More free breakfast clubs for Halifax schools as MP's lobbying reaps success
The breakfast clubs have already been having an impact on learning across the town
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Calderdale Lead!
I hope you’re having a good week so far - we’re finally in February, the days are staying (a little bit) lighter and the first signs of spring are beginning to show.
There’s so much doom and gloom about that I thought we’d share some good news in today’s edition.
Following more lobbying from Halifax MP Kate Dearden, the Government has announced that even more schools in the town are going to get free breakfast clubs!
Almost 1,000 children will benefit from the expansion of the programme across schools and I’ve full details below.
Plus, a couple of other positive nuggets in the Calderdale Digest.
So, on with the news…
Calderdale Digest
🚴🏻 The next steps in the £2.56million Active Todmorden project are taking shape, with work beginning soon on improving part of the National Cycle Network Route 66, known locally as ‘Tipside’.
The Active Todmorden project is one part of the £17.5million Todmorden Town Deal regeneration programme, which is funded by the UK Government and is being delivered in partnership with the Todmorden Town Deal Board.
Calderdale Council is leading on the Active Todmorden project, which aims to create healthier communities by enabling people to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday journeys and improve access to the town’s attractions, whilst maintaining a welcoming and attractive area.
The Council has already delivered upgraded lighting for Centre Vale Park as part of the project. The next phase of work will be the resurfacing of Tipside, to create an improved traffic-free route between Hallroyd Crescent and Todmorden town centre.
🎇 Bonfire period anti-social behaviour fell last year, with higher safety warden and police presences in and around the night itself helping lower incidents.
Calderdale councillors heard measures introduced by community protection partners were bearing fruit, with West Yorkshire Police reporting fewer incidents last November than in 2024.
In Calderdale as a whole there were 14 less incidents, down from 80 to 66, although there was some variation between wards.
There were two more cases of anti-social behaviour which needed dealing with in Halifax, but 16 less in the Calder Valley areas, when compared to the previous year.
The statistics covered the November 1 to 8 period.
In Halifax, eight extra incidents, up from three to 11, were in Park ward, with Skircoat, Warley and Illingworth and Mixenden all showing small increases, although Town ward saw a big decrease, down to four from 15 incidents the previous year.
In Calder Valley wards, only Luddenden Foot, Northowram and Shelf – in terms of policing falling under valley statistics rather than Halifax – Greetland and Stainland and Sowerby Bridge showed slight rises, with incidents down in other areas.
There was also a slight fall in incidents involving fireworks, down two from 28 to 26 compared to the previous year, with Park ward in Halifax showing the biggest increase, of seven (from nought).
Halifax headteacher excited for impact of breakfast clubs as more schools join scheme
By Andrew Greaves
More children in Halifax will soon benefit from free, daily breakfast clubs following the Government’s announcement of the next 500 schools that will offer the scheme from April.
Dean Field Primary school and St Malachy’s Primary School have been named on the list, after being urged to apply by Halifax MP Kate Dearden.
Ms Dearden said she was delighted more schools were being included in the scheme, which means 984 local children will be able to access a nutritious meal at the start of the day, ensuring they are ready to learn, supporting parents back into work and helping families to save up to £450 a year.
Alongside writing to local schools, Ms Dearden also wrote to the Government to highlight the positive impact free breakfast clubs are already having in Halifax.
She said: “After calling for more Halifax schools to be included in the next phase of this Labour Government’s rollout of free breakfast clubs, I’m delighted that Dean Field Primary and St Malachy’s Primary school have been selected.
“This means more children will go to school full and ready to learn, helping to boost attainment and tackle child poverty, whilst taking concrete steps to improve the finances of families across Halifax, boost parents’ work choices and improve children’s life chances.
“I can’t wait to see the new breakfast clubs first-hand and I want to thank the teachers and school staff who are instrumental in opening these transformative clubs.”
The clubs come alongside a raft of measures driven forward by Labour to cut the cost of living for families in Halifax including expanding free school meals, rolling out 30 hours of government-funded childcare, bringing down school uniform costs and securing the future of Best Start holiday clubs.
These clubs are central to Labour’s Plan for Change, breaking down barriers to opportunity by making sure every child starts the school day ready to learn – with research showing the clubs have a lasting impact on children’s behaviour, attendance and attainment.
Oliver Harper, Headteacher of St Malachy’s Primary school, said he was excited to see the impact of the new club for his school.
“We are thrilled that St Malachy’s has been selected to take part in the Government’s free breakfast club programme,” he added.
“This initiative will make a real difference to our pupils, ensuring they start the day ready to learn, while providing meaningful support to families at a time when it is very much needed.”
That’s it for this edition of The Calderdale Lead.
We’ll be back with another edition on Sunday and, as ever, if there’s something you think we should be following up on, feel free to drop me a line on calderdale@thelead.uk.
Enjoy the rest of the week and we’ll be back in your inboxes on Sunday!
Andrew
This is genuinely impactful policy work. The conncetion between nutritional access and learning readiness often gets lost in broader education debates but it's probably the most direct lever for improving outcomes. My sister taught elementary for years and always said the kids who ate breakfast in the morningperformed way better than those who didnt.