How a Breakfast Club at Ross High School is helping pupils and the local community

Our breakfast café at Ross High School runs every morning from 7.50am to 8.30am and is open to all pupils. When the café was first set up, the initial costs were high, but thanks to the generous donation from the East Lothian Educational Trust, we were able to purchase two new toasters, which were later upgraded to a catering toaster. We also bought essential equipment including cups, plates, chopping boards, knives and takeaway bags, allowing the café to operate efficiently each morning.

The funding allowed us to sign up to and pay the charity Magic Breakfast, who now provide all of our food items. We get a weekly delivery of bagels, loaves of bread and crumpets for our mainstream pupils and cereal and UHT milk for our ASN provision, and can supply butter, jam and juice for the pupils.

This initiative has been a success throughout the year. On busy days we have provided breakfast for over 70 pupils, while on quieter days around 20–30 pupils attend. Pupils can meet friends in the canteen to enjoy freshly toasted breakfast or take it away to eat later. Any remaining products not picked up at the breakfast club are made available at the school entrance for those who may not have a snack with them, or latecomers to be eaten at break or lunchtime. We have also partnered with the local foodbank and Fa’side Community Kitchen to donate any leftover products, ensuring the local community of Tranent have also benefitted from our initiative.  This has been a great addition to our school community and has ensured all our pupils have access to food every day so they are ready to learn.