The first schools to offer free breakfast clubs for pupils as part of the Government’s flagship scheme have been named ahead of a trial of the programme and a handful in East Lancashire are among those offering the clubs.
Audley Infant School in Blackburn, Pendle Primary Academy and Sharneyford Primary School in Bacup are among the schools chosen for the trial. They are expected to offer a free breakfast to all pupils and at least 30 minutes of childcare before school.
Some 750 state schools with primary-aged children from every region of England have been selected to join the pilot which is expected to run from April before a national rollout.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the clubs would help to break the link “between background and success” for families “all over the country”.
The headteachers’ union welcomed the expansion of breakfast clubs, which some schools already run, but expressed concerns that funding would fall short of the cost.
“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,” said Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT.
Lancashire schools offering free breakfast clubs
These are the schools that will offer free breakfast clubs in Lancashire:
- Audley Infant School
- Pendle Primary Academy
- Sharneyford Primary School in Bacup
- Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School
- Balderstone St Leonard’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
- Burscough Village Primary School
- St Mary’s CofE Primary School Rawtenstall
- Maharishi Free School in Lathom
- Morecambe and Heysham Torrisholme Community Primary School
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- Clayton-le-Woods Church of England Primary School
- Coppull St John’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
- Medlar-with-Wesham Church of England Primary School
- Broughton-in-Amounderness Church of England Primary School
- St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School Euxton
The £7 million “early adopters” scheme will test the delivery of the programme ahead of a wider national rollout in England and it was announced at Labour’s party conference last September.
It is expected to run until July before being expanded as soon as possible.
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