Breakfast clubs aid children’s classroom work, say teachers

Many children would start school hungry without breakfast clubs, teachers have claimed.

A new survey suggests that for many youngsters, these clubs are the only way they can get a meal before lessons.

More than half (54 per cent) of the 552 school staff questioned by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said their school or college provides a breakfast club for pupils.

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The overwhelming reason for children to attend these clubs is because their parent or carer goes to work early, cited by 76.8 per cent of those questioned.

But other factors, such as lack of money, also play a part, the survey suggests.

More than two-fifths (44.7 per cent) said they believe the main reason pupils attend a breakfast club is because it is the only way the youngster will get a meal in the morning.

Over a fifth (22.6 per cent) said children attended due to lack of money at home because parents or carers are unemployed and 15.2 per cent cited lack of money at home due to changes or cuts to benefits.

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Around one in six (17.6 per cent) said pupils mainly attend breakfast clubs to socialise.

The survey found that teachers believe that offering breakfast to pupils often helps improve their concentration.

One primary school teacher from Kent told the survey: “Although there is a charge for our breakfast club, we have accessed funding for those pupils on free school meals and the breakfast club had an effect on their attendance, concentration and being in school for the start of lessons.”

ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said a nutritious meal at the start of the day has a “huge impact” on pupils’ ability to learn.

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“Many schools do everything they can to ensure children eat well during school term-time.

“But there are many children living in poverty, who we fear won’t be getting a decent meal a day in the holidays and this is something the Government urgently needs to address.”

The survey comes just months after research by the Children’s Society warned that youngsters are still turning up to school hungry and skipping meals at lunchtime because they cannot afford to eat.

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