How school breakfast clubs can save families ‘feeling the sharpest squeeze’ up to £450
Parents could save up to £450 a year after the government announced it would open 500 new free school breakfast clubs in poor areas.
Primary schools where at least two fifths (40 per cent) of pupils qualify for free school meals (FSM) will be able to apply for funding from Thursday.
This initiative aims to support schools in communities hardest hit by the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT, said: “We are delighted that the government has taken into account feedback from trial schools and increased funding for free school breakfast clubs.
“Our own research shows that funding levels are a primary concern for school leaders, so this increase will certainly help.”
Starting from April 2026, funding will be provided to 500 schools and 1,500 schools in September to open clubs.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said breakfast clubs were prioritizing communities “feeling the harshest pressure” in tackling the cost of living and child poverty.
“I grew up in a family where every bill was important, and I know what it feels like for parents to try to make ends meet,” she said.
Half a million more children will be served by free breakfast clubs from April, saving parents up to 95 hours on childcare, the DfE said.
More than a third (38%) of parents surveyed in the pilot phase said it was difficult to feed their children a healthy breakfast before school, the DfE found.
Schools will receive £25 per day for breakfast club staff and £1 per child.
Mr Whiteman said of the pilot phase in April: “Whilst we welcome the intentions behind the programme, the initial feedback we heard from many school leaders taking part in the pilot was that the funding was not sufficient.”
Funding per pupil has been increased from 60p for each day of breakfast club attendance in the pilot phase. In the pilot phase, schools received 78p per pupil for those who qualified for FSM, as well as £500 for set-up costs and £1,099 for term funding.
Duncan Jacques, chief executive of Exceed Academies Trust, said increasing the funding rate would enable more trusts to continue offering breakfast clubs.
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the funding rate needed to be reviewed as breakfast clubs were rolled out more widely to ensure schools could operate in the long term.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Our free breakfast clubs are ensuring more than half a million more children don’t start school hungry and saving working parents around £450 a year.
“We’re launching this in the parts of the country that need it most – helping to reduce bills for families across Britain.”
