The headteacher of a Manchester primary school has backed calls for the Government to inject millions more pounds into school breakfast provision. Ruth Perry, head of school at Newall Green Primary School in Wythenshawe, said without a charity's help, some of the children 'would be starting class hungry'.
The Government is being urged to pump in an extra £75 million after a damning report published today claimed the most vulnerable children were being failed. Education charity Magic Breakfast said its research exposed a 'patchwork' of breakfast provision within schools, leading some children starting class too hungry to learn.
The impact is 'significant', with studies showing morning hunger leading to increased absence, lower levels of attainment and poor behaviour in class, said the report. Staff and food costs were said to be the biggest barrier to school efforts to end hunger in the classroom.
