Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced a widening of the free breakfast clubs scheme, with around 2,000 primary schools in England expected to join the rollout. The plan is supported by £80 million (€92.0 million), and ministers say families could save up to £450 a year in childcare costs (€517.5). Ms Phillipson unveiled the plan as Labour delegates prepared to attend the party’s annual conference in Liverpool. She said: ‘The start of the national rollout of free breakfast clubs will be an historic change in working families’ daily routines and is another example of this Labour Government making good on its promises to deliver the change the British people voted for.’

Expanding the scheme to around 500,000 more children is intended to ease the burden on working parents and give all children the best start in life, according to Ms Phillipson. The Government began trialling free breakfast clubs earlier in 2025, with an initial scheme for around 180,000 pupils in 750 primary schools launched after the Easter holidays in the last school year. Labour vowed to roll out free breakfast clubs in every primary school in its 2024 manifesto.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, welcomed the move but urged the Government to address concerns over funding, staffing and space in school buildings. He said: ‘We welcome the principle of free breakfast clubs being available in schools. A good breakfast helps children to concentrate on their learning and has enormous benefits for their health and wellbeing. It is important that feedback from the Government’s initial trial is taken into account as part of this roll-out.’