AN innovative project offering pupils in Scotland the chance to pick up a free breakfast from a mobile cart is to be extended across the UK following a successful pilot.
The “grab-n-go” scheme is based on a similar model used in the US and Canada and will give pupils easy access to nutritious food before class.
During the pilot, every pupil in two primaries and a secondary school in East Renfrewshire had access to free cereal, toast, and fruit.
Researchers from Glasgow Caledonian University surveyed almost 500 pupils and 39 teachers during an initial trial in Barrhead and found many children skipped breakfast completely before school.
Pupils could help themselves to food from a breakfast cart, either before the start of the school day, or during the first half hour.
Professor John McKendrick, co-director of the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “An overwhelming majority of teachers were in favour of schools offering breakfast food provision.
“The teachers surveyed were able to recall specific examples of students engaging less in learning on account of not eating breakfast. We also observed and talked with pupils. It is clear that the breakfast cart provided a service that was used and welcomed by staff and pupils alike.
“Over the course of five weeks, 827 children collected food from the cart. The vast majority of pupils lifted toast, 75%, with one quarter picking up at least one piece of fruit.”
Pupil surveys show skipping breakfast is common among secondary school pupils.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here