The rollout of free breakfast clubs in schools will begin this week, with the first 750 starting from Tuesday.
They are designed to give parents of primary school children 30 minutes of free childcare a day, or up to 95 hours a year.
The trial begins at the start of the new term and will run to July, ahead of an expected national rollout.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: ‘Free breakfast clubs are at the heart of our Plan for Change, making working parents’ lives easier and more affordable.’
As schools reopen after the Easter holidays, 750 across England will offer the breakfast clubs.
However, critics have said the amount of funding is too low.
Shadow education minister Neil O’Brien has raised questions about ‘the difference in the planned spend and the much larger benefits ministers are claiming’.
The Association of School and College Leaders said: ‘We strongly urge the Government to be more realistic about the costs involved before it attempts to roll out this policy nationally.’
They are designed to give parents of primary school children 30 minutes of free childcare a day, or up to 95 hours a year. Pictured: Children at Cherry Fold Primary School’s breakfast club enjoy their food before lessons start on March 22, 2024 in Burnley
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: ‘Free breakfast clubs are at the heart of our Plan for Change, making working parents’ lives easier and more affordable’
The headteachers’ union has welcomed the expansion of breakfast clubs, which some schools already run, but said education leaders involved in the pilot had suggested the funding ‘just isn’t sufficient’.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, said: ‘There is no doubt that a good breakfast can be positive for children’s health and help them to focus on their learning.
‘While we welcome the intentions behind the programme, the initial feedback we are hearing from many school leaders participating in the pilot is that the funding just isn’t sufficient.
‘At a time when school budgets are already stretched, most can ill-afford to subsidise this shortfall.’
He added: ‘It’s absolutely crucial that this is addressed before the scheme is rolled out nationally, and we have been encouraged to receive assurance from the
Under the pilot scheme, schools will be reimbursed by the Government based on attendance.
The trial was initially backed by funding of £7 million, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing in the autumn budget that more than £30 million would be allocated overall for breakfast clubs in 2025-26.
Labour made a manifesto commitment to spend £315 million on the programme by 2028-29.
The headteachers’ union has welcomed the expansion of breakfast clubs, which some schools already run, but said education leaders involved in the pilot had suggested the funding ‘just isn’t sufficient’. Pictured: Children eating breakfast at St Mark’s Primary School in Glasgow
Department for Education that funding will be looked at carefully when this trial is being assessed.’
The Government has previously insisted the funding will be sufficient to deliver the programme.
NASUWT teaching union general secretary Patrick Roach said the rollout would make a ‘significant contribution’ to tackling child hunger but urged ministers to go ‘much further’.
‘The rollout of the new breakfast club provision should be monitored closely to ensure that any logistical and funding issues can be addressed without any adverse impact on other aspects of provision within schools,’ he said.
‘The two-child benefit cap continues to blight the lives and life chances of hundreds of thousands of children. The Government should prioritise the forthcoming spending review to lift more children out of a life in poverty.’
Announcing the launch next week, Ms Phillipson said: ‘From Tyneside to Truro, England is one of the first countries in Europe to open universal free breakfast clubs, saving parents up to £450 per year and making sure every child starts school ready to learn.
‘This Government is delivering on our promises to working parents, rolling out free breakfast clubs, school-based nurseries, and giving every child across the country the best start in life.’
The Government expects the funding rates for the programme to vary depending on up-take and pupil characteristics.
An average school with 50 per cen uptake on the early adopter scheme would receive around £23,000 for a full year, and all schools are set to receive £500 to cover initial set-up costs and a lump sum of at least £1,000 a term.
