Press Release: North East Herts school to be one of the first to receive landmark free breakfast club

25 February 2025

• Labour is rolling out free breakfast clubs to save working families up to £450 and set children up to start the day ready to learn

• First 750 schools to offer clubs from April, delivering on government’s Plan for Change

• 67,000 pupils in England’s most disadvantaged communities to benefit in first phase

Families and children in North East Hertfordshire will soon benefit from free, daily breakfast clubs as the Labour government confirms the first 750 schools to offer the scheme, including Hormead CofE First & Nursery School, putting up to £450 a year back in local parents’ pockets.

From as soon as April, the school will kick-off the historic programme, with an early adopter phase set to inform Labour’s landmark national roll out which will give all parents access to the scheme.

The clubs come alongside a raft of measures designed to cut the cost of living for families, including the commitment to significantly cut uniform costs through a cap on branded items and complement the government-funded childcare.

Delivering on promises made to working parents in Labour’s manifesto, all primary aged children attending Hormead CofE First & Nursery School will be able to access a free breakfast and at least 30 minutes of free childcare, every day, helping to support parents getting into work.

Universal free breakfast clubs are central to Labour’s Plan for Change, removing barriers to opportunity by making sure every child starts the school day ready to learn – with research showing the clubs have a lasting impact on children’s behaviour, attendance and attainment.

The scheme also has an important role to play in Labour’s commitment remove the stain of child poverty. Out of the 180,000 children who will benefit from the early adopter schools nationwide, around 67,000 attend schools in deprived areas. This will provide essential meal to ensure every child starts the day ready to learn.

Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, said: "Free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of Labour’s Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success for families all over the country. 

"Breakfast clubs can have a transformative impact on the lives of millions of children, feeding hungry tummies and fuelling hungry minds, so every child begins the day ready to learn.

“Alongside our plans to roll out school-based nurseries and get thousands more children school-ready, this government is delivering the reforms needed to give every child, wherever they grow up, the best start in life.”

Chris Hinchliff, Member of Parliament for North East Hertfordshire, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Hormead CofE First & Nursery School has been selected as one of the first to benefit from Labour’s free breakfast clubs and I cannot wait to see the club open in April.

“It’s a testament to both the school and the Labour government’s dedication to getting children school-ready so they are able to improve their attendance, attainment and wellbeing, as well as improving the household finances of local families.

“Through our Plan for Change, this Labour government is boosting parents work choices and children’s life chances.”

Schools were chosen from across England to ensure the scheme tests and learns from a variety of schools. Each breakfast club must be universal, offer 30 minutes of free childcare and include breakfast.

Government research shows most parents (87%) think breakfast clubs are a good chance for children to socialise, and two thirds (66%) recognise the value of clubs providing educational activities. Breakfast clubs have been shown to boost children’s reading, writing, and maths by an average of two months.

Too many children’s life chances are being scarred by rising poverty, with 1 in 4 children in absolute poverty as of 2023. Labour is determined to change that, with the breakfast club rollout being driven alongside wider work of the Child Poverty Taskforce, which is set to deliver an ambitious strategy to increase household income, bring down essential costs, and tackle the challenges felt by those living in poverty.

Lynda Cowler, Headteacher at Hormead CofE First & Nursery School said: “We are delighted to be one of the early adopter schools. For our school, the funding provided will be a real lifesaver, ensuring we can offer a healthy breakfast and a supportive start to the day for our pupils.

"Breakfast clubs have already made a massive difference to pupils’ wellbeing, providing them with time to settle in, socialise with friends and get ready to learn.

“This initiative also fosters a sense of belonging and well-being, aligning perfectly with our school’s vision of creating a nurturing environment where every child has the opportunity to flourish.”

Sir David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action said: “Family Action welcomes the Government’s announcement of the 750 schools who have been selected to take part in the Early Adopters Scheme. These schools will have a vital test and learn role which will undoubtedly inform the national rollout of the Government’s exciting universal breakfast policy.

“We know that an effective breakfast provision delivered in a supportive and enriching environment can make the world of difference to a child. We look forward to sharing our long experience of delivering breakfast provision ourselves with Early Adopter schools.”

Early Adopter schools, including Hormead CofE First & Nursery School, will shape the future of the national breakfast club policy, contributing directly to its implementation. Further details on the national roll out of the breakfast clubs programme will follow in due course.  

The wider paid-for wraparound childcare offer – for all primary children to be able to access childcare between 8am-6pm – continues to roll out across the country.

