How this supermarket is helping children get what they need in school
'We want to help every child thrive,' says headteacher Dan Crossman at Marlborough St Mary's Primary School in Wiltshire.
'The level of need at our school is very high. We have a higher than average pupil premium and a higher than average number of SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) children to look after.'
Like other schools striving to meet the needs of their community, Marlborough St Mary's has decided to find alternative routes to provide the extra cash they need.
This is where Tesco Stronger Starts comes in. It's a national grant scheme that helps children access essentials such as nutritious food, sports equipment and educational resources.
Since its launch in 2023, the programme has already supported over 3.5 million children.
Charitable causes are chosen via the blue token scheme, where Tesco customers vote for the organisation of their choice using tokens given at the checkout.
Continued support
This summer, Tesco is also encouraging customers to support the Stronger Starts fund by purchasing items that include a 10p donation* – this will go towards providing more grants to schools across the UK.
Schools receive pupil premium funding based on various criteria, such as the number of children eligible for free school meals or the benefits their parents claim.
However, there are many more families who fall through the net.
'We have two sets of families,' Dan explains. 'We've got the children who are identified via the pupil premium - they are easy to track.
'Then, you've got families who are working but still don't have enough money for even basic needs.'
One of the reasons the Tesco Stronger Starts fund works for Marlborough St Mary's is that it is a community-based scheme.
'There's a huge amount of goodwill from people who want to make a difference in their local community,' says Dan.
'We felt this scheme perfectly lined up with that. It's our local Tesco, where our families shop.'
Life-enriching experiences
Schools can use extra funding from Tesco Stronger Starts to meet their families' needs, from subsidising breakfast clubs to, as in the case of Marlborough St Mary's, purchasing extras like gardening tools.
With the latter, the school is encouraging children to get involved with growing the food that's cooked and served on-site.
So, how quickly are the effects of extra help, such as access to regular, healthy food, felt within a school? The answer, says Dan, is almost immediately.
"Tesco Stronger Starts funding has made a real impact on the children at our school. It has contributed towards tools and seeds and equipment that allow our children to see how the fruit and veg they eat are grown.
'As a school team, we're deeply committed to ensuring that all of our children, regardless of background or financial circumstance, receive the best possible education and also life-enriching experiences during their time with us.
'No child should miss out on an experience – whether that's a nutritious meal or a place on a residential trip, simply because of a lack of funds.'
This year saw Dan Crossman win a silver award for 'Primary School Headteacher of the Year' in the Pearson National Teaching Awards.
And for him and his team, the key to a great education is happy kids and happy staff.
He says: 'By sourcing extra funding, like that from Tesco Stronger Starts, we've been able to achieve that – which I think is a necessity and not a luxury.'
Valuable donations
To help children return to school, Tesco Stronger Starts is donating 10p from selected products, which will provide direct funding for schools.
Pick up items from brands such as Nivea, Aquafresh and Haliborange in-store between 21 July and 12 August and, with every purchase, 10p will be donated to the Stronger Starts fund, helping provide direct grants to schools in time for the new school year.
Learn more here about how your donation, no matter how small, can make a huge difference.
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