'School breakfast club has best toast in the world'

A primary school says attendance has improved and pupils are "more settled" since a free breakfast club was set up.

Lawley Primary School, in Telford, was one of 750 schools to join the government-funded scheme in April last year. Since then, about 120 children have attended the 30-minute daily session.

Head teacher Carol McQuiggan said the pilot, which is due to be expanded into five more primary schools across the town, had had a "really positive impact".

"Teachers do report the children are more settled to learn, they've had 30 minutes of social time with their friends, they've had a nice healthy breakfast and then they are better in class", she said.

McQuiggan added that the free club had helped to increase attendance.

"It's an option now that parents can get their children here at 08:15 GMT and sometimes that works better for families," she explained.

The head teacher had been concerned when the scheme started, that the club could put too much pressure on staff and the funding could be too low.

However, 12 months later, McQuiggan was satisfied the pilot was working.

"The costs are always important", she said, but added that with 68p from the government, per pupil, per day, it was a "sustainable model ".

Pupils who regularly attend the club all praised the food, which includes cereal, toast and porridge, and said they had benefitted from scheme.

Lily, aged 10, said the club helped her to have a calm morning and she felt "more ready to learn".

Isla, also 10, said: "When I go into my classroom, I have energy to go and learn, whereas when I don't [go to the club], I feel very tired."

She said the she had also started playing with different children from her class and made new friends.

Isabelle, aged 11, said the club gave her an "energy boost" and got her ready for the day.

"I feel like I can connect with my friends before the day starts, it's really nice," she sad.

"It's definitely the best toast in the world. When I'm at home I ask my mum for breakfast club toast."

The positive impact of the scheme was echoed by parents, who were pleased about the impact it had had on their household budgets as the cost of living continued to rise.

Prior to the pilot Sam, who has three children at the school, said breakfast club "wasn't something we could ever look at" as it cost £3 per child, each day.

However, since it became free to attend, she said it had not only helped her family to establish a better morning routine, but it also enabled her to work two jobs.

"It's made big an impact in enabling me to go to shift work and also run my own business around that. For us it's a massive help," she said.

Anish said his son and daughter also attended the club five days a week and the pilot had had a significant impact on his family.

"We are working parents, I commute to Birmingham and my wife works at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford," he said.

"We can't function without it and it's light on our pockets, that's a big thing for us."

Following the success of the pilot, Holmer Lake, John Randall, Windmill Primary, Woodlands Primary and William Reynolds will now also host the clubs.

Councillor Shirley Reynolds welcomed the expansion, which she said would provide "vital support" to hundreds of pupils and families.

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