Free breakfast clubs - giving children the best start in life.

The end of the Easter break brought a landmark moment for this Labour government and for many families in Bristol South. We saw the opening of hundreds of free breakfast clubs across the country, serving nearly 180,000 children. I am delighted that one of those, Oasis Academy New Oak, is here in Bristol South.  

Many schools in south Bristol already offer breakfast clubs which are a lifeline for a lot of local families, providing parents with crucial childcare and giving children the best start to their day.  

Free breakfast clubs will make sure every child can benefit and backs working parents by guaranteeing an additional 30 minutes of free childcare in term time and saving them up to £450 a year. 

For busy parents doing their best to balance work and family life, like I know so many across south Bristol are, that can make all the difference. 

Not just for parents, but for children too. A breakfast club gives them time at the beginning of the school day to eat and play with their friends. This softer start to the day is great for behaviour and attendance.   

In addition, Labour is working to expand the availability of school-based nurseries, with funding announced by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson for the first 300 earlier this month. It’s a big step towards delivering our 30 hours of government-funded childcare from September – which will potentially save parents £7,500 a year. 

Schools are at the heart of our communities, and school-based nurseries bring kids together from the earliest years – to build friendships and get ready to learn together.   

Parents can get to know the teachers, the teachers can spot issues early on, and children can get used to being at school. They see the same faces, they have the same friends, they play in the same playgrounds. We have many such school-based nurseries in south Bristol, and it is good that the Government is investing in the next generation.    

Our earliest years are the time when the biggest difference to a child’s life can be made. This government wants our children to start school ready and raring to go. Getting a good education is the best way to set up children for better life chances.  

That’s why the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change has set out the target of a record share of kids starting school ready to learn.   

We’re delivering our promises to parents: more nursery places, an expansion in government funded childcare, and new breakfast clubs. This government is putting children and families first by boosting parents’ work choices and children’s life chances.