The scheme will eventually be rolled out at all primary schools
The first Greater Manchester schools set to offer free breakfast clubs under a new government initiative have been revealed.
More than 750 primary schools are taking part in the scheme which promises to put up to £450 a year back in parents’ pockets. From as soon as April, these schools will offer free breakfast and childcare with parents able to drop their children off half an hour earlier.
It comes as the government starts to roll out the national scheme Labour has promised to introduce to all schools across the country.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, said: “Free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of our Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success for families all over the country.
“Breakfast clubs can have a transformative impact on the lives of children, feeding hungry tummies and fuelling hungry minds, so every child begins the day ready to learn.
“Alongside our plans to roll out school-based nurseries and get thousands more children school-ready, this government is delivering the reforms needed to give every child, wherever they grow up, the best start in life.”
The government says that universal free breakfast clubs for primary school aged children will remove barriers to opportunity by making sure every child starts the school day ready to learn – with research showing this can have a lasting impact on children’s behaviour, attendance and attainment.
By making sure no child starts school hungry, it is also hoped the scheme will help tackle child poverty.
Out of the 180,000 children in the ‘early adopter’ schools who will benefit, around 10,900 attend schools in deprived areas across the North West.
There are 105 ‘early adopter’ schools across the North West, of which 31 are located in Greater Manchester.
Among them is Kearsley West Primary. Headteacher Jackie Fitton said: “We are delighted to be one of the early adopter schools.
“For our school, the funding provided will be a real life saver, ensuring we can provide a healthy breakfast and supportive start to the day for our pupils.
“Breakfast clubs have already made a massive difference to pupils’ wellbeing, providing them with time to settle in, socialise with friends and get ready to learn.”
The 31 ‘early adopter’ schools in Greater Manchester are:
- Gilnow C.P. School, Bolton
- Devonshire Road C.P. School, Bolton
- Kearsley West Primary and Nursery School, Bolton
- Lever Edge Primary Academy, Bolton
- St Paul’s C.E. School, Bolton
- Forwards Centre, Bolton
- St John with St Mark CE Primary, Bury
- Emmanuel Holcombe C E Primary School, Bury
- Radcliffe Hall CE Methodist Primary School, Bury
- Pike Fold Primary, Manchester
- St. Agnes C.E. Primary, Manchester
- Crowcroft Park Primary School, Manchester
- Oasis Academy Harpur Mount, Manchester
- Manchester Communication Primary Academy, Manchester
- Whitegate End Primary, Oldham
- St Agnes CE, Oldham
- Greenfield St Mary’s CE, Oldham
- Richmond Academy, Oldham
- Greenhill Academy, Oldham
- Alt Academy, Oldham
- Westwood Academy, Oldham
- Northmoor Academy, Oldham
- Bamford Academy, Rochdale
- St Joseph The Worker R C, Salford
- New Park Academy, Salford
- Outwood Primary School, Stockport
- Greenfield Primary Academy, Tameside
- Hawthorns School, Tameside
- St Mary’s & St John’s Catholic Primary School, Wigan
- Bickershaw CE Primary School, Wigan
- St Stephen’s CE Primary School Astley, Wigan
The government says further details on the national roll out of the breakfast clubs programme will follow in due course.