Updated: The expression of interest form has now closed.

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.

The DfE are expressly looking to understand how the breakfast club policy is implemented in a range of schools. We welcome interest from those:

with an existing breakfast or before-school childcare offer (see wraparound childcare and National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) section) without any existing provision that already work with, or are considering working with, private, voluntary or independent (PVI) childcare providers, including childminders, to deliver their breakfast clubs that may face initial challenges with setting up breakfast club provision (this will help us to understand how best to support schools)

Find out more

Further information about the early adopters scheme is available at Breakfast clubs early adopters scheme – GOV.​UK.

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.