The pilot will see 750 schools across England offer a free breakfast to all pupils, while parents would get at least 30 minutes of free childcare before school starts
Free breakfast clubs will be run at these 12 Black Country primary schools as part of a government trial.
The pilot will see 750 schools across England offer a free breakfast to all pupils, while parents would get at least 30 minutes of free childcare before school starts.
Selected schools were expected to start running clubs from April until July, ahead of a national rollout.
The £7 million “early adopters” scheme was announced at Labour’s party conference last September.
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Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the clubs would help to break the link “between background and success” for families “all over the country”.
She said: “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.”
While the National Association of Head Teachers has welcomed the expansion of breakfast clubs, which some schools already run, it expressed concerns that funding would fall short of the cost.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, said: “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.”
The following Black Country schools will be involved in the free breakfast club trial:
- Manor Way Primary Academy, Halesowen
- Tenterfields Primary Academy, Halesowen
- Corngreaves Academy, Cradley Heath
- St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, West Bromwich
- St Mary Magdalene CofE Primary School, West Bromwich
- Goldsmith Primary Academy, Walsall
- Rivers Primary Academy, Bloxwich
- King Charles Primary School, Walsall
- Pool Hayes Primary School, Willenhall
- Oakwood School, Walsall Wood
- Lanesfield Primary School, Wolverhampton
- Penn Fields School, Wolverhampton