School mornings just got easier for families nationwide as 750 schools open breakfast clubs today, offering 30 minutes of free childcare and a healthy start for kids.
This initiative provides parents with additional time at the start of the day to attend appointments, get to work on time, and run errands.
Parents can save up to 95 additional hours and £450 per year if their child attends free breakfast clubs every day. This saving rises to up to £8,000 annually when combining the free breakfast clubs with further support through the expansion of government-funded childcare and the new school uniform cap on branded items.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“As a parent, I know that the combined pressures of family life and work can often feel impossible to juggle. That is why our manifesto promised to make parents lives easier and put more money in their pockets with free breakfast clubs. Under a year since we came into office, this government is delivering that through our Plan for Change.
“The rollout of free breakfast clubs is a truly game-changing moment for families in this country. They mean parents will no longer be hamstrung by rigid school hours and have the breathing space they need to beat the morning rush, attend work meetings and doctors’ appointments, or run errands. And crucially, it means better life chances for children.
“By making these clubs free and universal, we’re doing something that previous governments have never done. We’re going further and faster to deliver the change working families deserve. That’s the change this government was elected to deliver.”
With the cost of everyday essentials stretching budgets, these clubs are a lifeline for working families trying to get by. The government is stepping in to ease the pressure and put money back in parents' pockets. No matter the postcode or the pay packet, every child deserves the same chance to thrive. This rollout embodies the principle of real support for families in every corner of the country, ensuring no one is left behind.
These clubs complement actions to tackle the cost of living, with inflation falling for two months in a row, wages growing faster than prices, and fuel duty frozen. Together, they demonstrate the Plan for Change is delivering for working families.
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, also commented:
“Free breakfast clubs are a central part of our Plan for Change. At a time when there is so much pressure on families, they provide real help with the cost of living and ensure children start the day with a nutritious meal.
“On top of the hectic school run, parents should not have to worry about how to balance work and getting their children fed and ready for school. These clubs will break down barriers and help children settle in, focus and get the most out of their learning.
“We are delivering on our promises and giving every child the best start in life while making sure families get the support they need, wherever they live.”
New government data shows that parents are motivated to take up free breakfast clubs due to the improvements they can have on their wellbeing. Many see them as an opportunity for children to socialise before school (30%) and spend more time doing activities they enjoy (28%), offering a supportive start to the day that leads to better behaviour and better life chances.
The rollout delivers on the government's manifesto promise to ensure state schools offer free breakfast clubs to all pupils, supporting its Plan for Change milestone to ensure tens of thousands more children start school ready to learn.
Image credit: iStock
