Yorkshire primary schools to offer free breakfast at 60 more schools

Sixty more primary schools across Yorkshire will join the government's free breakfast club programme in April, adding to 74 already enrolled in the region. The Department for Education says the scheme aims to expand to every state-funded primary school in England and has been linked to improved attendance, attainment and behaviour.

Sixty more primary schools in Yorkshire will join the government's free breakfast club programme in April. They will join 74 schools in the region that are already enrolled. The newly announced schools include 27 in West Yorkshire, 26 in South Yorkshire and seven in North Yorkshire. The government said its long-term aim is to make free breakfast clubs available in every state-funded primary school in England. Key details: - The 60 new schools will join the programme from April, according to a government spokesperson. - Regional breakdown is 27 in West Yorkshire, 26 in South Yorkshire and seven in North Yorkshire. - Local figures for West Yorkshire list seven new schools in Bradford, two in Calderdale, seven in Kirklees and 11 in Leeds. - In South Yorkshire, two schools in Barnsley, five in Doncaster, seven in Rotherham and 12 in Sheffield have signed up. - The scheme began in 750 schools last April, with another 500 clubs added this year, the government said. - The Department for Education reported that children have benefited from healthy breakfasts and earlier time in school, with evidence cited of improved attendance, attainment and behaviour; the NAHT union general secretary said a good breakfast helps focus learning and urged officials to address any barriers preventing some schools from joining. Summary: More schools joining increases the scheme's reach in Yorkshire and aligns with the government's stated aim to expand the programme nationally. The newly enrolled clubs are scheduled to start in April, and applications remain open for further enrolment in September.