The New Zealand Education Institute is calling on the support of Tauranga residents to get a breakfast in schools programme back up and running.

The Red Cross' breakfast in schools programme ceased when supermarket chain Countdown pulled its sponsorship.

NZEI's immediate past president, Francis Nelson, says having a proper breakfast and adequate food has a huge impact on a child's ability to concentrate, learn and behave well.

'It makes a big difference in the classroom and teachers see first-hand the effect it has on a child's achievement,” says Francis.

'Ideally there would be no need for these type of programmes, but the reality is quite different and with more and more families struggling to make ends meet, the need will grow.”

The New Zealand Red Cross breakfast in schools programme saw schools in Tauranga, Rotorua, Kawerau, Opotiki and others around the country receive funding or food to provide students with breakfast as soon as they got to school.

'Whether people like it or not, providing breakfast for children who need it has become a wider social responsibility for schools which want to ensure their students get the most of teaching and learning.

'It's not fair to see children missing out on opportunities through no fault of their own.” says Francis.

'It would be useful if the government would consider taking just a small part of that (money put towards national standards education) and putting it into programmes like breakfast in schools, which really do help children get the most out of their learning.”