The first schools to offer free breakfast clubs for children in London have been revealed.
There are 750 state primary schools across the country which are now part of a pilot offering free breakfast for children, as well as at least half an hour of childcare before lessons begin.
Of those involved in the pilot, 75 of them are located in the capital – and it’s hoped the free breakfast clubs will be rolled out to all primary schools across England in April.
It’s part of the government’s £7million ‘early adopters scheme’, and was announced at Labour’s party conference last September.
Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, says the free breakfast clubs will help to break the link ‘between background and success’.
But the headteachers’ union has raised concerns that the scheme’s funding won’t cover the full cost.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, told The Independent: ‘It will be crucial that these concerns are addressed before the programme is rolled out across the country to ensure that it does not place further pressure on already strained school budgets, and that children and families can fully reap the benefits.’
While some schools already run a breakfast club, this scheme will see them rolled out universally across England.
They will be encouraged to offer healthy, varied and nutritious meals, like fresh fruit, yoghurt and porridge.
This pilot will see 180,000 children benefit from a school breakfast club – and of those, 67,000 attend schools in deprived areas.
It’s hoped the scheme will help to alleviate the impact of child poverty, providing a free breakfast which could reduce the cost of the weekly shop, and allowing parents to drop their children at school half an hour earlier which could make it easier for them to get to work.
Ms Phillipson added: ‘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.’
Full list of London schools offering free breakfast clubs for all children
- John Perry Primary School, Barking and Dagenham
- William Ford CofE Junior School, Barking and Dagenham
- Robert Clack School, Barking and Dagenham
- Monteagle Primary School, Barking and Dagenham
- Richard Alibon Primary School with ARP for Cognitive and Learning Difficulties: SEN Base, Barking and Dagenham
- Claremont Primary School, Barnet
- Ashmole Primary School, Barnet
- Tudor Primary School, Barnet
- Willow Bank Primary School, Bexley
- Jubilee Primary School, Bexley
- Warren Road Primary School, Bromley
- Hayes Primary School, Bromley
- Chestnut Park Primary School, Croydon
- Oasis Academy Ryelands, Croydon
- Elmwood Junior School, Croydon
- Downe Manor Primary School, Ealing
- Blair Peach Primary School, Ealing
- Wolf Fields Primary School, Ealing
- Carterhatch Infant School, Enfield
- St Matthew’s CofE Primary School, Enfield
- Fossdene Primary School, Greenwich
- Saint Mary Magdalene Church of England All Through School, Greenwich
- St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Greenwich
- Thomas Fairchild Community School, Hackney
- Grasmere Primary School, Hackney
- Nightingale Primary School, Hackney
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Haringey
- St Mary’s Priory RC Infant School, Haringey
- Earlham Primary School, Haringey
- The Welldon Park Academy, Harrow
- Weald Rise Primary School, Harrow
- Glebe Primary School, Harrow
- Drapers’ Pyrgo Priory School, Havering
- St Matthew’s CofE Primary School, Hillingdon
- Pield Heath House RC School, Hillingdon
- Cavendish Primary School, Hounslow
- The Rosary Catholic Primary School, Hounslow
- Whitehall Park School, Islington
- Laycock Primary School, Islington
- Vittoria Primary School, Islington
- Ashburnham Community School, Kensington and Chelsea
- Fox Primary School, Kensington and Chelsea
- St Luke’s Church of England Primary School, Lambeth
- Van Gogh Primary, Lambeth
- St Helen’s Catholic Primary School, Lambeth
- Henry Fawcett Primary School, Lambeth
- Deptford Park Primary School, Lewisham
- Downderry Primary School, Lewisham
- Edmund Waller Primary School, Lewisham
- Elfrida Primary School, Lewisham
- Lucas Vale Primary School, Lewisham
- Rushey Green Primary School, Lewisham
- John Ball Primary School, Lewisham
- Brent Knoll School, Lewisham
- St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Merton
- Bobby Moore Academy, Newham
- Brampton Primary School, Newham
- Coppice Primary School, Redbridge
- Nelson Primary School, Richmond upon Thames
- The Belham Primary School, Southwark
- Crawford Primary School, Southwark
- Cheam Park Farm Primary Academy, Sutton
- Cheam Common Junior Academy, Sutton
- Cheam Fields Primary Academy, Sutton
- Brookfield Primary Academy, Sutton
- Cheam Common Infants’ Academy, Sutton
- Chisenhale Primary School, Tower Hamlets
- St Luke’s Church of England Primary School, Tower Hamlets
- Salisbury Manor Primary School, Waltham Forest
- Edinburgh Primary School, Waltham Forest
- Ainslie Wood Primary School, Waltham Forest
- Lime Academy Hornbeam, Waltham Forest
- The Alton School, Wandsworth
- Anglo Portuguese School of London, Wandsworth
- Millbank Gardens Primary Academy, Westminster
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