Calder Valley primary schools set to be among the first to offer free breakfast clubs
Monday 24 February 2025
Four Calder Valley primary schools are set to be amongst the first in England to offer free breakfast clubs under a new government scheme, saving working families up to £450 a year.
From April 2025 pupils at the following schools will benefit from free, daily breakfast clubs
- Scout Road Academy, Mytholmroyd
- Luddenden CE School
- Cornholme Junior, Infant and Nursery School;
- Elland CE Junior, Infant and Nursery School
As 'early adopter' pilots, the results will help inform the rollout of the scheme nationally. All primary-aged pupils in England will eventually be able to access a free breakfast and a minimum of 30 minutes of free childcare.
Josh Fenton-Glynn, Labour MP for Calder Valley, said, "It's fantastic news that four of our local schools have been chosen to benefit from free breakfast clubs in the pilot phase. I'm proud to be part of a Labour Government that ensures all kids, no matter what their background, start the school day fed and ready to learn."
Emma Dickinson, Headteacher of Cornholme School, said, "We are happy to be part of the early adopter scheme. The funding will help offer our pupils the option of breakfast and 30 minutes of free time in our existing club, we're currently working out the details."
Free breakfast clubs form part of a wider plan aimed at cutting the cost of living and helping working families. Other measures include increased access to government-funded childcare and cutting school uniform costs through a cap on branded items.
Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, said, "Free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of Labour's Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success for families all over the country.
"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."
Schools were chosen from across England to ensure the scheme tests and learns from a variety of schools. Once the results are evaluated further details of the national roll-out will follow. Breakfast clubs have been shown to boost children's reading, writing, and maths by an average of two months.