Free breakfast clubs welcomed by Usdaw as the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill progresses

Addressing MPs, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill provides the safe and secure foundation that all children need, and it builds on that foundation with urgent reform to all our schools, so that every child can achieve and thrive. That means schools being at the beating heart of their communities. That is why this Bill legislates for free breakfast clubs in every state-funded primary school, so that children get a welcoming, softer start to the day. It means schools where children come together to eat, learn and grow. It is good for attendance, good for attainment and good for behaviour.”

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “Usdaw members have long struggled to secure hours of work that fit around childcare and, rather than getting easier over time, the challenges in finding affordable and accessible childcare are as acute as they ever were. 
 
“Retailers continue to demand ever-greater flexibility from their staff as they revise and re-organise working hours in response to changes in consumer spending and shopping habits. So, we welcome progress on legislating for free breakfast clubs in primary schools; it’s an important and early step towards wraparound childcare. 
 
“Usdaw is also campaigning for 30 funded hours of flexible childcare for all pre-school age children, raising awareness of free entitlements and benefits that support working parents and meeting the upfront costs for low-income families. Now that we have a government that listens, we remain hopeful that we can achieve these important policy aims to help working parents contribute to the country’s economic growth.”