Free breakfast club expansion to reach 500 more schools from April

The government will extend its Best Start free breakfast club scheme to 500 more schools from April in a move expected to reach an extra half a million children. The expansion is aimed at areas with high levels of disadvantage, and applications opened this week for schools in which at least 40% of pupils receive free school meals. 

The Department for Education (DfE) said £80m had been allocated to support the next phase of the programme, which is designed to offer earlier starts, healthy meals and reduced childcare costs for working families.

The government said the rollout could save parents up to £450 a year and return as many as 95 hours of time – the equivalent of more than two working weeks – by providing supervised breakfast sessions before the school day. 

Funding rates for mainstream schools will rise to £1 per child, alongside a guaranteed £25 daily payment intended to cover staffing and administration. According to the DfE, a school with average take-up of around 50% will see its overall support increase by 28%.

A further 1,500 primary schools will start offering the free clubs in September 2026, with applications due to open in January, altogether helping to extend benefits to over 200,000 more underprivileged children in a little over a year of the programme launching.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “I grew up in a family where every bill mattered, and I know what it feels like for parents trying to make ends meet. That’s why helping families with the cost of living is my number one priority.

“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. This isn’t just about saving parents money and time; it’s about investing in the next generation to give them the best start in life.”

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson added: “This is national renewal in action – breaking down barriers so every child gets the best start in life, regardless of their background.  

By rolling out free breakfast clubs to half a million more children, we’re not just filling empty stomachs, we’re supercharging the nation’s morning routines. 

“This is about building a country where background doesn’t mean destiny, where we invest in our children’s futures, and where we deliver the real change working families desperately need.”

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Every child deserves a good start in life, and the best start to the school day. Feeling hungry makes concentrating and learning hard so this announcement is welcome. Access to breakfast clubs at school will make a positive difference. 

“We are pleased that the Government is taking steps to uplift funding for some schools. We’re keen to see the Government make sure that children in special and alternative education do not miss out. It is crucial that stretched school budgets are not further challenged by plans that are not fully funded.”  

He added: “The government’s ambition of making breakfast clubs universal is forward thinking and will boost learning. A means-tested system always leaves some children and their families behind. In Labour-led London and Wales we can see the hugely positive impact of universal free school meal provision for primary school children. Westminster should take note so that all children can learn successfully and enjoy the school day.”