The government has announced that an additional 500,000 children in England will gain access to free breakfast clubs from April, as part of an expansion of its Best Start programme.
Applications have opened for a further 500 schools to join the scheme. Eligible schools must have at least 40% of pupils on free school meals. Ministers say the £80m investment will support families facing rising living costs while helping children arrive at school ready to learn.
Under the expanded programme, the per-child funding rate for mainstream schools will rise to £1. Schools will also receive a guaranteed £25 a day to cover staffing and administration costs. According to the Department for Education, an average school with 50% take-up will receive 28% more funding than under previous arrangements.
The government says breakfast clubs can reduce pressure on working parents, potentially saving families up to £450 a year and freeing an estimated 95 hours of time. Officials argue the policy supports both children’s wellbeing and longer-term economic growth.
The expansion follows a series of measures aimed at easing living costs for families, including extending free school meals to all households on Universal Credit, new limits on branded school uniform requirements and expanded funded childcare for working parents.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the rollout would prioritise communities experiencing the greatest financial strain and was part of efforts to tackle child poverty. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the move would help ensure children start the school day “ready to learn”, particularly in areas with the highest levels of disadvantage.
The government says evidence from the pilot phase shows 38% of parents find it difficult to provide a healthy breakfast before school, citing time pressures and fussy eating as common challenges. Research also suggests breakfast clubs can improve attendance and support academic progress, particularly for younger children.
A further 1,500 primary schools are expected to join the programme in September 2026, with applications due to open in January. Ministers say that more than five million free breakfasts have already been provided since the initiative began.
