Free school breakfast for every child

[greyingunderneath]

Is this a good use of funding? I am not very well off financially but I don’t mind providing a slice of toast for my child and can’t say it will make any difference to me financially if they provide it instead.
I don’t know how much this is costing the government but it seems like a waste of resources to me.

From first hand observation - kids would go hungry if the expected handout from the local charity not received. BUT parents smoke and have a full Sky subscription and haven’t worked for years.
Tell me that’s right.

I think that providing a healthy breakfast and lunch for every school child is a great way to spend public money. My kids get good breakfasts and packed lunches but so many don’t. It’s also a really good social learning experience eating together. Having children brush their teeth after a meal at school would also be a positive thing. But we all know public money is wasted by our governments and often not funnelled into the right resources.

This. How many times do taxpayers have to feed a child?

Anyone who can afford to smoke doesn't need state handouts!

£2 is ok, and excellent if it starts at 8.00,
I'm South Lanarkshire its free toast and water but only from 8.40.

£10 week would be great if it meant I could start work earlier and in turn finish earlier

Toast and water sounds like something out of Oliver Twist.

How does this fit in with the government's healthy eating plan? Doesn't sound very nutritious to me.

Our local schools had the lunchbox stasi. If food wasnt nutritious it was confiscated and they had to do without. No white bread. No crisps. No treats. Croissants wouldn't be allowed either.

Yet, school meals often included pizza.

Mine had cooked breakfast at home in winter. They also expected something warm for lunch. At one stage I tried sending tomato soup in a flask to school. It wasnt very successful. One mother tried sending a warm pasty for lunch. That was frowned on too.

Honest its Toast to Go, is the service they offer. Which you'll realise it's toast the kids take outside into the playground.
Government requirements don't enter the equation

Pre covid they did a proper breakfast club, but that never resumed, social distancing and budget it restarted as Toast to Go

Billions for illegals and Ukraine is not a good use of funding, second homes with furniture for MPs is not a good use of funding, but breakfasts for everyone is a wonderful idea, it is a great bonding experience - children would be breaking bread together, and if teachers or classroom assistants organise it wonderfully - like mixing kids every morning, not allowing them to sit together in their friendship groups, but really mixing - this is wonderful!

Yes lots of money is being spent needlessly.

I'd rather see money going to schools for stuff than into bags for every child.
What teacher wants 25 identical P1 bags for kids that can hardly read their name? Lots of fun figuring out who's is who's on a daily basis. Most parents can afford a bag for their kid, and most kids want a bag of their choosing, not a government issue number.

mixing kids every morning, not allowing them to sit together in their friendship groups, but really mixing this would be awful! Part of navigating school is avoiding the kids who are unkind, kids shouldn't be forced to mix if they don't want to, it's not speed dating.

Is this happening anytime soon? Currently paying £8 a day for breakfast club.