ENDS

Editors’ Notes

1. Chris Hinchliff MP is the first Labour MP for the seat of North East Hertfordshire since it was established in 1997. He was elected in July 2024. For more information, visit www.chrishinchliff.co.uk 

   
   

2. Department for Education newsdesk is contactable at 020 7783 8300.

   
   

3. Breakfast club early adopter guidance available here.

   
   

4. Number of eligible pupils attending early adopter schools in the bottom third most deprived LSOAs in England using IDACI available here, as at 19/02/25.

   
   

5. An Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) impact evaluation of the Magic Breakfast programme found that offering pupils in primary schools a free, universal, before school breakfast club which includes a breakfast can boost their reading, writing, and maths attainment by an average of two months’ additional progress in Key Stage 1. 

Contact

All press queries should be addressed to:

Press Office Office of Chris Hinchliff MP chris.hinhcliff.mp@parliament.uk

Press Release: North East Herts MP champions amendment to keep sustainability at the heart of government energy policy

18 February 2025

Chris Hinchliff, Member of Parliament for North East Hertfordshire, has secured a commitment to sustainable development for the Government’s new publicly owned energy company, Great British Energy.

Last week, Chris Hinchliff MP met with the Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Lord Hunt, who confirmed that, following campaigning by Mr Hinchliff and the Wildlife and Countryside Trust, the Government would amend the Great British Energy Bill to assess the impact of its activities on sustainable development in the UK, including in relation to Environment Act 2021 targets.

Welcoming the proposed amendment, Mr Hinchliff commented: "This is an important win on an issue that matters to so many people in North East Hertfordshire. Protecting and enhancing the natural world is one of the issues constituents most often write to me about. The local environment is clearly one of the things that means most to people in communities right across the constituency – hardly surprising given the incredible countryside that surrounds us.”

Since taking office, Mr Hinchliff has used his platform to highlight the need to rapidly decarbonise the economy to mitigate global climate change, calling for a sustainable and just energy transition while preserving Britain’s endangered countryside, adding:

“Without action to reduce our dependency on foreign fossil fuel imports, not only will we continue to risk further leaps in energy bills, but we also face a future where the rhythm of our seasons gets bent out of shape, iconic species like the English oak disappear, and our most loved landscapes change beyond recognition,

“The creation of Great British Energy offers a unique opportunity to start delivering renewable energy in a way that prioritises British people and our natural surroundings over private profit."

Mr Hinchliff will continue campaigning alongside Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of nature and wildlife charities, to ensure that the transition to renewable energy protects the natural environment, supports sustainable development and meets environmental targets.

ENDS

Editors’ Notes

1. Chris Hinchliff MP is the first Labour MP for the seat of North East Hertfordshire since it was established in 1997. He was elected in July 2024. For more information, visit www.chrishinchliff.co.uk

   
   

2. The specific amendment states:

   Sustainable Development "Great British Energy must keep under review the impact of its activities on the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom."

   Member’s explanatory statement:

   This amendment ensures that Great British Energy consistently evaluates its role in supporting sustainable development.

3. Lord Hunt further clarified the Government’s commitment in his statement to the House of Lords yesterday:

   
   

   "This amendment relates to a new clause to be inserted after Clause 7, requiring Great British Energy to keep under review the impact of its activities on sustainable development in the UK. A healthy natural environment is critical to a strong economy and sustainable growth. Our commitment to the environment is unwavering, including meeting the Environment Act 2021 targets, such as halting biodiversity decline in England by 2030.

   
   

   Through clean energy deployment and decarbonisation, Great British Energy will support our carbon budgets and net zero goals, helping to protect nature from the impacts of climate change. We want to work together across the UK to achieve our net-zero ambitions."

   
   

   "Sustainable development, as recognised by the UN, encompasses the economy, environment, and society. Further details of this amendment will be outlined in the framework document governing the relationship between my department and Great British Energy."

   
   

   You can read the full Hansard record of the announcement here.

5. An example of sustainable renewable energy development practices includes managing solar farms to support wildlife, as covered in a recent study by the RSPB and Cambridge University, which can be read here.

Contact

All press queries should be addressed to:

Press Office Office of Chris Hinchliff MP chris.hinhcliff.mp@parliament.uk

In the Media: Impact of bank closures on communities

07 February 2025

In the Comet, I make clear my deep disappointment about Lloyds Banking Group's decision to close the Halifax branch in Letchworth Garden City, and reflect on the impact of high street bank closures on our rural communities.

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