Amanda Hack encourages schools to sign up for a free breakfast club.

Amanda Hack encourages schools to sign up for a free breakfast club.

Applications opened last week for local schools to join the ‘early adopter’ rollout for free breakfast clubs.

Last week, the Labour Government continued its commitment to breaking down barriers for young people. Local schools in North West Leicestershire can now apply to join the ‘early adopter’ rollout of free breakfast clubs, which will provide children with a hot breakfast meal, and families with 30 minutes of quality childcare ahead of the start of the school day.

Previously, only one in seven primary schools in England had breakfast clubs, and more than two in five non-working mothers said that they would prefer to work if they could arrange convenient, reliable and affordable childcare. Over half of parents say they have problems finding formal childcare that is flexible enough to fit their needs.

Amanda Hack Said:

“Every child deserves the best start to their day, and every family deserves the support to balance work and home life. These new breakfast clubs will ensure that children are ready to learn, while giving parents the flexibility they need. This is a real step forward in breaking down the barriers to opportunity.

I have written to all of our primary schools in North West Leicestershire to encourage them to be part of the 750 ‘early adopters’ who will help to shape the programme, which is due to commence in April.

Evidence shows that providing a healthy breakfast at the start of the school day can contribute to increased concentration and improved well-being and behaviour. Together, these breakfast clubs will boost parents’ work choices and children’s life chances.”

The Government is also developing an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty and give children the best start in life, which will be published in the spring. The Taskforce led by the Work and Pensions Secretary, and Education Secretary are looking at all available levers across government to drive forward short-term and long-term actions to reduce child poverty.