A full, nutritious breakfast at school is key to powering the opportunities in every classroom across the country.
Morning hunger creates a barrier to opportunity – holding children and young people back from getting good grades and building the skills that set them up for life. When a child arrives at school hungry it becomes much harder for them to learn, play, take part in lessons, and build friendships.
When you’re hungry you get like, stomach pains, moody and grumpy and stuff. And you don’t want that. And some people just start dozing off.”
Year 5, North West
But the solution is simple
Free school breakfasts are key to powering children and young people, and unleashing opportunity in every classroom across the country, allowing children to start the day, and the rest of their lives, off right.
Urgent action ahead of the budget
Thousands of secondary school children are at risk of losing their free school breakfasts from September next year. For many of these students, this is their only opportunity to have a nutritious meal before facing a demanding school day, including taking exams. Will you co-sign our letter urging the Chancellor to include these secondary schools in the upcoming budget announcement, just under three weeks away?
The Children’s Wellbeing Bill will include a requirement for free school breakfast clubs in every primary school. This is a fantastic start towards ending child morning hunger, and when introduced, will transform how school children in England are supported.
The government now needs to act quickly, push forward the Children’s Wellbeing Bill outlined in the King’s Speech, and set out a full implementation plan for long-term school breakfast provision.
Every morning of delay creates an even bigger barrier for the 1 in 5 children in the UK who are at risk of hunger.
Help us build support
With Parliament back in session, we’re stepping up our efforts to reach more MPs and decision-makers. Will you email your MP today and ask them to take action?
What we’re calling for
The Children’s Wellbeing Bill will require free breakfast clubs in every primary school to ensure that every child, no matter their circumstances, is well prepared for the school day and can achieve their full potential. As a country, we can’t afford to let this momentum slip away, nor can we afford to implement provision poorly. It is vital that school breakfast provisions within this bill are prioritised.
The bill must:
- Legislate for different types of breakfast provision beyond traditional breakfast clubs, such as classroom breakfast, grab and go, and nurture groups, so that it can reach more children most at risk of morning hunger and make it possible for schools to deliver.
- Cover the cost of support staff to advise and support schools, which has been shown to maximise pupil uptake at scale, particularly for the most disadvantaged pupils.
- Cover all primary aged pupils, not just primary schools (i.e. encompassing Pupil Referral Units, Specialist Schools, Alternative Provision, and SEND schools).
Together with parents, teachers and people across the country we want to demonstrate the power of school breakfasts and show the support for this commitment, and to see it become reality.
Breakfast powers days, imaginations, participation, and the next generation.