Angela welcomed the Prime Minister, the Education Secretary and the Greater Manchester Mayor to a local school to herald the launch of a new Breakfast Club.
Sir Keir Starmer and Angela were joined by Bridget Phillipson and Andy Burnham to officially open the new free Best Start Breakfast Club at Holy Trinity C of E Primary School in St Peters ward, which is one of 500 across the country to launch this week.
The clubs offer 30 minutes of free childcare, a healthy start for kids and a little more breathing room before the school bell rings.
Parents of children at Holy Trinity will be supported with additional time at the start of the day to attend appointments, get to work on time and run errands. In total, this means parents will be able to save up to 95 additional hours and £450 per year.
Angela said: “The new club at Holy Trinity shows this Government’s commitment to putting children first, supporting working families and breaking down barriers to opportunity.
“It was an honour to welcome these special guests to Holy Trinity as we celebrated the start of us saving money for local families and delivering the best start in life that children across Ashton, Audenshaw, Droylsden and Dukinfield deserve.”
“With the cost of living at the forefront of parents’ minds in my constituency, these clubs will be a lifeline for working families simply trying to get by.
“Delivering on Labour’s Plan for Change, the landmark free breakfast clubs are proven to get more children school-ready and support parents with the drop off.
“These clubs sit alongside our action to tackle the cost of living. Best Start Holiday Clubs are saving parents £300 outside of term time and Best Start family hubs are building on the legacy of Sure Start while providing free services such as stay and play.
“New Government laws, set to be passed this year, will tackle the spiralling cost of uniform and save parents £50 on their back-to-school shop.”
During the visit to Ashton, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “As a parent, I know that the combined pressures of family life and work can often feel impossible to juggle. That is why our manifesto promised to make parents lives easier and put more money in their pockets with free breakfast clubs. Under a year since we came into office, this government is delivering that through our Plan for Change.
“The rollout of free breakfast clubs is a truly game-changing moment for families in this country. They mean parents will no longer be hamstrung by rigid school hours and have the breathing space they need to beat the morning rush, attend work meetings and doctors’ appointments, or run errands. And crucially, it means better life chances for children.
“By making these clubs free and universal, we’re doing something that previous governments have never done. We’re going further and faster to deliver the change working families deserve. That’s the change this government was elected to deliver.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson added: “Free breakfast clubs are a central part of our Plan for Change. At a time when there is so much pressure on families, they provide real help with the cost of living and ensure children start the day with a nutritious meal.
“On top of the hectic school run, parents should not have to worry about how to balance work and getting their children fed and ready for school. These clubs will break down barriers and help children settle in, focus and get the most out of their learning.
“We are delivering on our promises and giving every child the best start in life while making sure families get the support they need, wherever they live.”