Almost 80 schools named just months ago as trailblazers for Labour鈥檚 flagship free breakfast clubs have dropped out, with many saying the funding is inadequate. The government , providing 30 minutes of free childcare and a 鈥渉ealthy start鈥 for about 180,000 children. But analysis by Schools Week found 79 schools in the scheme 鈥 about one in ten 鈥 have dropped out. The 79 were included in a list published in February. The government said more than 3,000 schools had expressed an interest, with 89 recently added to boost numbers. However, many of the schools that dropped out blamed inadequate funding, raising fresh concerns about the viability of the clubs which are to be rolled out across all primary schools by the end of parliament. 鈥業mpossible to financially break-even鈥 Among the schools withdrawn since February are Beamont and Bruche primary schools in Warrington. Warrington Primary Academy Trust CEO Louise Smith said they had withdrawn 鈥渂ecause it currently isn鈥檛 financially viable for our schools. 鈥淲e very much support the concept, but it needs to be properly funded. Schools cannot pick up the hidden costs of this. The scheme is in danger of falling flat because of this funding shortfall.鈥 She said one school had explored linking with a private provider 鈥渂ut they could not make it pay without supplementing it with our own money鈥. 鈥淭he funding gap is considerable,鈥 said Smith. She calculated a club for 30 children would cost at least 拢26.10 per day. Funding would equate to 拢20.70. 鈥淲e would be immediately out of pocket before we even buy food.鈥 Heycroft Primary in Essex, an early adopter in February, said it 鈥渞egrettably鈥 pulled out. Andrew Cooper, the chief executive officer of South East Essex Academy Trust, which runs the school, said it did 鈥渘ot make financial sense鈥 to participate in a 鈥渓oss-making activity鈥 based on current staffing ratios. Broughton-in-Amounderness Primary in Lancashire also pulled out. Oliver McPhail, its head, told the Blog Preston website it was 鈥渘o longer in a position to offer this service due the financial impact it will have on our budget.鈥 Hatchlands Primary in Surrey also pulled out over 鈥渓ogical challenges鈥. While it was 鈥渄isappointing news鈥 for parents, 鈥渆nsuring adequate supervision, accommodating all interested pupils within our facilities, and maintaining compliance with nutritional guidelines have all been significant considerations鈥, Moira Anderson, the school鈥檚 head, said in a letter. 鈥榃e haven鈥檛 got the capacity鈥 Malmesbury Park School in Bournemouth, part of the Reach South Academy Trust, withdrew as the scheme was 鈥渘ot financially viable鈥. Tom Hayes, the Labour MP for Bournemouth East, previously said the scheme would 鈥渆nsure every child has the chance to thrive鈥. He did not respond to a request for comment. Brookfield Junior Primary Academy in Rotherham pulled out following financial concerns. Companies such as Kellogg鈥檚 and Greggs already part-fund some clubs, with schools also charging parents. A school based in Bedfordshire, which wanted to remain anonymous, said it pulled out after reading the final details. 鈥楥haotic and mismanaged鈥 Neil O鈥橞rien, the shadow schools minister, said it was 鈥渁nother chaotic and mismanaged announcement from DfE ministers. 鈥淐oming as school leaders warn of redundancies and valuable education schemes are shut down, this does raise questions about ministers’ priorities.鈥 Neil OBrien But the government this week said some movement was 鈥渁lways expected as we confirmed the final list鈥. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 precisely why we built in time between the announcement and the start of the scheme: to work closely with schools, ensure plans were deliverable, and get clubs up and running from the first day of term.鈥 Schools Week previously reported how interested schools had snubbed the pilot because it would hamstring existing clubs and force them to lose income. Funding documents for the trial show a one-off 拢500 set-up payment to cover things such as equipment and materials. A lump sum of 拢1,099 would cover 鈥渟tart-up staffing costs鈥 for the summer term. The basic funding rate at mainstream schools is 60p per pupil, per day. Free school meals pupils attract an extra 78p. The government said the funding worked out as an extra 拢21,400 for schools taking part. Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, previously said the trial wanted to 鈥渢est really effectively what works ahead of a full national roll-out鈥.
25 April 2025 In Victoria Australia they have donated bread and fruit from bakeries and supermarkets, the school supplies the spread and volunteers do the toast, the children get to school before 8.45 and can grab toast and/or fruit and eat it in the playground, no gov funding needed, a great casual arrangement which the kids love, why can’t something like this be done here?