An assistant headteacher shares how providing breakfast boosts student punctuality and supports families in need at Holly Hill Church School in Rubery.
Rubery: Getting kids to school on time can be tough, especially in winter. An assistant headteacher has found a great solution.
At Holly Hill Church School, every child gets breakfast. This is thanks to the Tesco Fruit and Veg for Schools scheme. The school hoped the food would help kids focus, but it also improved their punctuality.
Michelle Evans, the school bursar, buys the fruit and veg each weekend with a Tesco gift card. She wants to ease the burden on parents in this deprived area of Birmingham.
Assistant headteacher Cally Parsonage says the kids love the breakfast. They rush to see what fruit and veg they get each morning. This program helps them try new foods and promotes healthier habits.
Breakfast time also encourages conversations about food, which helps build vocabulary. The school aims to help kids live life to the fullest, as John Wesley said.
Parents appreciate the program too. They talk about how their kids are eating breakfast at school. Research shows many teachers are bringing food for students, highlighting the need for such initiatives.
The Tesco project, in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation, aims to provide over 140,000 students with daily fruit or veg. The next phase will introduce slow cookers, allowing kids to prepare meals at school.
With this program, Tesco hopes to increase kids’ fruit and veg intake by 23%. This could lead to better nutrition overall, helping kids grow healthier.
Michelle Evans notes that this program reduces the pressure on parents to provide breakfast. With rising costs, any relief is welcome.
The school also runs coffee mornings, a food bank pantry, and after-school clubs to support families. They even engage in local initiatives to provide Christmas gifts for children.
