Barnet Labour’s Cabinet Member for Family Friendly Barnet, Cllr Pauline Coakley-Webb, is urging local schools to sign up to join the 750 school ‘early adopter’ rollout of the government’s new free breakfast club programme – and support local children to start the school day ready to learn.

Once the scheme is fully rolled out, Barnet families will be offered 30 minutes of quality childcare ahead of the start of the school day as the government pushes ahead with free breakfast clubs across the country.

Barnet schools can apply to become one of 750 early adopters in the government’s free breakfast club programme, where pupils will be able to benefit from April 2025.

Cllr Coakley-Webb said:

“Free breakfast clubs are great for parents, great for kids, and great for our economy too.

“Labour’s breakfast clubs will make a huge difference for families they make it easier for busy mums and dads to make the time for work and dropping off the kids, they ensure children don’t start school hungry, and they help families with the cost of living too.”

“Labour was elected to change Britain and this is exactly what that means. This is a huge opportunity for local schools to get in early and start reaping the benefits of free breakfast clubs from April next year. I strongly encourage local schools to apply.”

Barnet Labour has already contacted representatives of voluntary-aided Jewish schools to look at the issue of potentially greater cost for Kosher meals. Following successful campaigning from Barnet Labour, the Mayor of London provided extra support for Jewish schools to provide free lunches for primary school aged children.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

“This is a landmark opportunity for schools to be in the vanguard of change, as we build back the foundations of an education system that breaks the link between children’s background, and the opportunities they have in life.

“From helping with flexible working for families, to improving behaviour and attendance, the supportive start to the day that breakfast clubs provide will help drive high and rising standards for every child. This government is delivering change that will make a real difference to families up and down the country.”

The wider paid-for wraparound childcare offer – for all primary children to be able to access childcare between 8am-6pm – continues to roll out across the country.