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Original poster

To think that funding free breakfast clubs is wrong-headed?

384 replies

WaahWaahWinston · 01/03/2025 13:44

Government is to fund free breakfast clubs for all primary school children. This doesn't strike me as the best use of money for schools; I imagine there are better things to spend money on that would be of greater educational benefit to children.

It may help a tiny proportion of families but breakfast is probably the easiest and cheapest meal for families to provide to children. (I doubt breakfast clubs will be providing full English or other cooked breakfasts of the sort that one could argue families are hard-pushed to provide.)

So I don't see the compelling need. Why spend money on this of all things, when there must be other improvements that could be funded which would improve education specifically?

OP posts:
Original poster
WaahWaahWinston · 01/03/2025 13:51

@SulkySeagull I'm all for an extra half hour of school...but make it an extra half hour of teaching!! Or homework club at the very least. Not just free childcare.

OP posts:
Fedupmumofadultsons · 01/03/2025 13:51

I get what you mean but even if 10 percent need a breakfast and they get that .then those kids can concentrate at school .and I don't think any of us who have never been hungry can really understand I am not talking wagi beef here for tea or organic eggs Benedict wirh early grey tea for breakfast .but I know a school dinner Kady who tells ne sad stories of some poor children not being fed much friday lunch until Monday school breakfast. OK there us probably other reasons in said house but we can grudge a wee soul some toast yogurt and a bit fruit every school morning x

SulkySeagull · 01/03/2025 13:50

I don’t think it’s about the food though is it, it’s about the childcare so more people can go to work in the morning…

Donttellempike · 01/03/2025 13:50

Alleviating child poverty is investing for the future and saves money in the long run. As any fool knows

Getting heartily sick of these poverty baiting posts.

LuckysDadsHat · 01/03/2025 13:49

At 63p per child is don't think many schools will be taking it up. It is impossible to fund on that money once staff, food, heating other utilities are taken into account. A lot of schools have pulled out of the trials when they realised what money would be given to them and said it is impossible to fund.

IDontDrinkTea · 01/03/2025 13:49

Call me suspicious, but I suspect it’s more about getting mothers back into work than it is about hungry children. If you can drop children at breakfast club at 8, then you can easily be at work somewhere for 9… which is much easier than finding a job that’ll let you start after dropping the kids off at 8:45.

User79853257976 · 01/03/2025 13:48

I agree. I don’t know how they are going to fund the staff, find space etc. Also it is unfair on working parents who rely on wraparound care that now might be oversubscribed.

Totototo · 01/03/2025 13:47

Have you ever lived, worked or known children who turn up to school hungry?

Learning in the morning is impossible if you are hungry. Hunger can make children more disruptive too because they are uncomfortable.

It is probably less expensive doing it for every child rather than having administrative tasks identifying those in need.

Personally, I am happy for it. Thankfully, my DC went to school abroad for their early years and this was provided free of charge to all children.

ThatThisThatYou · 01/03/2025 13:46

I could understand it if it was targeted at vulnerable children but it just seems to be a pointless waste of money, especially in those areas where families can full well afford a decent breakfast for their kids and/or afford breakfast club,