Free breakfast membership trial at Sheffield college ‘will make life simpler’ | EUROtoday

Free breakfast membership trial at Sheffield college ‘will make life simpler’
 | EUROtoday
Chloe Aslett & Vanessa Clarke

BBC News, Yorkshire

Vanessa Clarke/BBC Two girls aged about eight. Zara on the left is in a red polo shirt and cardigan, holding a plastic cup. She is smiling and has blonde hair in a ponytail. Georgie has brown hair also in a ponytail, and a white polo shirt. She is smiling holding a piece of toast.Vanessa Clarke/BBC

Year three pupils Zara and Georgie say they’re “breakfast club fans”

Parents and lecturers at a Sheffield major college have welcomed the start of a scheme providing government-funded breakfast golf equipment.

High Green Primary School is one in all 750 colleges in England participating in a pilot permitting mother and father to entry half an hour of free childcare every morning.

The pilot will run till July, after which the programme is predicted to be rolled out nationally.

Karen Brennan, who beforehand paid for her daughter to attend the breakfast membership two days every week, stated: “We couldn’t afford for her to come every day before, but now she can.

“It means we’re so much freer as a household and he or she actually enjoys it.”

The school said it previously could not make its breakfast club free for all pupils due to staffing and food costs.

Vanessa Clarke/BBC A woman in her thirties. She has blonde hair past her shoulders. She is smiling outside the school. She wears brown glasses and a pink cardigan.Vanessa Clarke/BBC

Karen Brennan says the move has created flexibility for her family

Dan Emery, whose daughter attends the sessions, said: “We have somewhat one too, so having the membership will make life so much simpler when her mum goes again to work.

“I love having her at home, but it is helpful from a work perspective to be able to drop her off earlier – it’s good for her development too and to give her time with her friends.”

Pupils on the college, on Wortley Road, High Green, are supplied with toast, cereal, yogurt or fruit.

They can even make use of craft tables, jigsaws, books and play desk soccer.

Sheffield mother and father relieved at new breakfast golf equipment

Dawn Aldridge, the varsity’s enterprise supervisor, stated: “The fact we have had children come to school hungry is a horrendous fact, it’s shocking.

“Now, all people’s bought a full tummy.”

She continued: “They get to play with their mates and have a pleasant regular begin to the morning – they’re loving it.”

Vanessa Clarke/BBC

Dawn Aldridge says the move will make a significant difference to many pupils and their families

Ms Aldridge said she expected to see a reduction in pupil absences as the club ensured children are in school on time.

“They are studying about wholesome consuming and sticking to schedules – it is all good, and it is about that early intervention,” she added.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly23epe989o