Families across England will benefit from a major new government scheme delivering free breakfast clubs in schools, as part of efforts to tackle child hunger and ease cost of living pressures.
Hundreds of schools across the country will begin offering free breakfasts to pupils from this week, following the launch of a government-backed initiative supported by major household brands including Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Weetabix and Magic Breakfast.
The “Best Start” breakfast clubs are part of a national effort to address childhood food insecurity, with research showing more than one in three parents (38%) struggle to provide a healthy breakfast each day.
The government has secured exclusive deals through new public-private partnerships to allow schools access to free or heavily discounted breakfast foods. From porridge and wheat biscuits to fresh fruit and toast, schools can now serve a broader range of nutritious meals, thanks to contributions from Britain’s biggest food suppliers.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the move as part of the government’s plan to “break the link between background and opportunity”, helping children thrive in school while supporting working families.
“We’re going further by joining forces with some of Britain’s most loved food brands,” she said. “This is about making sure every child can start the day ready to learn, while also helping families keep more of their hard-earned money.”
The scheme is already active in 750 schools, with plans to expand it to 2,000 more from April 2026. According to official estimates, families could save up to £450 a year per child, while freeing up around 95 hours annually for parents juggling work and childcare.
To improve long-term sustainability, schools will also be encouraged to use the savings to fund enrichment activities, such as board games and sports, creating a calmer start to the day for pupils.
Headteacher Rick Weights of Saxton Federation in Monk Fryston said the support from retailers has made a “world of difference” for smaller schools. “For us as a rural school, the high delivery costs for fresh food were a barrier,” he said. “Now with Morrisons offering free delivery, we can put those savings back into expanding menu options.”
A recent poll by Parentkind found more than a quarter of parents said they had gone without essentials such as heating or food to cover the cost of school uniforms. In response, the Department for Education has also issued updated guidance urging schools to cap branded uniform requirements, ahead of new legislation under the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill. This could save some families an additional £50 per child.
Participating companies welcomed the move as a meaningful step in reducing food inequality.
Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s, said the supermarket will provide £200 vouchers to help schools set up or improve their breakfast offer. “Every child deserves affordable, nutritious food to help them thrive,” he said.
Weetabix’s Francesca Theokli echoed that view, saying, “We believe every child deserves access to wholegrain, high fibre, low sugar, nutritious food.”
Magic Breakfast, a charity already working with over 1,000 schools across the UK, also joined the programme to share its delivery expertise and help support different types of school communities.
The programme forms part of the government’s broader food strategy, which includes revising School Food Standards and rolling out free school meals to every family on Universal Credit. Officials say this could lift 100,000 children out of poverty.
