Schools already enrolled on the programme have served up seven million meals to date and saved families up to £450 per year, while giving them time back each morning. Children are also benefitting from healthy breakfasts, with evidence showing improved attendance, attainment and behaviour.
With the Government’s free breakfast clubs already proving to be a ‘lifeline’ for so many, it is now calling on more primary schools to sign up, as new polling reveals nearly half (45%) of parents prioritise schools offering them.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Free breakfast clubs are revolutionising morning routines up and down the country, becoming an essential part of modern-day life for working families.
“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parent, so I know first-hand the struggles facing parents trying to make ends meet and how important it is to tackle outdated stigmas with practical support that people can feel every day.”
The Government has secured industry partnerships with Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Weetabix and Magic Breakfast, continuing until July 2026 to provide discounts, free deliveries and healthier meals.
Applications are now open for 1,500 schools to join in September 2026, so that 680,000 children will benefit by September. Find out more here.
Diane Newton, head teacher at Field Road Academy in the West Midlands, added: “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 support should only be for those most in need.”