MP visits free school breakfast club in High Green

Marie Tidball MP, the Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, recently visited High Green Primary School’s free breakfast club.

The school’s breakfast club sees pupils come into school early to have a breakfast, including toast and fruit. Children also have the opportunity to play with their friends, as well as do some physical activity, to start the day off in the right way. Joined by Headteacher Lucy Harding, and School Business Manager Dawn Aldridge, Marie played with the children and sat down with the pupils whilst they had some breakfast.

High Green Primary School is one of two schools in Sheffield to be selected as part of the government’s free breakfast club pilot, with High Green launching their breakfast club last April. The second wave of breakfast clubs will start to roll out at schools nationwide this April.

The Labour Government will introduce free breakfast clubs in every primary school in the UK. This is part of the Government’s ‘Best Start in Life’ offer. Other initiatives include the introduction of 30 hours free childcare, introduced at the start of the school year last September.

During her visit to the school, Marie also saw some of the school’s facilities. She visited some of the classes in action, including violin lessons, and spoke to the children about her role as an MP, as well as learning about some of the work that the pupils are doing in their lessons. She saw the school’s new SEND space, ‘The Nest’.

Marie had the chance to visit some of the school’s outdoor areas too. One of the school’s latest additions is their allotment, with a raised bed for every class. Fourteen parents, grandparents and carers, from the school’s community, came together to bring the allotment to life and make it suitable for use by the children. Pupils will start using the allotment during Gardening Club, which will launch after the Easter break, on a Thursday afternoon.

Marie Tidball MP said:

“It was so lovely to share some fruit with the children and get stuck in with play dough! Every child deserves the chance to start the day supported and ready to learn, and I’m so pleased that children in High Green are taking advantage of this opportunity with such zest!““I was so impressed by the wonderful outdoor spaces, including the woodland space for their Forest School. I used to have an allotment, so I was excited to hear about the school community’s work to bring this life – hopefully I’ll be able to come to the newly launched Gardening Club after Easter to get my hands dirty!”

Lucy Harding, Headteacher, said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome Marie Tidball to our school and share something we are incredibly proud of, 'The Nest'. This space truly represents our vision of helping every child to be the best version of themselves. By transforming our former computer suite into a calm, nurturing environment, we are strengthening our inclusive practice and supporting children’s wellbeing and readiness to learn.“The positive impact has already been felt across the school community. We are now excited to extend this provision into the outdoor space next term, creating an in and out learning environment that will further support children to regulate, engage and thrive.”