These 13 Nottinghamshire schools get free daily breakfast clubs ...

A total of 84 schools across the East Midlands have today (Monday, 24 February) been named in the first wave of the Government’s free daily breakfast clubs roll-out, putting up to £450 a year back in parents’ pockets.

From as soon as April, chosen schools will kick off the historic programme, with an early adopter phase set to inform the Government’s landmark national roll-out, which will give all parents access to the scheme.

Delivering on promises made to working parents in the Labour Government’s manifesto, all primary-aged children in early adopter schools will be able to access a free breakfast and at least 30 minutes of free childcare every day, helping parents get into work by allowing them to drop their children off half an hour earlier.

Of the 750 schools being announced across England, 84 will be in the East Midlands, with:

• 22 schools in Derbyshire
• 8 schools in Derby
• 11 schools in Nottinghamshire
• 2 schools in Nottingham
• 9 schools in North Northamptonshire
• 8 schools in West Northamptonshire
• 8 schools in Leicestershire
• 8 schools in Leicester
• 8 schools in Lincolnshire

Schools are encouraged to offer healthy, varied, and nutritious breakfasts, with options including porridge, fresh fruit, and yoghurt. The early adopter schools will also provide the perfect setting for activities such as arts and crafts, educational puzzles, reading, and more.

Universal free breakfast clubs are central to the Government’s Plan for Change, removing barriers to opportunity by ensuring every child starts the school day ready to learn – with research showing that the clubs can have a lasting impact on children’s behaviour, attendance, and attainment.

By ensuring no child starts school hungry, the scheme also plays an important role in the Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty. Of the 180,000 children who will benefit in the early adopter schools across England, around 67,000 attend schools in deprived areas.

The clubs form part of a wider package of measures designed to cut the cost of living for families, including the commitment to significantly reduce uniform costs through a cap on branded items and complement government-funded childcare.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of our Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success for families all over the country.

“Breakfast clubs can have a transformative impact on the lives of children, feeding hungry tummies and fuelling hungry minds so that every child begins the day ready to learn.

“Alongside our plans to roll out school-based nurseries and get thousands more children school-ready, this Government is delivering the reforms needed to give every child, wherever they grow up, the best start in life.”

Schools were chosen from across England to ensure the scheme tests and learns from a variety of locations, including those that do not currently run a breakfast club. All selected schools will receive funding to cover food and staffing costs.

Government research shows that most parents (87%) think breakfast clubs offer a good opportunity for children to socialise, and two-thirds (66%) recognise the value of clubs providing educational activities.

Breakfast clubs have been shown to boost children’s reading, writing, and maths by an average of two months.

Jeevun Sandher, Regional Mission Delivery Champion for the East Midlands and Loughborough MP, said: “This Labour Government is putting its money where its mouth is, delivering on our manifesto promises for working families across the East Midlands and beyond.

“Schemes like this really make a difference to the lives of both our children and their parents, especially those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

“I am thrilled to see so many schools in our region benefitting in this first wave—including in my own constituency—and I look forward to seeing even more rolled out across the East Midlands.”

Too many children’s life chances are being scarred by rising poverty, with one in four in absolute poverty as of 2023. The Government is determined to change that, with the breakfast club roll-out being driven alongside the wider work of the Child Poverty Taskforce, which is set to deliver an ambitious strategy to increase household income, reduce essential costs, and tackle the challenges faced by those living in poverty.

Sir David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action, said: “Family Action welcomes the Government’s announcement of the 750 schools selected to take part in the Early Adopters Scheme. These schools will play a vital role in testing and shaping the national roll-out of the Government’s exciting universal breakfast policy.

“We know that effective breakfast provision, delivered in a supportive and enriching environment, can make a world of difference to a child. We look forward to sharing our long experience of delivering breakfast provision with Early Adopter schools.”

Early Adopter schools will help shape the future of the national breakfast club policy, contributing directly to its implementation. 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 8 am and 6 pm—continues to roll out across the country.

• Crabtree Farm Primary and Nursery School – NOTTINGHAM NORTH & KIMBERLEY
• William Booth Primary and Nursery School – NOTTINGHAM EAST

• St Joseph’s, Retford – BASSETLAW
• William Lilley Infant and Nursery School – BROXTOWE
• Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School – BASSETLAW
• Larkfields Junior School – NOTTINGHAM NORTH & KIMBERLEY
• Misterton Primary School – BASSETLAW
• Arnold Mill Primary – GEDLING
• Orchard Primary School – ASHFIELD
• Holly Primary School – MANSFIELD
• Woods Foundation CofE Primary School – GEDLING
• Normanton on Soar Primary School – RUSHCLIFFE
• St Peter’s CofE Primary Academy Mansfield – MANSFIELD