The charity also delivered a petition to Downing Street containing over 1,300 individual messages from pupils at Magic Breakfast partner schools. The messages highlighted the challenges of classroom hunger, the benefits of school breakfasts and why they believe more children should have access to them.
Magic Breakfast says the current policy proposals risk leaving out some of the most vulnerable pupils including older pupils with special educational needs and those in the most disadvantaged secondary schools.
Kathy Voss, campaigns manager at Magic Breakfast, said: “We have been working to support children across England & Scotland for more than two decades. Whilst there are still shamefully high levels of child poverty in communities across the country, we do welcome the steps taken by the Government to introduce universal primary school breakfast provision in the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill.
“However, without urgent action to close key gaps, too many children could still be left behind. It is essential that no child should be too hungry to learn. As our research shows, investing in breakfast provision enables improved educational outcomes, mental health and classroom behaviour, and can generate long-term returns to the economy. Every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, starting with a nutritious breakfast. At Magic Breakfast, we’re not stopping until that’s a reality.”
Find out how you can support Magic Breakfast at www.magicbreakfast.com.