A million pound push to improve children’s health and performance at school has been launched.

It is claimed thousands of young people could benefit from a new council scheme which encourages more schools to set up breakfast clubs.

It is an attempt to teach children at a formative age to develop good dietary habits and a healthy lifestyle.

The authority has invested £1million in helping schools to establish the clubs for reception-age pupils and young people in their first year at secondary school.

The council is offering to subsidise clubs to the tune of £1 per pupil per day and offer free snack packs, leaving schools to set any further charges for parents.

The first phase of the scheme was launched today at Newport School in Newport Road, Leyton, which is the first primary to join the scheme.

Speaking at the event, council leader Chris Robbins said: “Many young people aren’t getting the nutrition they need, if young people are fed well, they learn well and they achieve well.”

“6,000 young people are going to be affected by this program, the year groups are very important, so we thought we’d give them a good start.”

Newport School recently received an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted under headteacher Prue Barnes.

Ms Barnes, who has overseen rapid improvement at the school since 2010, said: “We’re really proud that it’s starting at Newport, we strongly endorse schemes that promote healthy lifestyles for children.”

“These are the most important thing in the world to a parent and carer and we are able to say that every child in reception will have a healthy snack to give them a positive start to their learning.”