Families in South West Norfolk will soon be able to access 30 minutes of quality childcare ahead of the start of the school day as Labour pushes ahead with rollout of free breakfast clubs across the country.
Today, Terry Jermy MP, Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk, has written and urged local schools to apply to become one of 750 early adopters in the Labour government’s free breakfast clubs roll out, with clubs to launch from April.
Breakfast clubs in every primary school will make a huge difference to children, families, and schools removing barriers to opportunity by helping children learn, making sure no child starts school hungry and helping families with the cost of childcare around the school day, to help keep money in people’s pockets.
This action to kick-start the programme follows Labour’s Budget to fix the foundations to deliver change, which tripled investment in breakfast clubs to over £33 million for 2025-26.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:
“This is a landmark opportunity for schools to be in the vanguard of change, as we build 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 Labour government is delivering change that will make a real difference to families up and down the country.”
Terry Jermy MP, said:
“Speaking to parents in the constituency, I know how valuable getting help with childcare around the school day can be – these clubs could save local families £400 a year.
“At the same time, the clubs will help to deliver Labour’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for children by boosting attendance and attainment.
“Early adopters will have the unique opportunity to shape the future of the national breakfast club policy, contributing directly to its implementation – I hope schools in South West Norfolk can be part of that.”
Applications open as more than 2 in 5 non-working mothers say that they would prefer to work if they could arrange good quality, convenient, reliable and affordable childcare, and over half of parents say they have problems finding formal childcare for their child that is flexible enough to fit their needs.
The breakfast clubs form part of Labour’s mission to break the unfair link between background and opportunity, delivering change that can be felt by working people with early adopters to offer all children at their school access to a free breakfast and at least 30 minutes of free before school childcare, every day.
Further details on the national roll out of the breakfast clubs programme will follow in due course.
The wider paid-for wraparound childcare offer – for all primary children to be able to access childcare between 8am-6pm – continues to roll out across the country.
Labour is also developing an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty and give children the best
start in life, which will be published in Spring. The Taskforce led by the Work and Pensions Secretary and Education Secretary are looking at all available levers across government to drive forward short- term and long-term actions to reduce child poverty.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Department for Education newsdesk contactable at 020 7783 8300.
Schools interested in participating can find more information and apply here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/breakfast-clubs-early-adopters-scheme.
Department for Education press release, containing quotes from Chief Executive of Family Action and Willow Bank Primary School headteacher here:
The existing National Schools Breakfast Club programme will continue Y25/26 to provide support to the most disadvantaged children.
