Karmactive Staff
Starting April 2025, thousands of children across England will get free breakfast at school. The government is launching this program in 750 schools, helping 180,000 students start their day with a proper meal.
“Free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of our Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success for families all over the country,” says Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. “Breakfast clubs can have a transformative impact on the lives of children, feeding hungry tummies and fuelling hungry minds, so every child begins the day ready to learn.”
What This Means for Parents
Parents can drop their children off 30 minutes earlier at no cost. This extra time saves families money – up to £450 each year on morning childcare and breakfast. Children get a healthy meal and time for activities like reading, educational puzzles, and arts and crafts before class starts.
The Food
Schools will offer healthy, varied and nutritious breakfasts that follow the School Food Standards, including options like wholegrain cereals, porridge, fresh fruit, and yogurt. “We are delighted to be one of the early adopter schools. For our school, the funding provided will be a real-life saver, ensuring we can provide a healthy breakfast and supportive start to the day for our pupils,” says Jackie Fitton, a headteacher at Kearsley West Primary School.
Money Matters
Each school gets about £23,000 per year to run the program with 50% student participation. This pays for food, delivery, and staff to supervise children. It’s more money than schools received before – an extra £21,400 compared to old breakfast programs.
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Some school leaders worry this might not be enough. Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders union NAHT, says: “We have already heard from some school leaders who are worried that funding for the scheme will fall short of the cost of delivering it.”
Real Results
Research shows these breakfast clubs work. According to an Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) impact evaluation of the Magic Breakfast programme, children who attend breakfast clubs improve their reading, writing, and math skills by about two months. Government research shows most parents (87%) think breakfast clubs are a good chance for children to socialise, and two thirds (66%) recognize the value of clubs providing educational activities.
Help for Struggling Areas
The program focuses on helping families who need it most. Of the 180,000 children joining the program, 67,000 attend schools in deprived areas. This initiative works alongside other measures to cut living costs for families, including plans to reduce uniform costs through a cap on branded items.
What’s Next
Schools chosen for the program will contact families directly about signing up. The government plans to eventually offer free breakfast at all primary schools in England as part of the national rollout.
Some Labour MPs question whether this program does enough to help poor families, especially those affected by benefit caps. But Sir David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action, sees promise: “We know that an effective breakfast provision delivered in a supportive and enriching environment can make the world of difference to a child.”
