Free breakfast clubs ‘to benefit over 16,000 children in Portsmouth’

More than 16,000 children in Portsmouth could benefit from the rollout of free breakfast clubs in the city, a minister has said.

Stephen Morgan, an education minister and MP for Portsmouth South, believes the programme will help boost children’s attendance and attainment, and at the same time, keep money in parents’ pockets.

A nationwide rollout of free breakfast clubs is one of the key measures in the government’s children’s wellbeing and schools bill.

Portsmouth rolling out free breakfast clubs early

Portsmouth is one of the early adopters of the scheme, with applications opening in November last year and rollout being delivered from April.

“It’s a shame these clubs were only available in one in ten schools across the country under the Conservatives,” Mr Morgan said.

“Labour will make them available to every child.

“This is a child-centred Labour government, determined to give children in Portsmouth the best start in life.”

Parents also benefit from free breakfast clubs

The government believes free breakfast clubs will also be transformative for parents, as they’ll be less restricted by school drop-offs, save them money on childcare and have more freedom to pick suitable jobs and working hours.

“Breakfast clubs boost parents’ work choices, as well as children’s life chances,” said Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary.

“They are integral to this government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity so where you come from doesn’t determine where you end up in life.”

Ms Phillipson added that free breakfast clubs will help “drive high and rising standards for every child” and give them “the best start in life”.

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