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Local schools urged to be early adopters of breakfast club programme
28/11/2024
30 minutes of quality childcare will be offered to parents ahead of the start of the school day
Local schools are being urged to be one of the 750 early adopters of a new government free breakfast club programme.
Banbury’s MP Sean Woodcock says breakfast clubs will make a huge difference for families in Banbury, supporting local children to start the school day ready to learn.
The scheme will see 30 minutes of quality childcare offered to parents ahead of the start of the school day. Schools can now apply to be at the front of the roll out, with clubs launching from next April. Those that sign-up as early adopters will have the unique opportunity to shape the future of the national breakfast club policy.
Mr Woodcock said: “Free breakfast clubs are great for parents, great for kids, and great for our economy too.
“Labour’s breakfast clubs will make a huge difference for families in Banbury – they make it easier for busy mums and dads to make the time for work and dropping off the kids, they ensure children don’t start school hungry, and they help families with the cost of living too.
“Labour was elected to change Britain and this is exactly what that means. This is a huge opportunity for local schools to get in early and start reaping the benefits of free breakfast clubs from April next year.
“I strongly encourage local schools to apply.”
Its hoped Breakfast Clubs in every primary school will make a huge difference to children, families, and schools – removing barriers to opportunity by helping children learn, making sure no child starts school hungry, and helping families with the cost of childcare around the school day, to help keep money in people’s pockets.
More than 2 in 5 non-working mothers say that they would prefer to work if they could arrange good quality, convenient, reliable and affordable childcare, and over half of parents say they have problems finding formal childcare for their child that is flexible enough to fit their needs.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “This is a landmark opportunity for schools to be in the vanguard of change, as we build back the foundations of an education system that breaks the link between children’s background, and the opportunities they have in life.
“From helping with flexible working for families, to improving behaviour and attendance, the supportive start to the day that breakfast clubs provide will help drive high and rising standards for every child. This government is delivering change that will make a real difference to families up and down the country.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam