithe means the Trust is already planning to keep its food bank up and running beyond the school break.

Tory-led Dartford council has also reaffirmed its existing commitment to support families through the Covid-19 period, handing out £7,000 to each of the town's three food banks.

Grateful recipients include The Mary's Child charity in Greenhithe, which takes turns with the Swanscombe Larder and Dartford Food Bank to collect donated food and toiletries from shoppers at ASDA Greenhithe.

Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite said: "All councils have received significant funding to tackle food emergencies but I appreciate that some authorities worried by gaps in their budgets may be using this money in different ways.

"Here in Dartford we took a decision very early on to focus on the most vulnerable families and we’ve done it through a combination of supporting households directly and by putting significant sums into local food banks to ensure we are helping on the ground."

The Tory hit out at what he perceived to be attempts to "weaponise" the issue for political gain and called for politicians to "stop arguing and pull together".

"The truth is we have been focussing on supporting vulnerable families day-in, day-out throughout this crisis and our support has never stopped," he said.

"It is still open and functioning today and it is sickening to watch politicians fighting with each other over an issue of this importance.

"If anybody thinks that political point-scoring is going to help our country – or our town – right now then I think they are seriously misreading the mood of the public."

Cllr Kite added: "It’s clear that there needs to be a national conversation about the best way to help families.

"Some argue it is best to raise the amount of money flowing into low-income families so they can support themselves whilst others seem to wish to continue with a system of multiple individual benefits and vouchers.

"Sadly, instead of searching for a consensus too many seem interested only in mud-slinging and opportunism.

"It’s clear that there needs to be a national conversation about the best way to help families."

"Whilst they fight and insult each other, charities, community groups and councils like us are quietly getting on with delivering services to families who need them. "

The council has provided vouchers for free boxes to schools and will offer them directly to those in particular need.

Cllr Kite called for any families struggling to cope to pick up the phone and call them on 01322 343434 .

Dartford Labour group leader Sacha Gosine also praised the "overwhelming community response", adding he had been inundated with messages from both those wanting to help, as well as those struggling.

The latest statistics published by the End Child Poverty coalition group show that a quarter of the children living in the borough – roughly 7,000 – were reportedly growing up in poverty.

Cllr Gosine said the Labour group looked forward to working with Dartford council on its working group plans for the Christmas break to find ways to close the gap.

He added many Dartford residents had been "living hand to mouth" even before the pandemic and that its onset had worsened the problem.

"It is likely the financial pressures resulting from the pandemic has placed more Dartford families closer to, or below the poverty line," he said.

"I was on a zero hours contract at the time and couldn't work. Lots of people were in the same situation.

"Parents are worried about the situation – people who say they never knew they would be in this situation."

Kent County Council has announced vouchers for food will be available during half-term for families whose children are eligible for free school meals.

A dedicated helpline has been set up and is now open so that Kent’s low-income families are able to access the help they need during the holidays.

Families who apply will receive one voucher of £15 per child. Anyone eligible can now visit www.kent.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals or call the dedicated helpline on 03000 41 24 24. The deadline to apply is Monday November 2 by 5pm.

Meanwhile, the KentTogether helpline remains open for any other Kent resident who needs support with food, collection of medication and prescriptions and other urgent needs during the pandemic.

You can get help by visiting www.kent.gov.uk/kenttogether or calling 03000 41 92 92.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford