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.

I can’t see this being a success in my school-we tried to open one last year and just couldn’t get anyone to apply to work it. Let’s hope the government fund it adequately so it doesn’t end up with schools making a loss or just not being able to offer it.

FFS. Talk about a brick wall. Bloody numpty comment.

• we need more nurses
• oooohh, are you going to volunteer to work in a hospital then?
• We need more refuse collectors
• oooooh, are you going to empty everybody’s bins, then?
• we need more teachers
• ooooh, are you going to homeschool your kids, then?

Jesus. The 🙄🙄🙄 emojis are just not big enough.

I appreciate the point you are making @ThatSnappyPlumBear 🌺

Breakfast clubs already happen in many schools and Scotland has had a free meals policy for schoolchildren for simply ages. If it works there, it can work here. I don't suppose the children will be offered much to eat, probably cereal, yogurt maybe, some bread and jam or whatever, and a drink, but it will be fuel for them to start the day which can't be bad. The fact that it won't be means tested is good too, nobody is stigmatised.

Breakfast clubs already happen in many schools

Are all breakfast clubs free for any pupils who want it in Scotland?

Not at DC's school. It costs money unless in receipt of FSMs.

I know that, I didn't mean 'free' breakfasts, just that breakfasts happen at some schools now, which shows they can be done as long as suitable staff can be found. There are some people who don't mind doing an early morning job with children. I hope it all works out, it is such a good idea.

Our morning club doesn’t currently provide breakfast so people only use it if they need to for work. We have generally managed without it with our current working pattern had the odd day but if it was free and included breakfast it would suddenly become much more appealing if only to avoid the car park rush. There is a risk such a policy would induce a massive demand spike that is unmanageable for schools and the people who really need the childcare can’t get it anymore.

Well obviously lots of schools already have breakfast clubs. This is paid for by the parents. Schools know who is coming the next week for breakfast and how much they will be paying-staffing is allocated accordingly.

To suddenly announce that all primaries will offer free breakfast club to anyone that wants it is going to be a logistical nightmare for many schools. There has been no information about what funding will be provided (it will obviously need to cover a changeable level of staffing as well as food) and there could be huge numbers taking it up.

For those who think, ‘of course the government will fund enough money for each child for this to work’, think how well it’s working for childminders and nurseries who are now expected to offer ‘free’ hours. Some are only taking those who will pay privately, some are forced to put the rest of their prices up to cover the shortfall in funding and loads have closed their doors completely. NHS dentistry is another one-yes, on paper you’re entitled to the ‘free’ dental care for your child, but if no dentists are prepared to work for nhs prices, you can’t access the service.

In Wales they are.

What should I pay for someone else's childcare?

I have no clue where you got the idea that people who work long hours do so out of greed and are extremely well-paid but a great many of the services on which you rely are staffed by people working long hours, or awkward hours.

Incredible that people still need to be told many people who do essential jobs don’t work 9-5.

I'm still waiting for the government to explain why childhood obesity is so high if so many children are going to school hungry.

Because they are being fed ‘food’ which isn’t food; ie very cheap, UPF which makes you fat but doesn’t satisfy.

So that children will have fair access to education and, perhaps, learn the difference between “what” and “why”.

Because healthy food isn’t cheap. We currently spend £40 a week on just fruit and veg!

I used breakfast club at primary school. Not because I couldn’t be arsed or couldn’t afford to make DS breakfast - I still made him breakfast before he went but so I could, you know, get to work? Given I have a 45 minute. Commute, start work before 9am and school didn’t open till 850 meaning by the time I’d dropped him off I’d already be late for work otherwise.

So it’s two fold. One to support the 40 percent of children living in poverty and two to allow parents to get to work. Both of which boost the economy likely to a greater extent than the cost of providing breakfast club for all children noting that not all parents will take it up even if it’s available

This thread has been running for quite a while now … the lack of consistency in spending policy relating to the withdrawal of winter fuel was mentioned at the start of the thread. In the meantime, there have been additional announcements softening us up for the budget statement that is coming.This is likely to include a range of punitive tax measures. Are the people still supporting this aware of this incoming news? And you still think universal breakfasts clubs are a priority? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv2gxkln5elo

totally in favour to help families and children, but..
My DC school has a breakfast and after school club, they keep advertising for staff and no one wants the job. 45 minutes in the morning and 2.5 hours in the afternoon on minimum wage. With the deluge of red tape costs and food for afterschool club there is no profit to be made. The breakfast club doesn’t offer any food, the afterschool club offers a snack, but I’m told the youngest are allowed to take first, they take the majority of the larger snacks (bagels / rolls), and by the time yr5/6 are allowed up they’re lucky to get half an apple that has to last them up to pick up time. Nowhere near enough food supplied even though the manifest would indicate how many children would be there.

The only people they can find to staff it are local 6th formers, they do turn up on time, but I hear a few reports they’re sitting on their phones by parents walking by and children in the club, I’m sure that’s not all of them all the time, but I do wonder if we could afford a better team. .

the problem I have is there is not enough money being pumped into this suggestion by the government. Same as childminders, nurseries etc. I feel so sorry for the schools, TA’s are knackered on minimum wage to want to staff this as well - and most do that job as they have their own kids to sort out, Teachers have enough to do, the last job parents need as they want hours in school time not this, so leaves teenagers and people whose children have grown up (who’d probably prefer other jobs better paid and better times hours to this).

we used to have 7 local nurseries where I live, 2 have closed down and I hear another 2 are considering it as the money from the governments is not covering their bills and they cannot retain staff or employ people.

TA’s earn around £14k, they don’t get the perks or % pay increases like the teachers do and in some parts fair enough as they may not have gone to Uni or have the same pressure. Actually schools can’t even employ TA’s at the moment either.

All great headlines, but needs more investment left right and centre or it will fail to those who most need it.

I wondered about staffing too. There aren't a lot of people who want to work on school wraparound.

Yes. Staffing will be the main issue. We have a breakfast club already, staffed by 1 of the TAs. She is the only TA willing to do it, the rest of us have been asked on numerous occasions but none of us want to. We can’t get TAs to replace ones we have lost (no applicants) so getting someone for breakfast club will be nigh on impossible I would think.

Lots have a long school journey (secondary) so if they eat before they leave home they are very hungry by break. Breakfast at school makes sense. Easier to get in early and definitely be on time as public transport can be unreliable.

… except that this is primary schools only and (apparently) the country is broke and needs increased taxes to pay for the essentials.
@elozabet

Same in a lot of places I think. From what people have said in this thread, it would likely be some pretty early starts. Before 8 anyway. Those aren't especially popular, and some of the people who'd potentially be interested will have logistical issues with public transport and care for dependents.

Can’t imagine sending kids off to school without sitting together at breakfast, talking, getting organized. Knowing what my child ate and knowing they feel well and ready for the day. Their primary does a breakfast club, very early and parent contribution, great option for those working or organizing other early commitments.
Hoping new plan doesn’t cut into school hours for money saving for staffing because I’d still be having family breakfast at home, expecting child not be impacted. .

I’d have loved your life - weekday mornings were carnage in our house. I’m assuming you don’t work.