Three Islington primary schools offering free breakfast clubs in state-backed trial

Laycock Primary is one of three schools participating in the free breakfast club trial. Image: Google

Three Islington primaries are hosting breakfast clubs from today until July as part of the government’s new pilot programme for 750 schools across the country.

Laycock, Vittoria and Whitehall Park primary schools are providing 30 minutes of state-funded breakfast time for pupils before the start of the school day.

Ahead of its election victory last year, the Labour Party’s manifesto pledged free breakfast clubs in “every primary school in England”, to be paid for by ending tax loopholes and putting the squeeze on tax evaders.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), council leader Una O’Halloran (Labour) said: “No child should go hungry. Thanks to Sadiq Khan all primary schools in London have been receiving free school meals.

“[I’m] pleased that from today, the Labour government will begin their free breakfast clubs, with 3 schools in Islington set to benefit – Laycock, Vittoria and Whitehall Park.”

A press release from the Department for Education (DfE) stated that parents were set to save £8,000 through the combination of the initiative and the government’s offer on early years childcare and school uniform cap on branded items.

The DfE spokesperson called it a “watershed moment for families across England” that would provide “a healthy start for kids and a little more breathing room before the school bell rings”.

The release also claimed that, according to new government data, parents were “motivated to take up free breakfast clubs because of their wellbeing benefits”, with 30 per cent of those surveyed believing them to be an opportunity for children to socialise with each other before school.