Plymouth City Council announced an expansion of the Best Start in Life school breakfast club scheme, which provides free breakfasts to students at the start of the school day. The goal of the initiative is to help make sure children start their day feeling calm, connected, and poised to learn. At the moment, four schools in Plymouth already take part in this program, with several more about to come on board in April.
The four new schools—Pennycross Primary in Plymouth, Stoke Primary in Manchester and two other schools—make their breakfast clubs open to all pupils. Just at Pennycross Primary, over 200 kids come together every morning to relax and share a healthy breakfast along with their peers. This feeling of belonging not only encourages collaboration among students, but sets the stage for a rewarding and energizing learning experience.
From April, four additional schools will launch their breakfast club programs: Marlborough Primary Academy, St Peters Church of England Primary, Victoria Road Primary, and Austin Farm Academy. Launching a great rollout of this program is a huge step in expanding access to free breakfasts for all children across the city.
Sally Cresswell, the city council’s cabinet member for education, skills and apprenticeships, said she was delighted by the program’s extension. She’s convinced this growth stands to enormously benefit the community. She focused on the broad appeal of the initiative, insisting that it’s something that helps each and every child in each and every classroom.
“What makes this programme so special is that it is truly universal. It is for every child, in every classroom. When every pupil can start the day feeling settled, included and ready to learn, the whole school community benefits. I am thrilled that even more schools are joining the programme. This is an investment in all our children, all our families and the future of our city.” – Councillor Sally Cresswell
The success of the scheme in Plymouth has helped to provide a blueprint for how breakfast clubs can be effectively delivered across the country. The schools currently running these clubs are actively involved in shaping future implementations, sharing insights and best practices with other educational institutions.
Plymouth City Council are looking forward to rolling the breakfast club scheme out to more schools this autumn. This effort will advance equity and help ensure that all students have the resources they need to succeed. This initiative meets the nutritional needs head-on. It aims to add value to the entire educational experience for kids in Plymouth.
