The Government has announced that an additional half a million children will have access to free breakfast clubs starting next year. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson expressed that expanding the Labour project to 2,000 more schools will significantly benefit families. Over 2 million meals have already been served in 750 schools since the initiative began in April.
Phillipson, a candidate for Labour’s deputy leader position, highlighted the positive outcomes of the program, emphasizing its impact on families’ financial burdens and children’s readiness for the school day. Schools can now apply to join the upcoming phase, scheduled to start in April and continue through September.
An investment exceeding £80 million will be allocated to extend breakfast clubs, with the aim of having them available in all schools by the end of the current Parliamentary term. Phillipson praised the swift implementation of the new breakfast clubs, aligning with Labour’s principles and delivering the change voters desired. She emphasized that this initiative, along with the planned expansion of free school meals next year, will significantly improve children’s opportunities in life.
Starting in September, all families receiving Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals. The Government views school breakfast clubs as a crucial manifesto commitment that will give parents back 95 hours annually and potentially save up to £450 in childcare expenses. Research indicates that eight out of ten families believe breakfast clubs facilitate punctuality for work and school drop-offs.