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The rollout delivers on the Government’s manifesto promise to ensure state schools offer free breakfast clubs to all pupils, while supporting its Plan for Change milestone to ensure tens of thousands more children start school ready to learn.

The Government says free breakfast clubs can make a ‘significant’ impact on children’s attendance, behaviour and attendance. According to research almost a third of parents think their children focus better in lessons (31%). The most popular breakfast options consumed so far are cereal (39%) followed by toast (32%) and yoghurt (8%).

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “This milestone in our Plan for Change will make all the difference to working families, as every child deserves the chance to start the day supported and ready to learn.

“That’s why we are determined to break the link between background and success - delivering two million meals in the first term of free breakfast clubs, making an immediate and direct impact and easing the pressures on working families. We know parents are living busy lives, juggling family time and jobs, so I urge all parents who can to make use of the clubs.

“Coupled with the historic step to tackle child poverty through offering free school meals to every single child who’s family claim universal credit and legislating cost saving measures such as a branded uniform cap, we are delivering the change families deserve.”  

Free breakfast clubs in the early adopter schools will shape the future of the national breakfast club policy, contributing directly to its implementation. Further details on the national rollout of the breakfast clubs programme will follow in due course.