North East Mayor Kim McGuinness put new grants for childcare and action to make sure youngsters start the day well fed at the heart of her plans to tackle child poverty, as she visited one school’s breakfast club in Peterlee, County Durham.
The Mayor met with children and teachers at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School on the last day of a series of visits and meetings to see first hand the good work going on in communities to support children in their early years.
Mayor McGuinness formed the country’s first Child Poverty Reduction Unit at the end of last year and its members have since been going to see charities, community groups and services working with children and families in each of the North East’s seven local authority areas.
She said: “Listening to families, charities, schools and many other community organisations over the last two months, it’s clear our region is united behind our mission to tackle child poverty and break down barriers to opportunity.
“Our child poverty action plan will put in place the foundations to give every child in the North East the best possible start in life. We’ll be using every tool at our disposal, rolling out support in communities and opening up the new Mayor’s Childcare Grant.
“We’ll take action with local authorities to get free school meals to all eligible pupils through auto-enrolment, as an immediate staging post to my ambition to expand this support to as many pupils as possible across the region.
“I want to see breakfast clubs rolled out much more widely in North East schools, as part of efforts to cut the cost of the school day and help parents balance work and childcare: putting money in pockets, and ensuring children start the school day ready to learn and thrive.”
She said that the CPRU will bring a draft action plan to the North East Combined Authority’s cabinet in June, with proposals for the first wave of investment in community-based schemes.
Mayor McGuinness saw first hand the benefit of breakfast clubs and free school meals when she joined pupils and teachers at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School.
Francesca Craik, Chief Standards Officer, Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, which runs the school, said: “Breakfast clubs play a vital role in supporting children, providing them with more than just a meal — they offer a foundation for success. Research shows that these clubs improve pupils’ social skills, behaviour, and educational attainment while fostering healthy eating habits.
“When children start the day with a nutritious breakfast, they can concentrate better, engage more fully in learning, and thrive. Unfortunately, not all families have the means to provide this essential meal. That’s why breakfast clubs are so important – as a Trust we are committed to supporting clubs in all our schools — they ensure every child gets the best possible start to their day, paving the way for a healthier and more equitable future for all children.”
Last week the Mayor also spent time with parents at the Galafield Family Hub in Newcastle supported by a family sensory learning session, to help babies’ development and build parents’ confidence.
The Mayor and Combined Authority has already committed £2.7m in investment to support families, schools and employers in the academic year 2024/25.
This is delivering a variety of different family learning opportunities in schools around the region, including sessions to provide opportunities for parents and children to build relationships with one another, with their peers and with schools, developing confidence and skills. The sessions are free of charge and based in community settings to break down barriers to access.
The Mayor is working closely with local authorities to support auto-enrolment to free school meals, and with ministers, private sector and charities to make more support available through breakfast clubs.
The Mayor’s Childcare Grant will pilot in Spring this year, with the offer to be evaluated and expanded late in 2025.