Copyright dailyrecord
Hundreds of breakfast clubs across Lanarkshire are sharing more than £260,000 in Scottish Government funding to create extra places, extend their provision and set up new groups. A total of seven awards have been made to local groups and to both councils from the Brighter Start breakfast fund, with thousands of primary-aged pupils across the county set to benefit from the expanded healthy start to the day throughout the current school year. South Lanarkshire Council received the largest of the local grants, being awarded £146,450 to add an activity programme to the existing breakfast club provision at 100 primary schools across the authority area, which are attended by nearly 1900 pupils per week. Funding issued under the scheme’s “increased opportunities for play category” has been used to supply each club with a range of craft, stationery and games equipment to add play activities to the current set-up of providing toast, cereal, fruit and drinks at the before-school sessions. Head teachers were allocated the new resources at the start of term and the new materials – ranging from board games and hula hoops to craft packs and art supplies – are already proving popular with youngsters. The other funding award issued in South Lanarkshire was £12,000 to Long Calderwood Primary in East Kilbride, both to increase the number of places at the “Rise and Shine at LC” facility and to add activities. Stewart Nicolson, the council’s head of education, said: “Each week, more than 1860 pupils across all of the council area benefit from breakfast clubs in our schools and the new resources are helping us to enhance both their enjoyment and their learning. “Including play resources within breakfast clubs is enabling improvements in children’s overall wellbeing and readiness to learn through social interaction, physical activity and creative engagement at the start of the school day, all of which can lead to greater concentration, motivation and emotional resilience. “Evidence indicates that it can also contribute positively to the development of key skills including communication, problem-solving and collaboration. As a result, all children, and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have similar access to high-quality early-learning experiences that support their attainment and personal development.” North Lanarkshire Council was awarded £57,024 to increase the number of places available at nine breakfast clubs, based at Chapelside, Hilltop and St Serf’s primaries in Airdrie, Kirkshaws and Riverbank primaries in Coatbridge, and St John Paul II in Uddingston, Sacred Heart in Bellshill, Dykehead Primary in Shotts and St Margaret of Scotland in Cumbernauld. Funding support was also given to St Dominic’s parent council, who received £12,480 to boost the school’s breakfast club; and to Achieve More Scotland, who will use their £11,953 from the Brighter Start Breakfast fund to create extra places and provide activities at their St Thomas’ Primary breakfast club. Shotts organisation Getting Better Together received the same sum to increase the number of places available at their provision for pupils of Stane, St Patrick’s and Dykehead primaries; and the Motherwell FC community trust was awarded £10,450 to set up a new provision with Starting Well North Lanarkshire. Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The expansion of breakfast club services is an integral part of our mission to eradicate child poverty – [they] are community staples and provide a warm, friendly place for children to start their day in the best possible way while supporting parents to work or study. “Alongside our free school meals programme, which is providing nutritious meals to more than 230,000 primary school pupils, we are ensuring that children, regardless of circumstances beyond their control, are afforded the opportunities they deserve. “While we know that a good breakfast can improve school attendance, learning and health, these clubs also help to address food insecurity for families.” * Don't miss the latest he adlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook ? Head on over and give us a like and share!
