Schools to pilot government breakfast club scheme

Eleven schools in Surrey will be part of a government breakfast club rollout

Eleven schools in Surrey are to become early adopters of the government's free school breakfast clubs from April.

Schools in Camberley, Redhill and Guildford are among those chosen to pilot the new scheme, which is expected to run until June before being expanded.

The schools chosen for the trial are expected to offer a free breakfast to all pupils and at least 30 minutes of childcare before school.

Clubs in the county will receive a share of £7m in funding to kick start the plan, which the government says will save families up to £450 a year.

Schools taking part in the pilot are:

• Cross Farm Infant Academy, Camberley

• Mytchett Primary School, Camberley

• Lakeside Nursery and Primary Academy, Camberley

• South Camberley Primary and Nursery School

• Hatchlands Primary, Redhill

• The Vale Primary School, Epsom

• Kingfield Primary School, Woking

• Shawley Community Primary, Epsom

• West Ashtead Primary Academy

• Hurst Park Primary Academy, West Molesey

• Gosden House School, Guildford

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the breakfast clubs would have a "transformative impact on the lives of children".

She added the scheme aimed to break the link "between background and success" by initially targeting the most disadvantaged areas in the UK.

If the pilot is successful, plans for a national expansion could begin later in the year.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) welcomed the expansion of breakfast clubs, which some schools already run, but expressed concerns that funding would fall short of the cost.

"It will be crucial that these concerns are addressed before the programme is rolled out across the country to ensure that it does not place further pressure on already strained school budgets, and that children and families can fully reap the benefits," said Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT.

Additional reporting by PA Media.