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Breakfast clubs vital for disadvantaged children

Families Health
Almost half of education staff believe that without a breakfast club pupils who use them wouldn't have any food before lessons, according to a survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

ATL surveyed 552 teachers, lecturers, support staff and school leaders in primary and secondary state schools and academies in the UK about breakfast clubs and school lunches.

Almost a quarter believe that parents have to rely on breakfast clubs to feed their children due to a lack of money at home caused by unemployment.

According to 77 per cent of respondents eating breakfast means that a pupil’s concentration is better, while 71 per cent say it improves their ability to learn.

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said, ‘Getting a good nutritious start to the day has a huge impact on children’s ability to learn and concentrate at school. Many schools do everything they can to ensure children eat well during school term-time.

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