This Labour government has tripled investment in breakfast clubs across the country.

As a former teacher, I know how important it is that children do not start the day hungry.

Having a good breakfast has been proven to improve attendance, attainment, and chances in life.

I know that this measure will be really important for lots of families across Barnsley South.

In fact, research has shown that over 19,800 children in Barnsley could benefit from free breakfast clubs, with Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill now making its way through Parliament.

Not only do healthy school breakfasts benefit children in a number of different ways, but they are also a valuable source of childcare for parents at the beginning of the day.

These clubs are estimated to save parents around £450 every year. Over half of parents say that they have issues when finding formal childcare that is flexible enough to fit their needs.

Four in ten mothers say that they have had to work fewer hours than they would like to because of the cost of childcare.

The establishment of these breakfast clubs are a step in the right direction towards boosting parents’ work choices, and children’s life chances.

We know that providing primary school children with free breakfast clubs works from the excellent work that Magic Breakfast have been doing to ensure that children, including those in Barnsley, do not start the day hungry, and are ready to learn.

The charity delivers over 300,000 free breakfasts every day to children across England and Scotland.

I was pleased to visit Hoyland Springwood Primary School to see their breakfast club in action. Children who had received free breakfast as part of the scheme told me about the difference this makes to them.

I raised the work that Magic Breakfast have been doing in Parliament last week, and I am pleased that the Government are building on the work that charities do to make free breakfast clubs available to all children across the country.

This is in stark contrast to the previous Conservative governments, under which these clubs were available in just one in ten primary schools across England.

The commitment to delivering free breakfast clubs to all primary school children across the country is part of the government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which includes measures to help tackle attendance issues, and ensure that teachers and schools are involved in ensuring that every child is safeguarded and protected.

Where you are from shouldn’t determine your chances in life – if you work hard, you should be able to get on.

That is what this mission will restore.