cost of living
Published 24 Feb 2025
2 min read
First 750 schools to offer free breakfast clubs confirmed
The first 750 schools to offer free, daily breakfast clubs from April have been announced by the government.
Written by: James Glynn
Senior financial content writer
Published: 24 February 2025
From April, the selected primary schools will offer a free breakfast and at least 30 minutes of free childcare every day.
Ministers believe the programme will help to boost children’s attendance, attainment and behaviour in school, as well as cut costs for parents.
Around 180,000 children will benefit from the scheme, including 67,000 who go to schools in deprived areas.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “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.
“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.”
The government will use the findings from this pilot to inform a planned national rollout of free breakfast clubs.
Union concerned about funding
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has welcomed the announcement, saying breakfast clubs can improve the health and wellbeing of children and tackle the impact of poverty.
However, the union said some school leaders are worried that funding for the scheme could “fall short of the cost of delivering it”.
NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “It will be crucial that these concerns are addressed before the programme is rolled out across the country to ensure that it does not place further pressure on already strained school budgets, and that children and families can fully reap the benefits."
Help for parents is available
If you’re a parent and you’re struggling with your finances, then support is available.
We offer confidential and impartial debt advice and can help you:
- work out a household budget
- find out what benefits you’re entitled to
- find the right debt solutions
You can access it online 24/7 or over the phone during our office hours - 0161 518 8285.
Written by: James Glynn
Senior financial content writer
James has spent almost 20 years writing news articles, guides and features, with a strong focus on the legal and financial services sectors.
Published: 24 February 2025
The information in this post was correct at the time of publishing. Please check when it was written, as information can go out of date over time.
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Written by: James Glynn
Senior financial content writer
Published: 24 February 2025
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