Overview

• The pilot program for free breakfast clubs will begin next week at 750 primary schools in England, running through July as part of Labour’s Plan for Change.
• The initiative is backed by £7 million in initial funding, with £30 million allocated for 2025-26 and a manifesto pledge of £315 million by 2028-29.
• Ministers estimate the program could save parents £450 annually and provide 95 extra hours of childcare per year for primary-aged children.
• School leaders, including the NAHT union, have raised concerns about insufficient funding, warning of potential budget shortfalls for participating schools.
• The Department for Education insists funding is adequate, while unions urge close monitoring and adjustments before a national rollout.