PA
The cost of buying a school meal will rise up to 25 per cent when schools start again next week.
The average rise to the cost of a school meal is 2.5 per cent across the UK, but in some areas it will cost parents 17 or even 25 per cent more than meals in the last school year, according to Which?
The biggest rise to the cost of school dinners is in Bolton (25 per cent up from last year), with the most expensive school meal found in Poole, where an average school lunch costs £2.50.
It's also suggested parents will be packing up lunch boxes when the new school year starts to help keep costs down, with 55 per cent of children estimated to take their own lunch, up from 45 per cent in the last school year.
There are also concerns from the survey that improving the availability of healthy and nutritious school dinners might suffer during the impending new school year.
Do your children buy lunch or take their own?
Do you think the school meals where you are are overpriced or not up to scratch?
Whether you have a nursery, primary or secondary school aged child, don't miss our essential back to school guide, packed with tips,shopping guides and healthy lunch box suggestions.