Headteacher backs call for extra Government funding for school breakfasts, saying without a charity some children would 'start class hungry'
27.04.2022 - 09:23
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The headteacher of a Manchester primary school has backed calls for the Government to inject millions more pounds into school breakfast provision. Ruth Perry, head of school at Newall Green Primary School in Wythenshawe, said without a charity's help, some of the children 'would be starting class hungry'.
The Government is being urged to pump in an extra £75 million after a damning report published today claimed the most vulnerable children were being failed. Education charity Magic Breakfast said its research exposed a 'patchwork' of breakfast provision within schools, leading some children starting class too hungry to learn.
The impact is 'significant', with studies showing morning hunger leading to increased absence, lower levels of attainment and poor behaviour in class, said the report. Staff and food costs were said to be the biggest barrier to school efforts to end hunger in the classroom.
Magic Breakfast has called for an urgent funding boost for school breakfasts in England, and similar investments from the Scottish Government, to level up education and reach those children and young people at risk of hunger.
Backing the call, Newell Green Primary head Ms Perry said: "There is a cost-of-living crisis affecting parents and if we didn't have a Magic Breakfast in the morning, some children would be starting class hungry. Instead, pupils begin the day with a free, healthy breakfast and are better prepared to learn. My staff and I have seen the difference it can make."
Wales is the only UK nation with centrally funded free breakfast provision, said the report. Lindsey MacDonald, chief executive of Magic Breakfast, said: "Our Hidden Hunger report exposes the lottery of school breakfast funding and provision in the UK