Lowestoft school to be one of the first to receive landmark free breakfast clubs.
28th February 2025
Labour is rolling out free breakfast clubs to save working families up to £450 and set children up to start the day ready to learn
First 750 schools to offer clubs from April, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change
67,000 pupils in England’s most disadvantaged communities to benefit in the first phase
Families and children in Lowestoft, Beccles, and the villages will soon benefit from free, daily breakfast clubs as the Labour government confirms the first 750 schools to offer the scheme, including Somerleyton Primary School, putting up to £450 a year back in local parents’ pockets.
As soon as April, the school will kick off the historic programme, with an early adopter phase set to inform Labour’s landmark national rollout which will give all parents access to the scheme.
The clubs come alongside a raft of measures designed to cut the cost of living for families. Other measures include the commitment to significantly cut uniform costs through a cap on branded items and complement the government-funded childcare.
Delivering on promises made to working parents in Labour’s manifesto, all primary-aged children attending Somerleyton Primary School can access a free breakfast and at least 30 minutes of free childcare, every day, helping to support parents getting into work.
Universal free breakfast clubs are central to Labour’s Plan for Change, removing barriers to opportunity by ensuring every child starts the school day ready to learn – with research showing the clubs have a lasting impact on children’s behaviour, attendance and attainment.
The scheme also has an important role to play in Labour’s commitment to remove the stain of child poverty. Out of the 180,000 children who will benefit from the early adopter schools nationwide, around 67,000 attend schools in deprived areas. This will provide essential meals to ensure every child starts the day ready to learn.
I am absolutely delighted that Somerleyton Primary School has been selected as one of the first schools to benefit from Labour’s free breakfast clubs and I cannot wait to open the club in April.
It’s a testament to both the school and the Labour government’s dedication to getting children school-ready so they can improve their attendance, attainment and wellbeing, as well as improving the household finances of local families.
Through our Plan for Change, this Labour government is boosting parents' work choices and children’s life chances.
Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, said:
"Free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of Labour’s Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success for families all over the country.
"Breakfast clubs can have a transformative impact on the lives of millions of children, feeding hungry tummies and fuelling hungry minds, so every child begins the day ready to learn.
“Alongside our plans to roll out school-based nurseries and get thousands more children school-ready, this government is delivering the reforms needed to give every child, wherever they grow up, the best start in life.”
Schools were chosen from across England to ensure the scheme tests and learn from a variety of schools. Each breakfast club must be universal, offer 30 minutes of free childcare and include breakfast.
Government research shows most parents (87%) think breakfast clubs are a good chance for children to socialise, and two-thirds (66%) recognise the value of clubs providing educational activities.
Breakfast clubs have been shown to boost children’s reading, writing, and maths by an average of two months.
Too many children’s life chances are being scarred by rising poverty, with 1 in 4 children in absolute poverty as of 2023. Labour is determined to change that, with the breakfast club rollout being driven alongside wider work of the Child Poverty Taskforce, which is set to deliver an ambitious strategy to increase household income, bring down essential costs, and tackle the challenges felt by those living in poverty.
Oliver Clifford, Headteacher at Somerleyton Primary School said:
“We are delighted to be one of the early adopter schools. We have offered breakfast clubs since I have been here. The clubs have been fantastic in providing a soft and gentle start for the children who need it the most. For Somerleyton Primary, this announcement and the funding will be extremely valuable, moving beyond the financial burden for students and ensuring we can provide a nutritional breakfast and a supportive start to the day for our pupils. We expect this to boost our breakfast club numbers fourfold.
“Breakfast clubs have already made a massive difference to pupils’ wellbeing, providing them with time to settle in, socialise with friends and get ready to learn.”
Sir David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action said:
“Family Action welcomes the Government’s announcement of the 750 schools who have been selected to take part in the Early Adopters Scheme. These schools will have a vital test and learn role which will undoubtedly inform the national rollout of the Government’s exciting universal breakfast policy.
“We know that an effective breakfast provision delivered in a supportive and enriching environment can make a world of difference to a child. We look forward to sharing our long experience of delivering breakfast provision ourselves with Early Adopter schools.”
Early Adopter schools, including Somerleyton Primary School, will shape the future of the national breakfast club policy, contributing directly to its implementation. Further details on the national rollout of the breakfast clubs programme will follow in due course. The wider paid-for wraparound childcare offer – for all primary children to be able to access childcare between 8 am and 6 pm – continues to roll out across the country.