The provision of a free breakfast in school can help raise standards, two Newcastle city councillors claimed this week. The Kenton councillors want to see more primary and secondary schools providing a breakfast as a way of raising standards in the city.
Councillor Stephen Lambert said: ”There’s a lot of evidence to suggest that youngsters who avoid school are drawn in by the offer of a breakfast with their mates. A decent breakfast helps concentration levels. To date both Kenton Bar and Mountfield Primary schools in Kenton provide this facility. With Government backing there’s potential to develop this service throughout more schools in the city.”
”Breakfast can be the meal that suffers in a busy working household where both parents work. Some work shifts, so it makes good sense for schools to offer a breakfast or even a breakfast club allowing kids to do homework, access computers whilst enjoying nutritious meal,” he added.
”The provision of a breakfast in school helps hundreds of children from low income families – some of whom underperform at school,” Coun Lambert said.
Analysis from Coun Ged Bell shows that an estimated 186,526 free breakfasts have been seen served to Newcastle children though the UK government’s free breakfast club programme. Parents can save up to £450 a year from the roll out of more free breakfast clubs in disadvantaged areas.
Councillor Ged Bell said: ”The government is supporting Newcastle families when they need it most. Every primary school in the city will be offered a place at a breakfast club, meaning no pupil will start school day hungry while parents save time and money and gain the flexibility that can make all the difference in the mornings.”
”The government is supporting Newcastle children at school and in the holidays through the Great Summer Saving scheme, cutting the cost of summer. This won’t end the cost of living crisis on its own – but it is real help now from families in the city,” he added.
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