Early breakfasts for Barry schoolchildren (From Barry And District News)

Early breakfasts for Barry schoolchildren

A BARRY primary school has stolen a lead on the Welsh Assembly by introducing a breakfast club for schoolchildren before the nationwide launch of the official scheme in 2006.

Oak Field Primary School head teacher Julia Williams said: "The breakfast club has been running for over a year, since Easter 2003.

"We have between 40 and 60 children who come to the club. Most are regulars but some come at different times.

"It's been very successful so far."

The Assembly recently announced that every primary school child in Wales will get free breakfasts by September 2006.

A pilot project is about to get under way ahead of the scheme being rolled out across Wales.

Jane Davidson, minister for education and lifelong learning, said: "Breakfast has long been recognised as the most important meal of the day - and with good reason!

"There's a wealth of evidence that supports our view that a healthy breakfast leads to better health, concentration and behaviour in schools.

"This exciting project will have a very major impact on the health and wellbeing of children in Wales.

"I would expect that during the academic year commencing September 2006, all primary schools will have the opportunity to participate.

"£1.5m has been allocated for this year, with a further £3.5 million available for 2005/2006.

"The scheme is an integral part of the Assembly government's health challenge Wales initiative, which asks all of us to work together to improve health and wellbeing - starting with our children.

"We know that health patterns are laid down early in life and that an unhealthy lifestyle in childhood can lead to diabetes, heart disease and even cancer in later life."