Parents across the country are increasingly prioritising primary schools that offer free breakfast clubs, as new government figures reveal the growing impact of the Best Start programme on

families facing cost-of-living pressures.

From April, more than 300,000 children will benefit from free breakfast clubs, with the scheme already proving to be a lifeline for working parents and a boost for children’s wellbeing. Schools currently enrolled have served more than seven million breakfasts, saving families up to £450 a year and freeing up as much as 95 hours annually from hectic morning routines.

The benefits extend well beyond finances. Evidence shows children who attend breakfast clubs arrive at school earlier, eat healthier meals and show improved attendance, attainment and behaviour. For parents, the clubs provide reliable childcare at the start of the day, helping them balance work and family life more easily.

New polling underlines just how important the scheme has become, with nearly half of parents (45%) saying they actively prioritise schools that offer free breakfast clubs. Crucially, the universal nature of the programme is also helping to reduce stigma. Six in ten parents say they are more likely to access support when it is available to all families, rather than targeted only at those in financial difficulty.

The data also highlights the emotional pressure felt by some parents. Almost four in ten single parents (38%) report feeling guilt when accessing free support, compared with 28% of parents raising children with a partner — a gap the government hopes to close by making breakfast clubs universally accessible.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the scheme is Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Free breakfast clubs are revolutionising morning routines up and down the country, becoming an essential part of modern-day life for working families.

From settling a child into the school day to helping parents get to work, free breakfast clubs are giving every child the best start in life - delivering on our plan for national renewal.

I was raised by a single parent, so I know first-hand the struggles facing parents trying to make ends meet and how important it is to tackle outdated stigmas with practical support that people can feel every day”.

Drawing on her own experience of being raised by a single parent, Phillipson added that practical, universal support is key to tackling outdated stigmas and easing pressure on families.

Applications have now opened for a further 1,500 primary schools to join the programme in September, which would see up to 680,000 children benefiting by the start of the new school year.

Backed by £80 million targeted at the most disadvantaged areas, the breakfast club expansion forms part of a wider package of measures designed to support families with rising costs. These include 30 hours a week of free childcare, expanded eligibility for free school meals, the creation of school-based nurseries, cuts to the cost of branded school uniforms, and the removal of the two-child limit — a move expected to lift 450,000 children out of poverty.

Diane Newton, Head Teacher, Field Road Academy, West Midlands said:

“For our school, a free breakfast club will enormously improve attendance and set our pupils up for a day of learning.

The fact this club is free and open to everyone will help break down any stigma attached to accessing free meals, ending the perception support should only be for those most in need.

Everyone, from every type of family, has something to gain from using a free breakfast club - from putting some extra money back in parents’ pockets, helping them get to work easier, to improving children’s wellbeing”.

Maria Carnevale is a single mum of three living in Eastwood in Rotherham, balancing work, family life, and caring for a newborn. Reflecting on the difference breakfast club makes, she says:

“My kids absolutely love breakfast club - it gives them such a fun, positive start to their day and the chance to chat, play and engage with their friends before school begins.

It’s become something they genuinely look forward to each morning, and it sets them up in such a good mood for the day ahead.

For me, it’s made a huge difference too; it helps our mornings run smoothly, takes away the rush and stress, and means I can get to work on time or spend those precious moments with my newborn that I’d otherwise miss“.

To support the programme, the government has also secured partnerships with major food suppliers including Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Weetabix and Magic Breakfast until July 2026. The partnerships will provide schools with discounts, free deliveries and access to healthier, more varied breakfasts — ensuring children across the country can start the school day well fed and ready to learn.

Frank Young, Chief Executive of Parentkind said: “This is good news for parents and especially parents juggling the pressures of work and school drop offs.

We know that parents want breakfast clubs and it helps them to get children to school and hold down jobs.

It’s particularly important for children to start their day well and get ready for school. Parents will applaud this news». Photo by Vkem, Wikimedia commons.