Free primary school breakfast scheme to expand

Eleven primary schools across Hull and East Yorkshire are to introduce free breakfast clubs for their pupils in April.

They will join the 19 schools in the region that were part of a pilot scheme last year.

It is part of the Best Start plan to introduce breakfasts to every primary school in the country and aims to boost learning, improve behaviour and increase school attendance, the government said.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, more than 47,000 children in the Yorkshire and Humber region have been eligible for the meals since the scheme started.

Up to 800,000 meals have been served during that period, the government said, saving families up to £450 per year.

A recent poll found that 60% of parents were more likely to access support when it was available to everyone.

Frank Young, chief executive of charity Parentkind, said: "This is good news for parents and especially parents juggling the pressures of work and school drop-offs.

"We know that parents want breakfast clubs and it helps them to get children to school and hold down jobs.

"It's particularly important for children to start their day well and get ready for school."

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