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Original poster

To wonder what will happen about the government's 'free' breakfast club proposal?!

264 replies

Redlocks30 · 23/02/2025 13:30

They have been talking a lot today about saving families £450 a year, but I just can't see how this is going to work?

They are paying 60p per child per day, which might pay for a Weetabix and a bit of toast, but doesn't take into account the staffing (and any energy costs) that this will require!

We already have a small school with a successful breakfast club running, with smallish numbers but all can sit down and eat together. Parents pay a reasonable amount for it and this pays for 1/2 members of staff, depending on numbers. If this was opened up to all parents as a free option, we simply wouldn't have enough space to put everyone in the hall-it would be mayhem.

The school budget doesn't have any spare cash in it for TA staffing costs (normally paid for by parents paying) so where are schools expected to find this money from?

OP posts:
InfoSecInTheCity · 23/02/2025 13:53

DDs primary school have been doing free breakfast club for all kids for years, it starts at 7.45am, they can choose from porridge, toast, cereal, bagels and scrambled egg. The new incentive from the govt will actually be an improvement for the school finances as to date they've been financing it using the general school budget and now they'll be getting something extra (although not much).

1apenny2apenny · 23/02/2025 13:53

We have an obesity crisis in this country, amongst children and adults. Why is a school offering every child a toasted bagel when I expect many have already had breakfast - very wasteful and just fuels the constant snacking/eating that is leading to obesity.

But then I don't agree with giving free breakfast, I think people should feed their own children and gets their teeth, anything else is neglectful parenting.

Original poster
Redlocks30 · 23/02/2025 13:49

This is starting to sound rather like the

Free NHS dental care (that you can only access if you can find one of the few remaining NHS dentists)

'Free' 15/30 hours childcare with a provider that actually accepts people wanting those hours.

If schools are forced to offer 'Free' breakfast club places to every child, then it'll probably lead to staff redundancies to pay for it.

OP posts:
Phineyj · 23/02/2025 13:47

It is bonkers to make the budget of a sensibly costed paid for service fail (in the schools where there's demand) in order to provide a bog standard under funded service to all, at the mercy of political whims.

Surely the result will be fewer breakfast club spaces? Did they learn nothing from what's happened to day nurseries and childminders?!

Eviebeans · 23/02/2025 13:46

Oh god it sounds like another offer that is not being funded and will be disastrous for school budgets

Original poster
Redlocks30 · 23/02/2025 13:40

AnneLovesGilbert · 23/02/2025 13:38

BP was on the radio this morning talking about it. When asked how the staffing was being funded she said it was up to schools to find the money and work it out.

Brilliant. All they have to do is look down the back of the sofa in the staff room then, and problem solved!

OP posts:
Original poster
Redlocks30 · 23/02/2025 13:39

RitaConnors · 23/02/2025 13:36

At our school, every child is offered a piece of toasted bagel when they get into the classroom.

Not as a breakfast club, some will have already been to breakfast club which is separate.

I like the toasted bagel idea (a drink of juice/milk to go with it would be good as well!)

This new government offer of breakfast comes with half an hour of free childcare as well so will be prior to the start of the school day.

OP posts:
rainylake · 23/02/2025 13:38

Well at our school there used to be a breakfast club but they recently said that the red tape involved with providing food under government rules was too much and would require extra staff, so now no food is allowed to be served, it is just a holding pen for children whose parents need to be in work early. So I am not optimistic about more breakfasts materialising.

AnneLovesGilbert · 23/02/2025 13:38

BP was on the radio this morning talking about it. When asked how the staffing was being funded she said it was up to schools to find the money and work it out.

Original poster
Redlocks30 · 23/02/2025 13:37

Eviebeans · 23/02/2025 13:33

Has there been mention of this in the news today? As we haven’t heard anything about this for a while I thought it had quietly died

Lots on Twitter from BP and the DfE today.

To wonder what will happen about the government's 'free' breakfast club proposal?!
OP posts:
Frowningprovidence · 23/02/2025 13:37

I am also curious about this. I've worked in two schools where the breakfast club actually runs at a surplus, so covers its costs and pays for a few extra bits in school too (including a 'snack' bar which is set up so children who don't get breakfast can grab a couple of rice cakes, apple and a milk or similar)

This scheme looks like we could end up will less money.

Plus staffing breakfast club has been a nightmare.

JollyJolene · 23/02/2025 13:37

It doesn’t take into account many things. One of course is the cost, another is the physical space and perhaps most importantly, the fact that many children and families this is aimed at will not access it.

RitaConnors · 23/02/2025 13:36

At our school, every child is offered a piece of toasted bagel when they get into the classroom.

Not as a breakfast club, some will have already been to breakfast club which is separate.

Eviebeans · 23/02/2025 13:33

Has there been mention of this in the news today? As we haven’t heard anything about this for a while I thought it had quietly died