Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Bridget Phillipson visit Harlow school

Sir Keir Starmer told children when he was young he played the flute, piano, recorder and violin

The shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson has pledged to introduce free breakfast clubs and change the curriculum during a visit to Essex.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Phillipson outlined their education plans during a visit to Purford Green Primary School in Harlow.

During the visit the senior Labour figures joined a music class.

Ms Philippson said she wanted to change the curriculum to enable all children to "develop their creativity".

The shadow education secretary said Labour "would make the political choice of ending the tax breaks that private schools enjoy and we would use that money to invest in our teachers".

Mr Starmer, along with his shadow education secretary, visited a year six music class

Sir Keir was asked by the children how many instruments he played.

He told them when he was young he played four - the flute, piano, recorder and violin.

However, he added: "I don't play them any more... I did a lot of music, I really loved it."

During the visit, it emerged just £1,000 of the primary school's £1m budget was spent each year on music, art, design and technology.

Vic Goddard, chief executive of Passmores Co-operative Learning Community, said: "When the money is so tight you have to make difficult choices."

He said Purford Green had lost about £559 per student since 2010 and 2011.

"That's a big chunk and you have to cut your cloth accordingly," he said.

"You have to make sure children are safe, warm and fed.

"Once you've taken those things away you have to make sure their literacy and numeracy are strong. It's what you are left with and you have to make do."

The shadow education secretary said Labour would end the tax breaks for private schools and invest in teachers

During their visit to the school, Ms Phillipson told the BBC that if Labour formed the next government it would boost the "range of opportunities around music, sport, art and drama alongside high and rising standards on the academic subjects like maths and English".

She added it was a priority for her "to make swift action around introducing universal free breakfast clubs in all of our primary schools".

Part of the government's budget announcement revealed the non-dom tax status benefit would be phased out to fund a reduction in national insurance.

That was how Labour planned to fund this education policy.

Bridget Phillipson said Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves was looking at new ways to pay for it, adding "We will take our time, we want to get that right."