Free breakfast clubs for ALL primary school children? Why?

[Safi7]

I’ve been overseas since the election so a bit out of the loop, but is it true that Labour are going to make it standard that all primary schools must now offer free breakfasts to all children, regardless of need?

Fair enough for children from deprived families - but all children?

Where is the money for this coming from?

Are Labour actually saying that in 2024, its now to much to expect parents to actually bother to feed their own children breakfast? This responsibility can just be pushed onto schools instead - as if they haven’t got enough on? Teachers are leaving in droves as it is. Du much is out in them - the jobs is becoming more like social work in too many cases. Who will staff these breakfast clubs and make sure kids are actually eating?

Surely this is just encouraging lazy parenting - ie parents who can well afford cereal / toast / eggs etc it but just won’t bother if their kids can eat at school instead. Plus children will be dumped at school earlier than necessary, just because parents can now get away with it?

Surely it’s better to direct resources where they are actually needed, rather than turn schools into free cafes? Makes no sense.

@Perky1 do your children eat only plain porridge made with water every morning?

We don't have OFSTED, because as I've repeatedly said, I'm in Wales.

No, it was graded the highest possible by Estyn, actually, who were very impressed with the interventions.

I’m struggling to understand why you are so angry over this.
I’m guessing you may not have children yourself? Which might explain why you don’t realise the needs of children. Also a school day 9am-3pm is quite short. Having the option of a breakfast club is really helpful for many reasons. It won’t just be children in need that use it. It will vary. It’s definitely not a bad thing. Nursery’s & Pre-schools provide breakfast, they know that children are better behaved when fed.
Some children may go to the club but have already eaten, it isn’t just about the food.
It’s definitely not teachers that run it. Some people have a dinner lady job, obviously could be a man thats just what we called them when kids, so anyone can do that job providing they are crb checked etc.
Do you have children that go to or have been to school and you’ve had to work at the same time? It’s not easy juggling that life and even harder if you are a single parent. Like somebody else said there are much worse things to complain about.

How is it rude? It's blatantly obvious.

I can tell.

Research suggests that the targeted interventions in place improve attainment. I'm sorry that you think that children who are statistically more likely to under-achieve are being supported in improving their skills and understanding so that they have the potential to improve their future success.

And that's how I know you've more than likely never set foot in a school, because us actual staff want the best for the children we care about.

it is muck

Porridge, yoghurt, fruit, beans, toast? That's all muck?

How bizarre. I'm sure that children who have no breakfast would rather eat that, "muck" than nothing at all.

I'll never forget the child I taught who lived on energy drinks and meal replacement shakes at the age of 5, because their parents were addicts and didn't feed them. Thankfully, the child was removed as there were other markers of severe neglect, but I can guarantee that child would have benefitted from toast or porridge before lessons. I'm not sure some of the people commenting have any idea about how (a surprisingly large number) of children actually live.

Porridge, yoghurt, fruit, beans, toast? That's all muck?

Of course it’s not. And it’s a lot better than nothing.

Have you partaken in our generous benefits system? As I can assure as someone who had the misfortune of needing to, it did not feel generous and was very stressful and expensive to try to work, send kids to nursery and just about scrape by and to be counting every penny and telling the kids no to everything.

I really feel for people who are stuck on benefits - the majority are working!

Porridge is better, some yoghurts are fine, a small amount of fruit, beans, brown bread, all fine/ I was referring to white bread and margarine (which should be considered not fit for human consumption in my opinion) and sugary cereal, all of which are going to lead to long term health issues.

@Lolaandbehold well that's ok -none of you will be using it then -it's not compulsory -if take up is tiny then little money will be 'wasted'

@JassyRadlett yep- I was agreeing with you too- - it's really not the same thing

@InsomniacsUnite well that's fine-it's not compulsory .

People who don't need it won't use it. My kids were entitled to universal free school meals up to a certain age but we never took them because they preferred a packed lunch. They don't like hot meals at lunchtime as we've never done that in our household. I had the time and money so made them a packed lunch. I wouldn't send them to a free breakfast club either because we don't need it and we live 30 seconds away from the primary school. I have friends that can afford the cereal or toast and would totally send their kids there. Why? Because they find mornings stressful. Therefore they have a NEED for the service. Not everything is about money. Their kids eating some rice krispies at school means they get to sit and enjoy their breakfast rather than fretting about getting to school on time. A win for everyone in the family.

White bread and cereal are still better than nothing at all.

Also can I just add that I wonder what people think about library closures when they say that people will use something just because it's free? I'm inclined to think that people who "can't be bothered" to make breakfast can't be bothered to get children to school earlier either. Whereas the caring but struggling parents fretting that their child isn't eating at home due to lack of food or time, will make sure their kids get there.

I agree that people do not use something just because it is free.

but this is not something that parents cant afford themselves, it cost s about 10p. And it is rubbish, dangerously poor nutritionally

i worked in child health and the number of children admitted to hospital suffering from malnutrition keeps growing year on year.
offering all children breakfast at school along with FSM will help reduce the numbers admitted with malnutrition, help academically and also effectively target those malnourished children,and in turn raise their academic ability.win win Id say.
Those kids who’s parents feed them breakfast are unlikely to come but it is making the system inclusive and destigmating children who need feeding.

Those who did build a kitty and lost it you mean? Remember all the private pensions being lost? Nah didn't think you remembered...some of the elderly did save and lost it all.

So punish them twice eh?

The SureStarts used to offer free tea and toast. I suspect these "Breakfast Clubs" will offer little more than that or maybe some poor quality cereal. And the toast will be the cheapest Chorleywood available.

And it will end up only being used by parents who desperately need it or by those seeking a way to dump their kids early.

You really do have no idea, do you?

https://www.oph.fi/en/education-and-qualifications/school-meals-finland#:~:text=Finnish%20legislation%20guarantees%20pupils%20and,completion%20of%20upper%20secondary%20education.

Finland doesn't seem to think universal free meals for children is a waste, and their education system is second to none.

It is muck. White toast and margarine is UPF.

Why not I say. For many reasons such as improving school attendance, ensuring kids are fed enough to learn and that parents can also for the most part be able to get to their own jobs on time without stressing too much (obvs school hols are a different, added layer of difficulty).

Not having any skin in the game myself now, it is out of mere curiosity that I welcome any reasons for why this is a very bad idea.

Sorry just catching up on all this.

As I said and please don’t misunderstand this - I think breakfast clubs and similar interventions are vital for children who genuinely need it. Schools will know who they are and obviously the need for breakfast clubs will be greater in some schools and areas than others.

However, I have lots of friends who are teachers and, from what I’m told, the breakfasts in school amount to a bowl of Cheerios and a carton of juice or similar.

Yes, better than nothing for sure. But the way I envisage these clubs will be used, in actual practice, has nothing to do with breakfast or those who can’t afford it. The clubs will be used as a form of free childcare for those who need to get to work earlier. Convenient for parents sure, but not really in the child’s interests if they’re being dropped off at 7.30 or 8am, when otherwise it might have been 8.30 or 9am. And it will be teachers providing the childcare essentially, for no extra money probably. There are enough problems with teacher retention as it is.

The govt (in my view) should be changing work cultures so that people with kids can start work slightly later or more flexibly. Change work practices and make that law. Why does the impact of everything always have to be on children, rather than employers?