ABOVE AND BEYOND
All this said, are there any drawbacks? Despite seemingly always being on the go, children – much like adults – sometimes need time to simply crash out and do nothing. The benefits of breakfast, lunchtime and after-school clubs can’t be overstated, but there’s a balance to be struck between giving children the time and resources to forge new interests, and filling their school calendars to the point where they burn out. With the UK’s workforce including 17.5 million parents and carers, wraparound care is becoming increasingly important. For those balancing work and childcare, breakfast clubs and after-school activities can provide relief during term time and holidays, while also creating a healthy routine for children. Students attending breakfast clubs can pick from a range of healthy food choices and socialise with their peers before morning lessons, boosting their concentration, behaviour and overall performance throughout the school day. Research shows that children who eat regular breakfasts achieve on average two GCSE grades higher than those who don’t. For any disadvantaged families, breakfast and after-school clubs are a vital form of support. In partnership “In partnership with the Magic Breakfast charity, some schools provide free breakfasts on a daily basis, where pupils enjoy a healthy start to the day”
with the Magic Breakfast charity, some schools provide free breakfasts on a daily basis, where students can enjoy a healthy, sociable start to the day with their peers. While it’s true that schools will vary in their ability to offer a comprehensive range of activities and clubs, almost all have provision in place to make them affordable and accessible to families. Many headteachers will own up to asking prospective members of staff about their
talents and passions outside their subject area, and quite often end up harnessing these free of charge or at a very low cost to pupils. Other activities run by outside organisations and involving specialist teaching will often cost more than those run internally, but what matters is that families have as much choice as possible to ensure their children are having fun and developing new interests – as well as taking it easy.
CAMBRIDGE EDUCATION GUIDE 63
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