Ten years after the Coalition for the Protection of Children began serving breakfasts to needy students at a single school, the programme has grown to cover a dozen facilities.

Sheelagh Cooper, founder of the organisation, said the group was “thrilled” at adding two more schools to its list.

“We have never done a means test or in any way singled out children whose parents are struggling,” she said. “We make breakfast available to all children who arrive at school early enough to participate.”

Ms Cooper estimated that more than 50,000 breakfasts had been served in the 2015-16 school year.

Breakfast for Every Child has grown through “tremendous community and corporate support” at a time of unprecedented need.

For Barbara Hollis, a school counsellor at Northlands Primary School where the programme has been in place for several years, the improvement is easy to see.

“It’s great,” Ms Hollis said. “We give breakfast to 30 or 40 students each morning.

“It makes a big difference. Otherwise, you’re just preoccupied with the feeling of an empty tummy.”

Students who arrive too late for breakfast can still grab a granola bar or a glass of juice to start the day, while Northlands has developed a programme of its own to assist with lunches.

“For some families who are really struggling, it’s a huge help,” Ms Hollis said.

“Parents appreciate it. We’re really, really grateful to the coalition for it.”