As announced by the Chancellor in September, free breakfast clubs will be introduced in up to 750 early adopter schools from April 2025 as part of a test and learn phase in advance of national roll out.
Early adopters will offer all primary-aged children on roll at their school, no matter their circumstances, access to a free, universal breakfast club lasting at least 30 minutes that involves food, providing children with a supportive start to the day and helping families to have more choice about work. Parents and carers can choose to take up the offer although we encourage schools to promote the offer and drive take up, particularly within disadvantaged groups.
Application Process
State funded schools with primary age children, who wish to apply to be a breakfast club early adopter, need to complete the expression of interest form via DfE login. Schools will be asked to complete a few short questions about current breakfast club provision and take-up, and there will be no expectation to explain why they wish to apply.
The expression of interest form is now live and will close on the 20th December 2024.
The DfE are expressly looking to understand how the breakfast club policy is implemented in a range of schools. We welcome interest from those:
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Please note that while trusts may express interest in implementing the programme across multiple schools, each school must submit an individual application, logging in with its own DfE Sign-in. Within the form, there is an option for schools to indicate their intent to participate either individually or as part of a wider rollout across multiple schools within their trust.
Find out more
Further information about the early adopters scheme is available at Breakfast clubs early adopters scheme – GOV.UK.
The Department is also hosting a webinar on the 5th of December offering schools the chance to learn more about the programme and the application process. Schools can register to attend the webinar using this link. Questions can be submitted in advance and will be addressed during the webinar. Please sign up and submit any questions by 4pm on Monday 2nd December.
The number of schools who have a breakfast club is on the increase; it is a great way to ensure that pupils are accessing a healthy, nutritious breakfast and are ready to start the school day on a full stomach. We all know that children can concentrate the best when they have eaten good, healthy food, so what better way to start the day?
The School Food Standards include breakfast provided by school breakfast clubs. By adhering to the standards schools will be offering the best possible start to their children's day, ensuring readiness for learning, improved concentration and ultimately better achievements.
Magic Breakfast
If your school's percentage of pupil premium children is above 35%, you could be eligible to receive funding from Magic Breakfast, a charity set up to help feed more of our children every morning. Visit the Magic Breakfast website for more details.
Breakfast 4 Life
Breakfast 4 Life, part of the Change 4 Life movement, has produced an information sheet and activity sheet to help pupils think about a healthy breakfast.
Greggs Breakfast Club Programme
The Greggs Breakfast Club Programme was established in 1999 to help primary school children get a nutritious start to their school day. Every school is provided with fresh bread from their nearest Greggs shop and a grant to support start-up and ongoing costs.