100 days into the new Scottish Parliament: What has changed for Scotland’s school breakfast commitment?   

The first 100 days of the new Parliament in Scotland have brought something Scotland’s schools have been waiting for: more details about what the national commitment to school breakfast provision in primary and special schools might look like.  

Since the election back in May, we have a new Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, Màiri McAllan MSP, and a new Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Siobhian Brown MSP. New parliamentary committees have also begun their work, creating fresh opportunities to shape policy and scrutinise the decisions that affect children, young people, families, and schools across Scotland.  

For the Magic Breakfast team, one of the most interesting developments has been increased clarity from the Scottish Government on its plans to deliver a national breakfast offer for all children and young people in primary and special schools by August 2027.

Through questions lodged by Katherine Sangster MSP, Ministers provided greater certainty on both timing and delivery. The Scottish Government confirmed that its intention is for a school breakfast offer to be available across all primary and special schools from the start of the 2027/28 academic year in August 2027. Ministers also confirmed that some children will benefit sooner through a phased rollout as expansion work progresses.  

Successful implementation won’t happen overnight, and Magic Breakfast recognises that schools, local authorities and delivery partners will need time to plan. They need confidence about what is expected of them and clarity about how the programme will look in practice. The Scottish Government has confirmed that it is working with stakeholders like Magic Breakfast to understand the different breakfast models already operating across the country and how these can be expanded and enhanced. We are pleased to hear this, as schools know their communities best, and a successful national programme will need clear national direction alongside local flexibility that allows schools to deliver breakfast in ways that work for their pupils. Getting that right will be very important next August when Scotland is to deliver on its promise.

Over the last 100 days, we have engaged with Government Ministers and MSPs about what successful delivery could look like in practice. During a recent visit to one of our partner primary schools in Edinburgh, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Siobhian Brown MSP, saw first-hand how a nourishing breakfast can help create a calm, welcoming start to the say and support children to arrive ready to learn. Across Parliament, we have also spoken with MSPs about the opportunities and challenges ahead, and what school breakfast is already delivering in their communities. There is strong interest in making sure this commitment succeeds and growing recognition that getting implementation right will matter just as much as making the commitment itself.

Now, with a year until August 2027, eyes are on the Scottish Government to provide greater detail on its plans to deliver and implement a national school breakfast offer that is accessible, sustainable, adequately funded, and flexible enough to meet the needs of different school communities across Scotland.

The Magic Breakfast Scotland team are looking forward to the remainder of the session, continuing our work with Ministers, MSPs, schools, local authorities, and children and young people themselves to help make Scotland’s ambitions for school breakfast provision from Eday to Edinburgh a reality.