Answers issued to Members on 8 August 2007
[R] signifies that the Member has declared an interest.[W] signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.Contents
Questions to the Minister for Education, Children and Young People
Questions to the Minister for Education, Children and Young People
Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central): What evaluation has been undertaken of the Free School Breakfasts initiative and when will the results of any study be published? (WAQ50264)
The Minister for Education, Children and Young People (Jane Hutt): Cardiff Institute for Society, Health and Ethics (CISHE), Cardiff University, are undertaking the evaluation of the Primary School Free Breakfast initiative. The evaluation was designed and commissioned prior to the initiative being rolled out across Wales to maximise learning and has included schools in both Communities First and non-Communities First areas.
The evaluation uses a cluster randomised controlled trial to examine the processes employed by schools in delivering free breakfasts and focuses on the impact on pupils’ eating habits and their concentration and behaviour in school. Data has been collected from pupils in more than 100 schools at the start, after four months and 12 months.
An initial assessment of early progress was published in April 2005 and a summary of the process evaluation was published in April 2007. The full report will be available on completion of translation. In addition, a number of papers reporting on methods used have been published in scientific journals. The final report is due for publication in the autumn. Reports available to date can be found at: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/policy_strategy_and_planning/schools/breakfast_initiative/?lang=en