The new initiative in Newham, backed by the government, offers pupils a nutritious breakfast before the school day begins, while also providing parents with 30 minutes of free childcare
Four schools in Newham are among the first in the country to roll out free breakfast clubs under a pioneering government scheme aimed at supporting working parents and ensuring children start the day well-fed and ready to learn.
The new initiative, backed by the government, offers pupils a nutritious breakfast before the school day begins, while also providing parents with 30 minutes of free childcare. The programme is currently in its pilot phase, running until July, with a nationwide rollout planned for September.
The four schools participating in the trial are Hallsville Primary School, Scott Wilkie Primary School, Portway Primary School, and Bobby Moore Academy. The scheme is expected to benefit hundreds of children in Newham, and part of a wider rollout that will initially cover 180,000 pupils across the UK.
Welcoming the development, Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz OBE expressed enthusiasm for the support it provides families. “I’m thrilled that Newham children across four of our schools will be among the early adopters of the Labour government’s free breakfast clubs,” she said. “They’ll be part of the first wave of 180,000 children across the country to benefit from this vital scheme.”
The mayor noted that these breakfast clubs, in combination with other support measures such as government-funded childcare and cheaper uniform costs, could save families as much as £8,000 per year. “Coupled with our ‘Eat for Free’ programme, where every primary school-aged pupil is eligible for a nutritious free school lunch and parents save £500 per child each year, the breakfast clubs are a welcome addition as we help support families in Newham and create the best start for our children,” she added.
Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children’s Services and Education, praised the initiative not only for addressing food insecurity but also for relieving the pressures of the school run on busy parents. “Any parent or carer knows the importance of a good breakfast, and also understands the time pressure of juggling children and logistics to get them ready for learning. I welcome this scheme and look forward to its full rollout nationwide next September.”
The financial benefits for families are significant. By attending a free breakfast club daily, parents could save up to £450 a year in childcare and food costs. But beyond cost-saving, the scheme is also expected to boost children’s concentration, behaviour, and academic performance by ensuring they start each school day with the fuel they need.
“Free breakfast clubs, cheaper uniform costs, government-funded childcare mean many families are set to save £8,000 per year.”
-Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE
Newham has consistently positioned itself at the forefront of child and family support schemes, and this latest move further cements its reputation as a borough committed to educational opportunity and social equity. The ‘Eat for Free’ programme, already a standout policy in the borough, ensures every primary school child receives a free lunch, regardless of income, and is a local initiative that has attracted national attention.
With rising living costs affecting families across the UK, especially in urban areas like Newham, this early rollout of breakfast clubs has been welcomed not just as a helpful service, but as a vital measure in reducing inequality and supporting children’s long-term wellbeing. As the national rollout approaches in September, Newham’s experience with the pilot phase will serve as a valuable example of how the programme can be successfully implemented and scaled up across the country.
