The government has pledged to provide free breakfast clubs in every primary school in England and the scheme will start to roll out from April 2025.
However, early years sector organisations have warned the Government that they must ensure that they do not duplicate services, which are already run by private and voluntary provider nurseries, many of which already offer breakfast and after-school childcare based in schools.
The National Day Nurseries Association said that public money should not be used in a way that could damage existing childcare provision.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said, ‘The ongoing investment in wraparound care will be welcome for parents and we know breakfast clubs can have a positive impact on children’s learning and development.
‘We must remember that private, voluntary and independent nurseries already run wraparound childcare services like breakfast and after school clubs, including some which are based in schools or which support children from nearby schools. They should be fully engaged in this scheme as providers with years of experience in delivery.
‘We don’t want to see public money used in a way that damages or duplicates existing high-quality provision. If part of a nursery’s business model becomes unsustainable, that may threaten their ability to deliver other childcare and early education services.’
Schools with primary-school-aged children can apply to become an early adopter of the universal free breakfast clubs scheme.
The government will fund up to 750 participating state-funded schools to provide children with access to a breakfast club that involves free food and childcare, starting from April.
The Budget tripled investment in breakfast clubs to over £33m for 2025-26 for the early adopter scheme.
The existing National Schools Breakfast Club programme will continue from 2025/26 to provide support to the most disadvantaged children.
Every parent accessing the new breakfast clubs will receive 30-minutes free childcare at the start of the school day.
The DfE said it expects that all schools taking part in the scheme will, as a minimum:
- deliver breakfast club provision that provides healthy food, compliant with the Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 (also known as the School Food Standards)
- deliver breakfast club provision that provides at least 30 minutes of free childcare before the start of the school day
- ensure the club is open to all children of primary-school age on roll at the school
- provide this club free to parents and carers
- regularly report data and take part in an evaluation of the scheme as requested
The department said it will select early adopter schools across different school types, sizes and geographical areas to ensure a wide representation. 'We want to test and learn with as many different types of schools as possible, including schools that work with or are considering working with private, voluntary and independent (PVI) providers to deliver their breakfast clubs.'
Schools taking part in the scheme will support the DfE to:
- understand how schools design and implement their offer at a local level
- identify any barriers to implementation and delivery challenges to understand the support that schools need, such as space and premises requirements
- better understand parental demand and pupil take-up over time
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said, ‘This is a landmark opportunity for schools to be in the vanguard of change, as we build back the foundations of an education system that breaks the link between children’s background, and the opportunities they have in life.
‘From helping with flexible working for families, to improving behaviour and attendance, the supportive start to the day that breakfast clubs provide will help drive high and rising standards for every child. This government is delivering change that will make a real difference to families up and down the country.’
Early adopter schools will be confirmed by early next year and the scheme will launch from the start of the summer term.
More information
Schools interested in taking part can find more information and apply here
- Do you have an opinion on any issues raised in this article? If you'd like to email a comment or a letter email us at news.nw@markallengroup.com
