LABOUR is calling for catch-up breakfast clubs before school to help children recover from 109 days of lost face-to-face learning.

The push comes as leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow education secretary Kate Green prepare to kick-start a “Bright Future Taskforce” today, during a visit to a school in Dagenham, east London.

According to the party, the taskforce will deliver a long-term strategy for children’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Marking the day that schools reopen fully in England, Labour said its analysis of Government data indicated that children have each lost an average of 109 face-to-face school days since the first lockdown in March 2020.

Labour said breakfast clubs would help make up for this lost time.

The party said breakfast clubs would allow children extra time to socialise, while also giving schools additional learning periods to provide targeted tuition or catch-up support.

It comes as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on Sunday confirmed his department was considering resorting to five-term school years, which would entail cutting short the annual summer holiday, and introducing longer school days to help pupils claw back lost learning time.

Sir Keir said: “The Government has treated our children as an afterthought throughout this pandemic and now they are being forgotten in our recovery.

“I am announcing our Bright Future Taskforce to ensure every child can recover from the impacts of the pandemic and every child is able to reach their potential.

“Labour wants to see our children’s recovery at the heart of efforts to rebuild our country so we can make Britain the best place to grow up in.”

Frontbencher Ms Green said: “The Government’s catch-up plans fall woefully short of the support needed to help children recover from the pandemic, condemning the life chances of a generation of young people.

“Ministers should listen to Labour’s call for breakfast clubs to give every child a healthy breakfast, more time to play with their friends and extra time for teachers to provide targeted catch-up support.

“The Government must be more ambitious for children’s recovery.”