Free school breakfast for every child

If you want to be a SAHP great but don't expect the taxpayer to prop you up via UC

Another advantage of eating breakfast at home and that the children can brush their teeth afterwards.

It would be a better idea for all children to be offered a good selection of fruit at break time rather than processed cheap breakfast junk before school. Much healthier to have a banana, apple and satsuma than white toast for example

In wales we had free breakfast in breakfast club in my child’s primary school- cereal, fruit and toast- and all school dinners are free for primary school children. Mine had packed lunches by their choice- but it means everyone is fed, there is no stigma, so that’s got to be a good thing. Levelling the playing field for the poorest children.

If you can't feed your child before they go to school then what the hell is wrong with you.

You’re implying that parents don’t have 20p and enough sense to give their kids toast before school. Yes abuse exists but have faith in the majority of parents.

The parents of children who need it the most won’t access it. Not up early enough, too proud, children don’t want to eat it as not what they’re used to eating etc

I think that it should be an equal option to be a sahp regardless of your income level or social status. If a parent wants to be a sahp it should be allowed up till school age at least. It does actually save UC money as they won’t be paying 85% of nursery fees (which are extortionate) and personally I think some dc need to be with a primary carer more and not looked after by others.

Schools have been doing free breakfast for a while now.

I do think its a good idea at least they have something in their belly

Too idle?? Don’t you realise that most of the people using breakfast club are doing so because they work a 40+ hour week and need the early childcare arrangements? Honestly, the obtusity of some people immediately assuming that if you can’t cook up a healthy nutritious breakfast every morning before dawn for multiple kids who won’t just sit and eat it like civilised robots because they’re young kids with big feelings means you’re idle 🤯🤯

If they are so inept, it sounds like an advert for boarding schools, take all the responsibility away from parents from birth onwards, paid for from taxes obviously. I wonder if these who are unable to deal with a child are as useless in all aspects of their lives?

Imagine being the child in this scenario. As a former homeless young adult whose life was transformed by the help of strangers,
the cost of a slice of bread/bowl of porridge/ glass of juice is the least we should consider offering to those ppl ess fortunate. It really does help.

And those people need family support or social services intervention, not for every child to get a free breakfast. What next, bring kids in pjs and school will give them a shower and some laundered uniform too?

I don’t think free breakfast is a sensible use of public money - it’s a basic parenting responsibility to feed your kids and there are already benefits and free lunches given to people on low incomes to assist them with that. Well off families don’t need free toast.

How is putting pressure on UC claimants to work not a good thing?

It’s done in several US states. Nine also have universal free lunch.

it would be nicer if it were a cooked breakfast, yes. But the kids who take it aren’t getting eggs and toast at home.

Nothing is free but of all the socialist plans, I can get behind this one.

I do wish Labour would stop touting it as a job done when I'm paying £8.50 for before school club.

Total waste of money imo unless a very deprived area.

Be better providing decent snack mid morning for kids who need it.

You are assuming they will want to eat it all that the parents will allow it.

It's likely to be beige junk.

One of my colleagues had to pay for breakfast club because of the hour, at which she starts work. Her child didn't like the breakfast, served up and wouldn't eat it. So she had to get him up even earlier, feed him breakfast and take him to breakfast club to not eat it.

I think it would cause a lot of waste.

A large box of cornflakes is on offer at £1.75 and the non branded boxes even cheaper.

A loaf of bread can be bought for less than £1.

A pack of 8 crumpets for less than £1 in waitrose

I could go on, but if parents aren't budgeting their funds enough to afford those sums to feed their children something at breakfast there's something far wrong.

Breakfast around the breakfast table 😂 tell me you’re a SAHM without telling me your a SAHM…!

I suspect you are right, nursery from 9 months and breakfast clubs for all and I think it will mean more pressure on UC claimants

Universal benefits are better. End of story.

Give all the kids a free breakfast.

Clearly not written by a working single mother 😬

I have two children, one in nursery and one in breakfast club - they both (and me!) need to be up, washed, dressed and ready by 07:15 and they refuse to eat first thing when they wake up because they’re tired and groggy. Giving my children some toast at breakfast club is the difference between my 6 year old eating in the morning at all or not.

Also, just to be clear, even if they would eat in the first half hour of the day, there’s zero chance I’m in the kitchen cooking up scrambled eggs at 6am when I’m trying to shower and get three people up and ready for the day alone 😂

That’s terrible. What does the union say?

Totally agree. Our school also now do toothbrushing for all nursery and reception children !

There are 3 teachers at my school and we are forced to volunteer to staff this every day for free.