Commenting on plans in the Chancellor’s speech at Labour Conference to introduce a pilot of breakfast clubs in up to 750 primary schools in England from April 2025, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"We welcome Labour’s recognition of the seriousness of child hunger and the impact this has on their education, and the importance of universal rather than means-tested provision. Breakfast clubs are a good step forward, provided they are fully funded, but Labour need to be bolder. The NEU is calling on Government to take urgent action to eradicate the spectre of child hunger from our schools by providing free school meals for all children in primary school. A hot nutritious school dinner every day will support millions of children whose families are facing the impossible choice of paying bills or eating during the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, and remove any stigma around much needed additional support. We must make sure no child goes too hungry to learn."