Four primary schools in Bury North will begin offering free breakfast clubs from September under the government’s expansion of its Best Start programme.
The changes come alongside new legal limits on branded school uniform items aimed at reducing costs for families before the new school year.
The government has announced that St Luke’s CofE Primary School, Peel Brow School, St Joseph and St Bede RC Primary School and Woodbank Primary School will join the free breakfast club programme from September.
The four schools will join existing breakfast clubs at Emmanuel Holcombe CofE Primary School and St John with St Mark Primary School.
The expansion forms part of a national rollout that will see more than 2,700 schools offering free breakfast clubs from September. The government says more than 680,000 children across England are expected to benefit after the summer holidays.
The government says families using a breakfast club every school day could save up to £450 a year while children receive a free breakfast before lessons begin.
Bury North MP James Frith welcomed the announcement.
He said, “Having seen first hand the positive impact at Emmanuel Holcombe C.E. Primary School, I warmly welcome the announcement of four more breakfast clubs in our area. This means even more children will benefit from a healthy start to the day, improved wellbeing and greater opportunities to succeed.
“With too many children still growing up in poverty, including many in working families, we must continue breaking down the barriers that hold young people back. Expanding free breakfast clubs is a practical step that supports parents, boosts attendance and attainment, and helps ensure every child in Bury North has the chance to thrive.
“This is Labour’s Plan for Change in action supporting working families, raising standards in our schools, and making sure opportunity is available to every child, regardless of their background.”
From September, schools will also be required to comply with new legal limits on the number of branded uniform items they can require. The government says the change will allow parents to buy more school clothing from a wider range of retailers rather than relying on specialist suppliers.
Updated statutory guidance has also been issued encouraging schools to reduce the cost of individual uniform items ahead of the 2027 school year.
The government says the expansion of breakfast clubs, changes to school uniform rules and wider eligibility for free school meals are intended to reduce the cost of sending children to school for eligible families.
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