Parents prioritising primary schools with free breakfast clubs

# Best Start Free Breakfast Clubs: A Lifeline for Families

## Supporting Families in Need

Over 300,000 children are set to benefit from Best Start free breakfast clubs in April. The government is prioritising support to tackle the cost of living and help parents juggle work and family life. Schools already enrolled in the programme have served up 7 million meals to date. This initiative has saved families up to £450 per year, while giving them up to 95 hours of precious time back each morning.

Children are benefitting from healthy breakfasts and arriving at school earlier. Evidence shows that this leads to improved attendance, attainment, and behaviour. With the government’s free breakfast clubs proving to be a lifeline for many, it is now calling on more primary schools to sign up. New polling reveals that nearly half (45%) of parents prioritise schools that offer breakfast clubs.

Reducing Stigma and Increasing Access

Crucially, these clubs are helping to cut the stigma that still exists around free support. Six in ten (60%) parents are more likely to access assistance when it’s available to everyone. Data reveals that nearly four in ten (38%) single parents feel guilt when accessing free support, compared to 28% of parents raising a family with a partner.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated yesterday:

Free breakfast clubs are revolutionising morning routines up and down the country, becoming an essential part of modern-day life for working families. From settling a child into the school day to helping parents get to work, free breakfast clubs are giving every child the best start in life - delivering on our plan for national renewal. I was raised by a single parent, so I know first-hand the struggles facing parents trying to make ends meet and how important it is to tackle outdated stigmas with practical support that people can feel every day.

Expanding Opportunities for Schools

Applications opened yesterday for 1,500 schools to join in September, allowing 680,000 children to benefit by then. The scheme is backed by £80 million targeting the most disadvantaged areas. It builds on the government’s decisions to prioritise investment to help families with the cost of living, including:

• Delivering 30 hours a week of free childcare, saving parents up to £7,500.

• Expanding free school meals to half a million more children.

• Building school-based nurseries, creating thousands more places.

• Cutting the cost of branded school uniforms.

• Scrapping the two-child limit, lifting 450,000 children out of poverty.

  
  

Real Stories, Real Impact

Diane Newton, Head Teacher at Field Road Academy in the West Midlands, shared her thoughts:

For our school, a free breakfast club will enormously improve attendance and set our pupils up for a day of learning. The fact this club is free and open to everyone will help break down any stigma attached to accessing free meals, ending the perception that support should only be for those most in need. Everyone, from every type of family, has something to gain from using a free breakfast club - from putting some extra money back in parents’ pockets to helping them get to work easier, and improving children’s wellbeing.

Maria Carnevale, a single mum of three living in Eastwood, Rotherham, reflected on the difference the breakfast club makes:

My kids absolutely love breakfast club - it gives them such a fun, positive start to their day and the chance to chat, play, and engage with their friends before school begins. It’s become something they genuinely look forward to each morning, and it sets them up in such a good mood for the day ahead. For me, it’s made a huge difference too; it helps our mornings run smoothly, takes away the rush and stress, and means I can get to work on time or spend those precious moments with my newborn that I’d otherwise miss.

Partnerships for a Healthier Future

The government has also secured industry partnerships with Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Weetabix, and Magic Breakfast. These partnerships will continue until July 2026, providing discounts, free deliveries, and healthier meals. This ensures that top British brands can help schools benefit from discounts and free deliveries, allowing kids to access healthier, varied meals.

Frank Young, Chief Executive of Parentkind, commented:

This is good news for parents, especially those juggling the pressures of work and school drop-offs. We know that parents want breakfast clubs, and it helps them to get children to school and hold down jobs. It’s particularly important for children to start their day well and get ready for school. Parents will applaud this news.

Conclusion: A Step Towards Better Learning Environments

The introduction of free breakfast clubs is a significant step towards creating better learning environments for our children. By providing nutritious meals and a supportive atmosphere, we are not only helping families save money but also ensuring that children are ready to learn.

As schools, we have the opportunity to join this initiative and make a real difference in our communities. Let’s embrace this chance to support our families and foster an environment where every child can thrive.