Hundreds of children and families in Colchester are set to benefit from a new free breakfast club.
This follows confirmation that Unity Primary School has been selected as part of the government’s Best Start scheme.
The announcement means Unity Primary will begin offering free daily breakfasts and at least 30 minutes of free childcare from April, helping working parents save up to £450 a year while ensuring children start the school day ready to learn.
It comes as Labour confirms a further 500 schools across England will join the Best Start programme, targeting support at the most disadvantaged communities.
Around half a million pupils nationally are expected to benefit this year.
In Colchester, the new club at Unity Primary adds to existing breakfast provision already introduced at St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School and King’s Ford Infant School and Nursery since Labour came into government.
In total, 766 children across the constituency will now have access to a free, nutritious morning meal.
Colchester MP Pam Cox welcomed the announcement, describing it as a “campaign win” after she wrote to all eligible local schools encouraging them to apply for the scheme.
She said the clubs would “make a real difference locally”, helping children’s attendance, attainment and wellbeing while easing pressure on household finances.
The breakfast clubs form part of a wider package of measures aimed at supporting families with the cost of living, including expanded free school meals, 30 hours of government-funded childcare, efforts to reduce school uniform costs and the continuation of Best Start holiday clubs.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said free breakfast clubs were “central to Labour’s Plan for Change”, helping to break the link between background and success.
She added: “Breakfast clubs can have a transformative impact on children’s lives, feeding hungry tummies and fuelling hungry minds so every child begins the day ready to learn.”
Research suggests breakfast clubs can have a lasting positive effect on behaviour, attendance and attainment, while also supporting parents to get into work.
The government says the policy will contribute to its wider aim of achieving the largest reduction in child poverty within a single parliament.
Unity Primary’s breakfast club is expected to open at the start of the summer term in April.
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