Labour promises funded breakfast clubs for all primary school children

Labour has announced plans to offer all primary school children access to a fully funded breakfast club, if it was elected.

The breakfast clubs would be funded by the revenues raised by restoring the top rate of income tax to 45p.

In an interview with the Guardian, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said that there was a new understanding of how lack of investment in childcare was holding back economic growth, and how improved childcare would benefit wellbeing.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: “Many schools already run breakfast clubs for their pupils and often look to target that support for the pupils that need it most. Hunger is a real concern for school staff who regularly see children arriving in the morning without having eaten, and therefore not ready to learn. These concerns have only been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, which is pushing more families into poverty. We know that some children rely on school for their only certain meal of the day.

"A commitment to properly fund breakfast club provision and to expand it would be welcome. A positive start to the day and a nutritious breakfast before school for those who need it could make a real difference. If properly funded and resourced this entitlement is something school leaders would support.”