2.2 million children are at risk of hunger in the UK, this is equivalent to 5 pupils in every class of 30.1 We are proud to be making a difference to over 300,000 children and young people across the UK each day through breakfast provision.
Alongside support in schools, Magic Breakfast drives long-term change through research, advocacy, and campaigning, working with policy-makers to create a future where every child is nourished, empowered, and able to thrive. We use national-level data and produce insights to provide the evidence base for our recommendations and spark a broader conversation in the media and amongst the public.
Where in England we work
Magic Breakfast partner school
What many people miss about the need for free breakfast in secondary schools is that it isn’t just a safety net for the poorest students, it is a critical tool for levelling the playing field for everyone.
Policy timeline in England
Magic Breakfast partner school
The impact of poverty is having an effect on children’s wellbeing as for some children, the meals they have at school are often the only nutritious meals they receive.
Our impact in England
88%
of partner schools reported that school breakfast provision helps ease the pressure on household budgets
72%
of partner schools believe that breakfast provision can help reduce inequalities between pupils.
82%
of partner schools say breakfast provision improves life chances, reducing the chance of young people becoming NEET
86%
of partner schools report school breakfast provision improves children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
Magic Breakfast partner school
A child unable to have breakfast will always find it hard to do their best in school, preventing morning hunger is a key strategy to support all children to succeed.
Our More The Breakfast campaign
Our research shows that skipping breakfast can harm young people’s health and wellbeing, prevent them from achieving in the classroom and beyond, and make it harder to feel like they belong.
Our More Than Breakfast campaign exists to ensure all young people have everything they need to learn, thrive, have the best start to their day, and the best start to the rest of their lives.
We are calling on UK Government to:
- Expand access to school breakfast provision for secondary-aged pupils and pupils with SEND in all-through special schools.
- Recognise the wider impacts of school breakfast provision across multiple policy areas, including education, health, wellbeing and employment.
- Ensure school food is nutritious and accessible to all children and young people, with a Free Breakfast Club Programme that is sustainable, adequately funded and responsive to schools’ needs.
What’s the latest?
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CampaignsBringing the realities of school mornings to Parliament
Too many young people start the school day without breakfast.… Read more
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ViewsBehind every breakfast is someone like Jenny
At Magic Breakfast, we make a difference to around 300,000… Read more
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CampaignsTeachers are seeing the impact of hunger every day
Teachers spend more time with children than almost anyone else.… Read more
Policy documents
Briefings
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Priorities for UK Government briefing
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Secondary spotlight briefing: breakfast and belonging
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More Than Breakfast briefing: the importance of breakfast provision for secondary-aged pupils
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The root causes of child morning hunger briefing
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Briefing on supported amendments
Magic Breakfast has worked with Emma Lewell-Buck MP to introduce a number of amendments. This briefing outlines the impact and need for these
amendments. This has been produced ahead of their formal introduction so does not note their official numbers. -
Second reading briefing: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Magic Breakfast have brought together over two decades’ worth of experience to offer our views on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
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School breakfasts and the attendance crisis in England
A summary of the impact of breakfast provision on school attendance. This briefing shows how breakfast provision is a vital assets in the national mission to tackle the school attendance crisis.
Reports
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Teacher Tapp
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Breakfast: the simple choice
Find out more about our work and the benefits of breakfasts.
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Making magic happen: how your local authority can benefit
This briefing outlines some of the key benefits of breakfast and the evidence behind Magic Breakfast. It also shares the experiences and stories of the schools we already work with and how, through the power of partnership, we can support more children and young people.
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Making the case for school breakfasts
Improved educational and health outcomes for children
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Funding a better start
Magic Breakfast is dedicated to ensuring no child or young person is too hungry to learn, and we want to empower schools to deliver for their pupils; at a time of extreme difficulty. Across England and Scotland school leaders are given the authority to deploy Pupil Premium and Pupil Equity Funding, respectively.
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Hidden Hunger
The state of UK breakfast provision in 2022
Contact us
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Natalie Dilworth, Head of Policy & Public Affairs
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Giulia Monasterio, Policy & Public Affairs Manager
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Jordan Langs, Policy and Public Affairs Officer