IT’S bagels for breakfast at a Newton Abbot primary school thanks to a donation to provide nutritious food in the mornings.

All Saints Marsh C of E Academy received £1,500 from a Tesco scheme after customers voted each time they shopped.

Headteacher Liam O’Sullivan said: ‘For small schools like us, grants like this allow us to give our children the start that they deserve.

‘As a school community we have pulled together to gain access to funds to support a project that is so valuable at our school.

‘Thank you to everyone who placed their tokens in the pot at Tesco.

‘I am truly blown away from the commitment of everyone in our school family to better enhance the opportunities our children have.’

The cash will help boost the school’s pastoral as providing a health breakfast at the start of the school day supports the youngster to focus and increases their ability to concentrate.

With the support from Tesco and the National Schools Breakfast Programme, school staff say fewer pupils are feeling unwell during morning sessions, behaviour has improved and the number of children late for school has decreased as they want to come in early to breakfast club with their friends.

To boost funds for extra food and activity equipment, Tesco is introducing a £5m grant programme, in partnership with Groundwork UK, to give children across the UK a stronger start in life.

Tesco’s Stronger Starts, previously Tesco Bags of Help and Tesco Community Grants, has already provided over £100 million to more than 50,000 projects across Britain.

Jason Tarry, Tesco UK CEO, said: ‘Helping schools and children’s groups access the food and resources they need is vitally important in getting children a stronger start in life. Children with enough food have more energy, better concentration, and ultimately achieve more too.’

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said: ‘As a community charity, we have seen first-hand how schools and other groups supporting young people have been playing a much bigger role in ensuring children are getting a healthy start to the day and getting access to spaces and services to support physical activity and mental health.’