The Wales Labour Party made a manifesto commitment prior to the 2001 National Assembly election to introduce free school breakfasts to primary schools across
The initiative was introduced incrementally on a pilot basis which started in schools in a small number of Communities First wards in September 2004.
The WLGA has commissioned research work from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on the impact of the pilot stage. Discussions have been held with Welsh Assembly Government officials to consider their evaluation of the pilot project and the research by NFER. Initial findings show that there has been a reasonable take up of breakfasts. Although it is still too early to make a full evaluation of the impact on children, anecdotally children who previously would not have eaten breakfast are taking advantage of the scheme with positive effects on learning and concentration.
Further information is available from the NFER website. www.nfer.ac.uk
For more information contact: Daisy Seabourne