Schools providing breakfast for children from disadvantaged backgrounds helps give youngsters the ‘best possible start in life’ according to Hastings MP Amber Rudd.

She recently visited Baird Primary Academy which is benefitting from the National Breakfast Programme programme that provides pupils with a healthy breakfast.

Family Action and Magic Breakfast were awarded the Department for Education’s contract to deliver the programme from March 2018 and provides free bagels and fruit in over 1,770 schools in deprived areas of England.

Ms Rudd said: “I am delighted that healthy school breakfasts are being provided which will benefit pupils by improving their concentration, behaviour, attendance and general wellbeing.

“This funding from Government is crucial to helping children from vulnerable families throughout our towns and I commend this initiative to provide healthy meals for these children. This is why I have written to Nadhim Zahawi Minister for Children and Families to ask what settlement will be provided by Government to continue this programme in the future.”

Research funded by the Endowment Foundation shows that Y2 pupils who are provided with a free and nutritious breakfast progressed two months quicker per year in their reading, writing and maths skills as opposed to children without access to breakfast.

The Baird Primary Academy has welcomed The National Breakfast Programme since January 2019 and has an average daily attendance of 70 pupils. The programme has benefited teachers, pupils and parents hugely as well as paying dividend for schools and society as better educated pupils will leave school and enter the workforce.