Pupils give Morecambe school's new 'Book and Breakfast Week' the seal of approval

Thursday, 13 March 2025 09:12

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Pupils at Sandylands with mascot Sandy the Seal

Children at a Morecambe primary school have enjoyed a special week of books and breakfast - helped by a friendly seal!

Pupils at Sandylands Primary School took part in its first 'Book and Breakfast Week' to promote the importance of healthy eating and reading, watched over by school mascot Sandy.

Inspired by a government scheme trialling free breakfast clubs, head teacher Allison Hickson and head cook Sue Varey devised the idea to combine cookery with book-ery in a calm, communal setting.

Up to 70 families opted in to the trial week, where delicious daily choices included fruit platters, boiled eggs, crumpets, beans on toast, bagels with cream cheese and tomatoes, and overnight oats or pancakes with berries.

“We want to provide services to enable parents to work, including wrap around care, so we paired healthy eating with supported reading to nourish both body and mind. ‘Book and Breakfast Week’ enabled us to build on Sandylands’ culture of welcoming and supportive inclusivity, giving children the opportunity to relax, read and chat with friends and teachers in a comfortable, community environment.”

Generating great feedback and positive changes in children’s behaviour and engagement, as well as clean plates, the school is keen to make the scheme a more regular part of the curriculum, even without official funding.

This includes plans for regular Friday Book and Breakfast sessions and a pop-up food shack providing after-school healthy takeaways, making relaxing and chatting over family dinner something to relish.

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