08.01.13
Free breakfast piloted at Blackpool
Blackpool council is piloting free breakfasts for all primary school pupils in a bid to stop children from starting the day hungry.
The scheme will help pupils to “focus on learning”, council leader Simon Blackburn said.
Starting today, the £700,000 project will provide breakfast for all 12,000 primary school pupils, regardless of their family income or whether they are eligible for free school meals.
It will run for three months initially and it is hoped to extend the scheme for the rest of the school year. Food such as cereal, fruit and yoghurt will be provided.
Blackpool council is one of the most disadvantaged areas in the country, which means that children are more likely to face malnourishment. The scheme will be monitored for its impact, for use by other councils.
Blackburn said: “Every pupil will be able to start their school day fed and ready to learn. There will be no discrimination between those families that can afford it and those that cannot.”
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