The Government has confirmed that its free breakfast club programme will expand further, focusing on communities most affected by the cost of living squeeze. Ministers say the scheme will save families £450 and 95 hours annually.
Starting next April, the expansion will enable an additional half a million children to access Best Start free breakfast clubs, with 500 schools joining the initiative. Schools will receive a guaranteed £25 daily payment to cover staffing and administrative costs, ensuring all school types can deliver breakfast provision.
A further 1,500 primary schools will begin offering the complimentary clubs from September 2026, with applications opening in January. The complete rollout will support more than 200,000 additional disadvantaged children.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: « Free breakfast clubs are already a lifeline for parents, and now we’re going further to deliver on that promise – beginning the national rollout.
« Not only that, but we’re prioritising those communities feeling the sharpest squeeze, tackling both the cost of living and child poverty head-on. »
The Government’s ‘test and learn phase’ revealed that more than one in three parents find it difficult to provide their child with a nutritious breakfast before school, with fussy eating habits and time constraints cited as the main obstacles.
Research shows that for children aged 5-7, breakfast clubs have delivered improved average attainment equivalent to 2 months’ additional progress in maths, reading and writing. The free breakfast club initiative offers 30-minute sessions before school where pupils can enjoy a nutritious, healthy breakfast.
It also provides additional free childcare at the start of the day for parents who need to get to work earlier.
Duncan Jacques, chief executive officer of Exceed Academies Trust, said: « Free breakfast clubs have made a real difference for children and families at Exceed Academies Trust, with over a hundred children attending daily. They help our children start the day settled and ready to learn and we’ve seen improvements in attendance and punctuality. Following a nutritious breakfast children are more able to focus on their schoolwork and are keen to succeed. »
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: « Our free breakfast clubs are ensuring over half a million more children don’t start the school day hungry, and save working parents around £450 a year.
« We’re launching this in the parts of the country that need it most – helping to bring bills down for families across Britain.But we know there’s more to do, which is why at my Budget I’ll make the fair decisions to cut NHS waiting lists, cut national debt and cut the cost of living. »
Further details about the free breakfast club rollout are available on the Gov.uk website.
