Breakfast club benefits are huge, says headteacher

The benefits of free breakfast clubs will be "huge" for children who take part, a headteacher has said.

The government announced 750 schools would provide the daily clubs from the start of the summer term in April as part of a pilot scheme ahead of an England-wide rollout.

Those chosen for the trial are expected to offer a free breakfast to all pupils and at least 30 minutes of childcare before school.

Co-op Academy Grove in Stoke-on-Trent was named as one of the schools and headteacher Shirley Carrigan said about 130 of its pupils could be involved.

She described it as a "big undertaking" and said getting it organised in seven weeks was "a little bit challenging" but the school would make sure it had the staff in place.

"We're just really keen to get as many children in as we can because the benefits will be huge," she told BBC Radio Stoke.

Ms Carrigan said there was also some scope for organising outdoor sporting sessions as part of the breakfast clubs.

She said it would be a good chance for the youngsters to socialise, while providing a "lovely, soft start" to the day.

"It's going to be a win-win for us with as many children as possible because they're going to have the chance to be outside as well as getting fed," she said.

"We know a number of our children don't always have a nutritious breakfast, they can't always afford to have that."

Labour campaigned on a promise to provide free breakfast clubs in every primary school in England, earmarking £30m of funding for the scheme.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told the House of Commons she was "confident" the funding would be adequate despite concerns from shadow minister Neil O'Brien, who said there was a "difference in the planned spend and the much larger benefits ministers are claiming".

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) welcomed the news but also voiced concerns that funding could fall short.

Ms Phillipson did not confirm when the national rollout of the scheme would take place but said it would be "as soon as possible".

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