More free breakfast clubs for North East

HUNDREDS more free breakfast clubs are set to open across the North East amid fears school children are going hungry and unable to concentrate in class.

- EMILY GRAY Reporter

Half a million more children will benefit from Best Start free breakfast clubs from April.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer unveiled plans to roll out more government-funded clubs as the government invests £80m to give every child the best start in life.

Applications have opened for 307 more schools in the North East with 40% of pupils on free school meals.

The move offers immediate help to working parents juggling childcare costs by saving them up to £450 and giving back up to 95 hours of time - over two and a half working weeks each year.

Under the new scheme the amount of funding per child for mainstream schools has slightly increased to £1 a day.