Thousands of children across Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency are set to benefit from sweeping new support for families after Labour’s flagship Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act officially became law this week (Wednesday 29 April 2026).

The wide-ranging reforms — backed by local MP Luke Myer and opposed by both Conservatives and Reform — will expand free school meals, roll out breakfast clubs, and slash the cost of school uniforms, with some families expected to save up to £1,000 a year.

From September, up to 4,770 children in our constituency locally will also qualify for free school meals under the new expanded offer, while 1,578 children will benefit from new funded breakfast clubs in the first wave alone. Schools included are Chaloner Primary, Handale Primary, Lingdale Primary, Whitecliffe Primary Academy, Skelton Primary, Lockwood Primary, Pennyman Primary Academy and St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School. The Government has pledged that every primary school will have access to a free breakfast club by the end of the Parliament.

The changes come against a stark backdrop, with 31.3% of children across the Tees Valley currently living in poverty. Ministers say the reforms are part of a wider push to break the link between background and success – with a national Child Poverty Strategy aiming to lift over half a million children out of poverty by tackling costs, boosting incomes, and improving local services.

Alongside the cost-of-living support, the Act also delivers major safeguarding reforms — strengthening protections for vulnerable children, cracking down on unsafe care providers, and ensuring no child falls through the cracks. Schools will also be required to limit branded uniform items, helping ease pressure on family budgets.

Luke Myer MP said:

“This is about putting money back into families’ pockets and giving every child the best possible start in life. Free breakfast clubs, cheaper uniforms, and expanded school meals will make a real difference to thousands of families across our area.”

“In a place like ours, where too many children are growing up in poverty, breaking down barriers to opportunity is essential if we want our region’s economy to succeed. These reforms are a big step towards making sure every child, wherever they grow up, has the chance to get on in life.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:  

“This landmark legislation fixes the foundations in our schools, puts money back into parents’ pockets, and provides critical new protections for our most vulnerable children.  

“From lifting the two-child limit to transforming the life chances of children with SEND, this government is already making strides to cut the link between background and success.  

“These new laws are another major milestone in our mission to make sure every child – wherever they grow up and go to school – has the opportunity to succeed.”

Frank Young, Chief Executive of Parentkind said:  

“Millions of parents are struggling with added school costs like expensive school uniform. Rising costs are hitting everyone hard, but parents have school costs they have no option but to pay. The Act will make a difference to these parents by tackling the cost of living and putting limits on expensive uniform items. This will help struggling parents, including many on middle incomes too.”
 
“Free breakfast clubs and cheaper uniforms will help parents and tackle some of the extra costs that make life more difficult for parents. Getting more breakfast clubs going helps parents to hold down a job and get kids to school.”

John McCabe, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Tackling poverty is fundamental to improving educational outcomes, widening access to opportunity and supporting people into good quality work. Every day, I hear from business leaders who need people with the right skills and stability to drive their organisations forward. Reducing child poverty is how we build that pipeline. If we want the North East to compete on the global stage, we must start by ensuring every child can thrive.“

“The abolition of the two-child benefit cap is welcome and will make a tangible difference to families across the North East.“

“We will continue to work with our members to press for meaningful regional and national action to tackle child poverty and its wide-ranging impacts on North East communities and our economy.”