It's a good start! First round of free school breakfasts rolled out

NEW GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE LOOKS TO BOOST PUPILS AND SAVE PARENTS TIME AND MONEY

- By TESS RUSHIN

SCHOOLS across Leicestershire have served up their first free breakfasts as part of a £7 million government trial.

The free breakfast clubs will see 16 schools across the city and county dish up meals and early years childcare as part of the initiative when pupils returned after the Easter break.

The Department for Education (DFE) said the scheme would support parents by giving them additional time at the start of the day to attend appointments, get to work on time and run errands.

According to the government, this means parents would be able to save up to 95 additional hours and £450 per year if their child attended free breakfast clubs every day.

Schools across Leicestershire are part of the 750 free clubs to be delivered across the country ahead of the national rollout offering breakfast and 30 minutes of free childcare.

Schools in Evington, South Wigston, Birstall, Shepshed and Hinckley are among those selected to take part in the city and county-wide scheme.