This week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out her Autumn Budget.
The Budget comes at an exciting time for the Government’s free breakfast club policy, with announcements about national rollout and investment in breakfast provision for older children last week. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s changed?
Last week the Department for Education confirmed that from September 2026, National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) schools with secondary-aged pupils will receive continued financial support at an equivalent value to what they receive on the current NSBP with more details to follow in the Spring Term next year. We are delighted to see the funding commitment extended beyond the original end date of July 2026 – something that we have been campaigning extensively for.
The NSBP has run since 2018 and supports primary and secondary schools with breakfast provision in areas across England facing some of the highest levels of disadvantage.
Why does this matter?
The NSBP offers schools a 75% subsidy towards breakfast provision. Without renewed funding, secondary pupils living in areas with the highest levels of disadvantage would have lost access to breakfasts that support their educational, health and social outcomes. This intervention will support the delivery of the Government’s Opportunity Mission to break the link between background and future success. And we hope it marks a positive step towards a universal offer of breakfast provision for secondary-aged pupils.
What else has been announced?
Last week, the Department for Education published new guidance for schools who will be part of the first phase of national rollout of the Government’s flagship free breakfast clubs, alongside details about eligibility and funding of the scheme. We have been pleased to see changes that reflect Magic Breakfast’s priorities, including that:
- Schools will receive more funding for their breakfast club: all funding elements of the scheme in mainstream schools are increasing which will mean that schools have the funding to provide a healthy nutritious breakfast and will support the sustainable staffing of the scheme. Rates will go up substantially for most schools with the basic per pupil rate rising from 60p to £1, the daily flat rate rising from just under £19 per day to £25, and the start up grant doubling from £500 to £1000.
- Participation is a key focus: the new guidance emphasises the need for schools to take a proactive approach to boost uptake among children most at risk of hunger.
- Flexibility is increased: schools are encouraged to use their judgement on who benefits and how to count attendance, giving schools the flexibility to ensure that their breakfast club can work for their local context and community to reach the children and young people most in need.
- The link between enrichment and breakfast is recognised: the guidance promotes the inclusion of engaging activities as a driver of a successful breakfast club as well as contributing to children’s development and wellbeing.
What’s missing?
We have campaigned for the Government to expand the free breakfast clubs to support secondary-aged pupils with SEND in special schools and are disappointed that the Government has not taken this chance to act on our recommendation.
Currently, the Government’s breakfast club policy only covers primary-aged pupils despite many special schools being ‘all-through’ settings where children and young people are grouped by need rather than age. As a result, secondary-aged pupils with SEND are excluded from breakfast provision while their younger classmates sitting in the same classrooms or dining areas receive this support. Schools are then forced to either exclude older pupils from breakfast or divert their already-tight budgets to cover the gap.
We have asked the Government to allocate £14.06 million over the next three years to expand policy because we know that breakfast provision for children and young people with SEND supports the development of their life and social skills, improves their mental health, and builds confidence and connection.
We welcome the progress made in this Budget but urge the Government to consider how this flagship policy can be made truly inclusive and accessible for children with SEND.
We’re grateful to the many experts and campaigners whose evidence and advocacy have helped secure positive changes to the Government’s breakfast club policy, including Family Action, School Food Review, the LEGO Group, Youth Sport Trust, HarperCollins UK, and Save the Children. Their commitment has helped mobilise the movement for change and ensured that the needs of children and young people are impossible to ignore.
Join our Breakfast Powers Opportunity campaign today to add your voice and stand with a growing community of supporters, calling for change, so every child starts the day with a nourishing free school breakfast.
