The crucial importance of kids eating a good breakfast in the morning can never be underestimated. Children who don’t eat before a busy school day won’t only feel hungry, their learning ability will also be significantly impacted.
And to fully understand this impact, Kellogg’s produced the 2013 report A Lost Education: the reality of hunger in the classroom.
Conducted with more than 700 teachers in England and Wales and based on research by UK organisation YouGov, the report explores the impact of hunger in the classroom, its effects on learning and the long-term implications for our children.
And the results are eye-opening.
1. Exam results are affected
Hunger and fatigue go hand in hand, so children who haven’t eaten a breakfast in the morning are likely to feel lethargic and lacking in concentration, says A Lost Education. And according to the teachers surveyed, this can lead to a negative effect on exam results. 51 per cent of teachers say being hungry in the classroom is a significant factor in children not performing as well in exams.
2. Kids who don’t eat breakfast are more tired
Kids need food for energy, particularly in the morning after ‘fasting’ all night. So kids who go to school without breakfast will lack this energy, inhibiting them to get the most out of lessons, educational outings and other school-based activities. In fact, according to Kellogg’s A Lost Education report, 26 per cent of teachers have seen a child fall asleep in the classroom through lack of food or drink.
3. Significant ‘learning time’ is lost
According to the report, one hour a day is lost in learning time with a child every time they start school without breakfast. So If a child arrived at school hungry once a week they would lose 8.4 weeks of learning time – 70 per cent of a term – over the whole of their primary school life.
4. Hungry children need extra help
31 per cent of teachers surveyed in A Lost Education say they have to spend a disproportionately higher amount of teaching time with children who arrive at school hungry, than with those who don’t. According to the research, 31 per cent say the ratio of spending teaching time with children who arrive at school hungry versus those who don’t is 60:40, while 17 per cent say it's as high as 70:30.
5. ...impacting on the rest of the classroom
44 per cent of teachers say kids being hungry in the classroom is a significant factor in them having to work harder to prepare these pupils for exams, while 46 per cent say it’s a significant factor in them having to work harder to teach the children the curriculum. This puts a strain on a teacher’s time and resources, impacting their ability to deliver the best education possible to all children.
These findings are exactly why Kellogg’s is at the forefront of ensuring kids are given the best start in the morning. Kellogg’s Breakfast Clubs – which are nationwide in schools and community settings – encourage breakfast consumption by working to provide a good breakfast for the 1 in 7* children in Ireland who go without (*according to the Irish Health Behaviour in School Aged Children Study 2006).
And research shows they work, with 69 per cent of teachers who took part in the study saying that Breakfast Clubs have a positive impact on their ability to teach their class.
If you want to get involved in a Kellogg’s Breakfast Club, find out more information here.
