Free breakfast club for all primary school kids

[ladykale]

So the Labour government is planning to offer free breakfast clubs for all children at all state schools regardless of area.

Given that these are often run independently from schools themselves, if you have a state school in very close proximity to a private school, should private school parents be allowed to use this service, and if not, why not?

Not true unfortunately - ours run at a loss some years which I don't think is technically allowed as they should be self funding. The uptake isn't always there.

Getting children into school and fed? Could go some way into reducing absences/lateness and increase child welfare and attainment because they aren't coming into school hungry - which isn't just a problem for children on FSM.

Having them start school with some food inside them and without a mad rush to get in for 8.30 like every school in the area makes far more sense.

Enrol at the school across the road then

Don't get too excited about the free breakfast club, we already have this in wales under a labour government. It's only free for the 8:30-9 portion. If you want to drop off before 8:30 then you still have to pay.

Unfortunately the independent school posters on MN seem entitled. They don't understand that and are upset because they have decided (even if it is a struggle) to opt out of state education they forgo the other stuff that goes with it.

My DD would prefer to go to a state primary school where she can use the indoor toilets as the ceiling hasn't collapsed, and other kids' parents would like to be taught by a teacher everyday rather than have free breakfasts. Though I can understand why the government are giving primary kids free breakfasts and some devolved/local governments are also giving them free school dinners.

Really? I’d build more schools , ensure decent class sizes. Especially with the pressure to come if vat is charged on private. I’d invest in books and all the equipment they needed. Employ support staff, particularly for Sen kids. Give every child the opportunity of a decent education. Then when it was running right, I’d consider free brekkies and child care.

I'm more interested in whether they will be open to children at SEN schools - the vast majority of SEN schools have zero wrap around care.

Our school is like that.
We do have a breakfast club though this is currently restricted in numbers,

Breakfast includes cereals, toast, crumpets, pancakes, etc. and juice.

My DD's school insisted we take the free school meals.

We had issues because they kept feeding her stuff that caused her - to put it politely - to have messy bowel issues even after we told them and signed forms to tell them not to feed her particular food. Though to be fair we had the same fight with her nursery but not with her childminder.

Don't know where you live but where I am there are falling rolls particularly at the Catholic primary schools.

Oh and my DD's school is losing money over their breakfast club as the children hate who run it so unless there is absolutely no other choice only a couple of children attend. On the other hand the after school club is popular. DD and others love the staff.

Yes, we're in Wales. Free breakfast club available to all pupils. In practice only used by about 25% because either not needed by that family, kids come in on the school bus, or older kids walk up by themselves. Staffed by TAs at the school and/or the school cook. Food is very basic, but to be honest for many parents who use the breakfast club, the food isn't really the point, it's mainly about being able to drop off and get to work.

No. If you want a free breakfast from a state school you need to enrol them. You carnt have random people walking into a school fo
r breakfast, it's a huge security risk.

Exactly @Plano , schools have fixed costs for many things. If your class size is 25 instead of 30 you still have to pay a teacher and heat the classroom. That's why some schools are now running at a loss.

We are limited to 20 on a first come basis. The local private has their own provision and it wouldn't impact on us. A viability study started in our area a few months ago to see if there is enough demand to at least break even.
Seems to vary from school to school.

It's a nice idea but will be a nightmare to implement. Same as mass tooth brushing in schools or collecting in mobiles phones everyday for secondary pupils.

As I do mine. And for the record they wouldn’t go to breakfast club even if they had the choice because we don’t need to.

The point I am making obviously there are so so many people that can’t afford food at the minute.

If free food is offered for primary school age children then it should be for secondary.

So you agree primary age children should but not secondary yeah?

Presumably the would have to attend a breakfast club at their own, or nearby school otherwise how would they get to their classrooms for the start of the day? It would be chaos.

Agree with PPs that private school parents are not going to drop their DCs at a random school for a bowl of cornflakes then drive them halfway across the city to their actual school.

I suspect the plan is for breakfast club to become an extension of the school day run by assistants and volunteers.

No I don’t think we should be paying for all primary school children to have free breakfast or free lunches. Only those who are on certain benefits and can’t afford to. And those who can’t afford to do so need looking after a lot more, including in school
holidays. Unsure why I would take taxpayers money to pay for my children to eat when there’s people out there in real need and can’t afford it .

I can't see how this would work. Our school can only fit half the children in the hall at once so they'd need two sittings...where are they meant to go when not their turn unless they open up all the classrooms and have full staff working from 7.30 (not a chance, many teachers are already in working and TAs wouldn't want more hours here).

Although it's not a service we'd want for DC (standard of school food is dire and they don't need a longer day) so maybe others would be the same.

If PS are paying VAT, then they should be given a budget to private breakfasts - just like SS. Surely it's discriminatory not to?

The more I think about this the more annoyed I get. You want a freebie from a state school your kids don't attend and use up some of their budget which should be used to benefit the kids who attend that school? State schools are already struggling with their budget and you want a freebie. Shame on you. If you opt of of the state school system you carnt expect this. That money is for the kids enrolled there.

We already have this in Wales, the breakfast clubs are all run by the schools in my area. They are allowed to charge for childcare but it's a very small amount (we pay £1 a day to be at breakfast club from 8), kids who just want the free breakfast arrive at 8.30 and don't have to pay anything.

Kids on free school meals can have breakfast at my DD's secondary school, doors open from 8am.
There is talk in Wales of bringing in free meals for all secondary school students too, we already have this for primary school (and a labour government.....)

Except it's not....it's been a thing in Wales for a few years now and has had really positive outcomes. It's never the child's fault if their parents don't give them breakfast whatever the reason and no child should have to start the school day hungry, how are they supposed to learn!
Also so many parents working but in low paid jobs, if they have somewhere safe to drop their kids off in the morning it makes it much easier for them to work.