Over 50 North-East schools granted free breakfast clubs

For years, we have all heard that ‘no child should go to school hungry’, and a new government initiative is delivering on the promise to help families across the North East. 56 schools have been confirmed as offering free, daily breakfast clubs which will start in April. It’s estimated that families could save around £450 a year thanks to this new scheme. It will also support working parents by allowing them to drop their children off at school half an hour earlier, helping them to reach their place of work on time too. 

Schools that participate in this ate being encourages to offer a healthy, varied and nutritious meal for children to start their day with. They’ll also be able to take part in a variety of activities such as arts and crafts, reading and puzzles. Breakfast clubs give students more time to settle back into the academic setting as well as being able to catch up with friends.

This new scheme is a fundamental part of the government’s attempt to eradicate child poverty. Around 180,000 children will benefit from the early access schools have nationwide, with an estimation of 4,700 of those children coming from deprived areas in the North-East. For those involved, they will now receive funding to cover food and staffing, allowing schools that previously didn’t have a breakfast club, to be able to start one. 

"Free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of our Plan for Change"

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson, who is also an MP in the North-East, stated that “free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of our Plan for Change”. The clubs can have a “transformative impact” on the lives of the youth, allowing them to start the day well fuelled and “ready to learn”. She went on to say that the “government is delivering the reforms needed to give every child, wherever they grow up, the best start in life."