The Department for Education has just announced the first 750 ‘early adopters’ schools across England that will provide free, daily breakfast clubs.
From as soon as April 2025, selected schools across all 9 regions in England will kick-off the historic programme, with an early adopter phase set to inform the government’s landmark national roll out which will give all parents access to the scheme.
All primary aged children in early adopter schools will be able to access a free breakfast and at least 30 minutes of free childcare, every day, helping to support parents getting into work by dropping their children off half an hour earlier.
Schools were chosen from across England to ensure the scheme tests and learns from a variety of locations, including those that do not currently run a breakfast club, and all will receive funding to cover food and staffing costs.
Government research shows most parents (87%) think breakfast clubs are a good chance for children to socialise, and two thirds (66%) recognise the value of clubs providing educational activities.
Breakfast clubs have been shown to boost children’s reading, writing, and maths by an average of 2 months.
Schools are encouraged to offer healthy, varied and nutritious breakfasts, with examples from wheat bisks and porridge to fresh fruit and yoghurt. The early adopter schools also provide a setting to host activities including arts and crafts, educational puzzles, reading and more.
Early adopter schools will shape the future of the national breakfast club policy, contributing directly to its implementation. Further details on the national roll out of the breakfast clubs programme will follow in due course.
The list of all 750 early adopter schools is available on the GOV.UK website.
