Parents prioritising primary schools with free breakfast clubs

New polling finds 45% of parents prioritise primary schools that offer free breakfast clubs, and over 300,000 children are set to benefit from the Best Start programme in April.

Over 300,000 children are set to benefit from Best Start free breakfast clubs in April as the government expands the programme to support families juggling work and school routines. Schools already enrolled have served around 7 million meals, and officials report families save money and gain extra morning time. New polling shows many parents place priority on schools that offer free breakfast clubs, and the government is inviting more primary schools to join. Applications are open for 1,500 schools to start in September, with a stated aim of reaching 680,000 children by that month. Key details: - The Best Start free breakfast clubs are scheduled to reach over 300,000 children in April. - Schools on the programme have served about 7 million meals to date; officials report savings up to £450 per family and up to 95 hours of time returned each morning. - Polling cited in the article shows 45% of parents prioritise schools that offer free breakfast clubs. - The article reports 60% of parents are more likely to use support when it is available to everyone, and it notes 38% of single parents feel guilt when accessing free support compared with 28% of parents raising a family with a partner. - The scheme is backed by a stated £80 million targeted at the most disadvantaged areas and includes partnerships with Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Weetabix and Magic Breakfast through July 2026. - Applications opened for 1,500 schools to join from September, with the stated aim of 680,000 children benefiting by that month. Summary: The government is expanding free breakfast clubs and highlights reported benefits such as improved attendance and extra morning time for families. New polling indicates the availability of breakfast clubs influences many parents' school choices. The next procedural step noted is that applications are open for 1,500 schools to join the programme for a September start.