Free school breakfast clubs launched at four schools in Preston and Chorley
Schools in Preston and Chorley join the Government's initiative for healthier school meals by introducing free breakfast clubs.
Children from four schools in Preston and Chorley will benefit from a healthier start to their day as new free school breakfast clubs open from April 13, 2026, alongside 112 other clubs in schools across the North West.
The central Lancashire schools welcoming the new breakfast clubs include Medlar-with-Wesham Church of England Primary School in Preston, and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Coppull St John’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School and Clayton-le-Woods Church of England Primary School in Chorley.
The latest roll-out comes as the Government continues its overhaul of school meals, which aims to remove high-sugar and deep-fried food from menus in favour of healthier options, amid the health crisis facing children.
Under the plans, schools will no longer be able to offer unhealthy ‘grab and go’ options like sausage rolls and pizza every day, while deep-fried food will be banned completely. The aim is also to serve fruit instead of sugary treats for the majority of the school week.
Naomi Parkinson, headteacher at Ingol Community Primary School, which already provides a breakfast club for pupils, said: “We are deeply committed to providing high-quality, nutritious school meals that both meet and exceed the School Food Standards.
“Our approach goes beyond simply serving food. It is about educating, empowering and inspiring our pupils to understand where their food comes from and take ownership of the choices they make.
“Our thriving school allotment plays a central role in this mission, with pupils across year groups taking part in our gardening club, learning to grow a variety of fresh produce, including peppers, chillies and wild garlic. This home-grown produce is then used directly in our school kitchen, giving children real insight into sustainable, healthy eating.
“We make sure children have a voice in what we serve in our schools, while following the nutritional standards, helping to empower pupils and increase their engagement with healthy eating.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Today we are launching the most ambitious overhaul of school food in a generation, and it is long overdue.
“Every child deserves to have delicious, nutritious food at school that gives them the energy to concentrate, learn and thrive, meals that children will actually recognise and enjoy, backed by robust compliance so that good standards on paper become good food on the plate.
“From our free breakfast clubs to extending free school meals to over half a million more children, this means good-quality food from the moment children arrive at school to the end of the day.”