Commenting on the opening of applications for the Department for Education's pilot of school breakfast clubs, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union, the NAHT said: 

“There is no doubt that a nutritious breakfast can help ensure children are able to focus and ready to learn; we support Labour’s ambition to make sure no child starts the day hungry.

“It is sensible that this scheme is to be piloted on a voluntary basis, so that we can learn the lessons of what does and doesn’t work.

“There are a number of important issues that will need to be teased out through the pilot, including how schools that already provide wraparound care can support the scheme. It is critical that the Department for Education listens to the feedback of schools that participate in the pilot before moving on to a wider rollout.

"The scheme must be fully funded, and it is important that it doesn’t drive additional workload for already stretched school leaders.”