THE Breakfast Club at Holsworthy C of E Primary School welcomed its first ‘show cook’ on Wednesday, May 1, as part of its breakfasts from around the world series.

Breakfast Club is offered as part of the ‘Wrap Around’ care available for parents/carers at the school. This is daily from 7.45am until the start of the normal school day. Caroline Cann from the Breakfast Club team said: “We have recently re-vamped the menu we offer the children for breakfast, with particular emphasis on healthy eating. We aim to minimise the sugary cereals with choices such as beans/spaghetti on toast, scrambled eggs, fruit, yoghurts and a special treat day, such as pancakes!”

And pancakes were exactly what was on the menu on Wednesday when Waitrose & Partners head chef Dan James, assisted by Community Matters lead Marilyn Chidley, cooked up a tremendous American style pancake breakfast.

Waitrose are supporting the breakfast club’s adventure across the world through food. Caroline said: “Waitrose is a local business that has generously contributed to the school on numerous occasions in the past. With this in mind, I originally contacted their community lead, Marilyn Chidley, who represents them under their Community Matters scheme. Their response has been absolutely amazing and as a result, Waitrose generously offered to come and join the club on a regular basis with some ‘show cooking’.

“Marilyn suggested a theme of the children choosing a country they would like to ‘visit’ and with Waitrose chef, Dan James, they provide and cook a breakfast typical of that country. America was our first breakfast of pancakes served with the American flag in the middle. The children then chose a topping of fresh fruit, spreads, maple syrup and cured bacon. A magnificent feast with most children requesting seconds!

Caroline added: “We are travelling to Belgium for our second breakfast and the children are eagerly anticipating this morning!”

The school is absolutely delighted to be involved with such a super project with Waitrose and thanks were expressed to the local Holsworthy store, Marilyn and Dan for their generosity and hard work so far.

Waitrose & Partners were pleased to be able to help make the children’s breakfast time a bit more exciting. Marilyn said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to join these pupils in their breakfast club,  I have now met them on three occasions to talk about what food they would like to try.

“It was during a conversation with our branch manager Damian Heard, that he suggested the children may like to experience breakfasts from around the world. These girls and boys have really embraced this idea and were soon giving me lots of suggestions for the countries they would like to visit.”

Chef Dan added: “We are both delighted to see the children taking so much of an interest in the food they eat and the healthier options available to them.”

But the support doesn’t stop there. The pupils currently use an old table top oven for cooking lessons, clubs etc. The school has been chosen as one of Waitrose’s ‘Green Token’ scheme members for May and the hope is to raise enough money to replace the oven and purchase other much needed catering equipment for the children to use.

If anyone would like to support the school they are asked to pick up a token whilst shopping at Waitrose Holsworthy and pop it in the school’s box.