Scheme improving attendance, nutrition and wellbeing as rollout begins across Middlesbrough.

Date: 28 April 2025
Location: Netherfields, Middlesbrough

Luke Myer, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, visited Pennyman Primary Academy in Netherfields to see first-hand the early success of the Government’s new free breakfast club scheme. The school is one of four in the constituency chosen to lead the pilot, which is part of a wider national rollout of free breakfast clubs in primary schools.

Luke met with Headteacher Louise Stogdale, Trust CEO Katrina Morley, and pupils taking part in the breakfast club. The visit highlighted the wider impact the scheme is having, with school leaders reporting a significant boost in attendance, sociability and wellbeing among pupils in its first week.

Katrina Morley OBE said: “The children love it and are already talking about it with their friends and families. Attendance at the club has doubled in just one week. But this is about so much more than food. It’s about early morning play, catch-up clubs, reading, PE and the children are starting the day with friends, routines, and confidence.”

Louise Stogdale added: “We’re seeing a huge benefit to the children who previously didn’t have access to a nutritional breakfast. The atmosphere in school is calmer, children are more settled, and they’re starting the day with a better frame of mind.”

The breakfast offer at Pennyman Primary Academy includes cereal, toast, yoghurts, fruit, and even pancakes, all available free to all pupils. The school, which is a mainstream academy with a specialist SEND unit, is using the scheme to support inclusive learning and equal opportunity.

Luke Myer MP said: “Every child deserves the best possible start to the day, not just the most well-off. That’s why I’m proud we ended tax breaks for private schools and used that money to fund free breakfast clubs in state schools like Pennyman. It’s helping parents with the cost of living and giving kids in our area the chance to begin the day happy, fed and ready to learn.”

The national pilot, launched after Easter, is supporting 750 schools across England and is expected to save families up to £450 a year while providing nearly 100 hours of additional childcare. The programme will expand to all primary schools from next year, with Middlesbrough identified as one of the early priority areas.

References:

• Louise Stogdale is Headteacher at Pennyman Primary Academy.
• Katrina Morley is Chief Executive Officer of Tees Valley Education.
• The free breakfast pilot was announced as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
• Schools taking part in the initial rollout include Pennyman Primary Academy, Skelton Primary, St Bernadette’s and Lockwood Primary.