The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced late last year, offers fresh hope for children across England.
Having now passed its second reading, and entering Committee Stage today, this potentially life-changing legislation promises free school breakfasts for every primary-aged child. As the bill moves through Parliament, it’s a time to celebrate – but also to act, ensuring it delivers on its potential to improve children and young people’s education, health, and futures.
The second reading debate in Parliament was heartening, with breakfast mentioned 84 times by nearly 20 MPs during a five-hour debate. Politicians from across the political spectrum backed free school breakfasts, with some, like Damian Hinds, advocating for extending the programme to secondary pupils, and others, like Sarah Dyke, stressing the importance of the food’s nutritional quality. Many MPs shared personal stories of witnessing or experiencing the impact of hunger, uniting in support of this critical issue. We were delighted to see dozens of MPs taking to social media in the hours after the debate to show their support for the Government’s proposals.
Much of this momentum was driven by supporters like you, who contacted MPs ahead of the debate, urging them to attend and speak up. Your voices made a difference, highlighting the widespread commitment to tackling child hunger, improving education, and reducing inequality.
No child should start their school day hungry, yet for too many, a nutritious breakfast remains out of reach. This bill is about more than policy – it’s about ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive without hunger holding them back.
That’s why we’re working tirelessly to strengthen the school breakfast provisions in this bill. Here’s what we’re campaigning for:
- Reaching every child who needs a nutritious breakfast. No child should be too hungry to learn. We’re pushing for the bill to include measures that ensure no child start their day too hungry to learn.
- Removing stigma and barriers. Stigma often prevents children from accessing breakfast programmes. We’re advocating for provisions that make breakfast accessible to all, without singling anyone out.
- Effective monitoring and delivery. The bill currently lacks plans to monitor the success of breakfast provisions. This oversight is concerning, as effective delivery is vital to tackling classroom hunger. We’re calling for robust monitoring to ensure the programme works.
- Supporting schools and staff. Teachers and school staff are vital to the success of breakfast programmes. We want to ensure they have the resources, guidance, and funding to make breakfast clubs a success for their schools.
This bill has the potential to change lives – but only if it’s done right. The road ahead includes further debates, scrutiny, and revisions. With your help, we can strengthen the bill to ensure no child is left behind. Join our Breakfast Powers Opportunity campaign to make breakfast better in the bill.
What is the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools bill?
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is proposed legislation to better protect children and raise standards in education. It focusses on improving schools so they can better support and care for children and young people. It addresses important issues like mental health, bullying, and ensuring fairness, particularly for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
A key provision is the introduction of free school breakfasts for all primary-aged children, recognising the vital role good nutrition plays in helping children focus and learn. The bill also aims to reduce absenteeism by supporting families and encouraging regular attendance, and creates a limit on the number of branded items of school uniform that primary schools can ask for.
Overall, it seeks to create safer, more inclusive schools where every child and young person can thrive.
