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<p>The government is committed to supporting school breakfast provisions. Accordingly,
it is investing up to £24 million to extend the National School Breakfast Programme
until July <ins class="ministerial">2023</ins><del class="ministerial">2022</del>.
This funding will support up to 2,500 schools in disadvantaged areas, meaning that
thousands of children from low-income families will be offered free nutritious breakfasts
to better assist their attainment, wellbeing and readiness to be taught.</p><p>As
of 22 December 2021, 1,245 schools signed up for the programme, and 847 schools placed
food orders. The government will continue to work with its supplier, Family Action<strong>,</strong>
to monitor relevant data and consider suitable occasions to share more information
on the programme as it progresses.</p><p>Despite the number of challenges faced by
schools due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the department has noted positive levels of
interest in the programme. The enrolment process for the programme is still underway.
The department has extended free breakfast provision beyond April 2022, allowing schools
to receive free provisions until the end of July 2022. As a result, any school signing
up to the programme now is still able to benefit from two terms worth of free food.</p>
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