The Department for Education (DfE) have introduced free breakfast clubs – 30 minute sessions before school where children in Primary Schools receive a free breakfast so they to start every day ready to learn.
Around 180,000 pupils in the most disadvantaged communities will be able to access free breakfast clubs.
These schools are based across nine regions in England and will be funded to provide this service – available to all children in each setting.
DfE have just published a number of guides and case studies on free breakfast clubs, including how schools can join the scheme from April 2026, including:
Apply to join phase 1 of the national rollout of free breakfast clubs
Use the online service to express your interest in joining phase 1 of the national rollout, from April 2026.
Free breakfast clubs: guidance for schools and trusts
Guidance on setting up and running free breakfast clubs, including specific guidance for schools joining phase 1 of the national rollout from April 2026.
Free breakfast clubs: school case studies
Examples of how schools are delivering free breakfast clubs and the benefits they can provide for pupils, families and schools.
Involving older pupils in free breakfast clubs
Find out how Silver Springs Primary Academy involves pupils from years 5 and 6 with its new free breakfast club by making them ‘breakfast club baristas’.
Integrating the free breakfast club into wider wraparound care
Find out how Devonshire Road Primary School organises the school day to accommodate paid and free breakfast club sessions with additional activities.
Working with a PVI partner to deliver a free school breakfast club
Find out how Court Lane Junior School is working with a private, voluntary or independent (PVI) childcare provider to deliver its new free breakfast club.
PVI partners refers to partnerships with Private, Voluntary, and Independent (PVI) early years providers.
Using a free breakfast club to launch wider wraparound care
Find out how the introduction of the free breakfast club at Saxton Church of England Primary School led to the launch of wider before and after school care.
Delivering a free breakfast club at a special school
Find out how Springwater Special School organises its new free breakfast club including staffing and engaging activities for pupils.
Free breakfast clubs grant 2025 to 2026 academic year
Guidance for schools and local authorities on funding for the free breakfast clubs programme rolled out from April 2026.
For further information about the free breakfast club scheme, please visit the Department for Education’s website.
