Huge schools change this week to save parents £450 is 'something the Tories would never do'

Free Breakfast clubs for primary pupils "was never something the Tories were going to do", and shows the difference a Labour government is making, Bridget Phillipson says.

And the Education Secretary ruled out cuts to free school meals for infants - despite claims the benefit could be under threat in the spending review.

Ms Phillipson - who starts her day with coffee and sometimes a banana because “I like to practice what I preach” - spoke to the Mirror on the eve of the clubs being rolled out to the first 750 schools - a move that will save parents up to £450 a year.

"It's something that the Tories failed to do over many, many years in government," she said.

"The one idea that they have in education is to bring back tax breaks for private schools, which would jeopardise all of the investment that we're putting into free breakfast clubs and school-based nurseries and into our schools overall."

She said the clubs, which will see schools open half an hour early to provide a nutritious breakfast to children, was an example of Labour making "different choices" than the Tories would have.

The 30-minutes of additional free childcare every school day will amount to 95 hours a year - helping busy parents make mornings less frantic.

“I’ve spoken with lots of parents who say this will make a really big difference at the start of the school day,” Ms Phillipson said, “allowing them more flexibility about the hours that they work and a softer start to the school day too, so that when children arrive they have time with their friends as well as having a healthy breakfast.”

She added: “What school teachers in particular told me is that it makes a really big difference for children's behavior at the start of the day. They're much more settled. They're happy. They're ready to learn.”

As well as helping parents and children make the start of the day easier and more productive, Ms Phillipson say the move will help close the attainment gap between rich and poor students.

She said: “Crucially it will also make sure that all of our children get the best start in life.

“The evidence is clear that breakfast clubs have a really good impact on on attendance and on academic academic outcomes as well. This Labour government is determined to break the link between background and success.”

Some teachers and unions have raised concerns that the £30 million in funding for the pilot won’t be enough to pay for the project - and fear it could end up eating into already squeezed school budgets.

But Ms Phillipson said the pilot was intended to make sure the scheme is deliverable.

“Part of the reason for going first for the the early adopters is to make sure that we support schools to get the staffing right, that we make sure that in different kinds of schools they're able to deliver breakfast clubs,” she said.

“So that's schools serving rural communities, in city centres, smaller primary schools, larger primary schools - and this will allow us to test what works and make sure that we get it that we're totally confident that had a full national rollout that schools are able to deliver.“

Before last month’s Spring Statement, there were reports that the Education budget was set to be cut - with universal free school meals for infants among the programmes at risk of cuts.

In the end there was little about schools in Chancellor Rachel Reeves ’ speech - though a spending review for all government departments is in progress and expected to complete this spring.

But Ms Phillipson ruled out cuts to the programme.

“Any talk of cuts to universal infant free school meals is a lot of rubbish,” she said.

“It isn't going to happen. In fact, we're investing more in support for children in schools through breakfast clubs. Alongside that, at the [November] Budget, even though we needed to stabilise the public finances, the chancellor invested more in education.

“She was clear that that Labour governments prioritise education and the money that's invested to be into our schools is going to make a really big difference.”

Ms Phillipson also hailed the 5.5% pay rise agreed with teachers as recognition of “their hard work and professionalism even in the context of very challenging public finances.”

And she hit out at the Conservative Party for opposing measures ensuring only teachers who are qualified or on the road to qualification can teach in state schools.

“Teaching should be the go-to profession for our best graduates,” she said.

“It's a common sense measure that makes sure our teachers get the support that they need.

“I find it staggering that the Tories continue to appeal what is a measure designed to ensure that we recognise teaching as the brilliant profession that it is.”