At the recent Budget, the Labour government took tough decisions to fix the foundations and deliver change. By taking these decisions, we’ll be able to make crucial investments in our public services.
A favourite measure of mine, because I know how much of a difference it will make to families in Birmingham, is the tripling of government investment in breakfast clubs.
New research has shown that 110,706 primary school children in Birmingham could benefit from free breakfast clubs, with Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill now making its way through Parliament.
Breakfast clubs have a dual-purpose. Firstly, they’re proven to boost attendance and attainment, they will ensure children start the day ready to learn.
Evidence shows that providing a healthy school breakfast at the start of the school day can contribute to increased concentration as well as improved wellbeing and behaviour.
At the same time, they are a valuable source of childcare for parents at the beginning of the day. The clubs are estimated to save parents £450 a year.
Research shows over half of parents say they have problems finding formal childcare that is flexible enough to fit their needs, while four in ten of mothers say they have had to work fewer hours than they would like because of childcare costs.
Together, these breakfast clubs will boost parents’ work choices and children’s life chances.
That’s why it’s such a shame that under the Tories, these clubs were available in just one in ten primary schools across England. Labour will make them available for all our children.
This government’s mission is to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child and at every stage. That means that where you’re from, shouldn’t determine where you end up. If you work hard, you should be able to get on in life.
That’s the ordinary hope of British people, that’s what our mission will restore.
As part of Keir Starmer’s Plan for Change, Labour is determined to give children in Birmingham the best start in life. It’s clear to me, from my conversations on the doorstep, that free breakfast clubs will play a key role in meeting that milestone.
Comentários