Sir Keir Starmer has said parents will no longer be "hamstrung by rigid school hours,” as 750 schools opened new breakfast clubs in England on Tuesday.
These multi-million-pound sessions are part of a trial that will run until July before a planned national rollout as promised in last year’s Labour manifesto.
The prime minister described the introduction of free breakfast clubs as a “game-changing moment” for families across the country.
"They mean parents will no longer be hamstrung by rigid school hours and have the breathing space they need to beat the morning rush, attend work meetings and doctors' appointments, or run errands,” he added. “And crucially, it means better life chances for children."
Sir Keir is embarking on a tour of schools on Tuesday alongside Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
The Government expects the extra time to save parents £450 a year, if their child goes every day. But teaching unions have warned that the money the Government is providing will be insufficient to cover the cost of expanding breakfast clubs.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said "initial feedback" from schools had highlighted this.
Ms Phillipson has insisted that schools will receive the required funding for breakfast clubs.
She told ITV's Good Morning Britain that a 60p daily funding rate per child is provided, in addition to other funding to help establish the schemes.
"The funding that we're putting in place is more generous than schemes that came before," she said in response to union criticism of the money on offer.
"I'm afraid this 60p number that gets bandied about just isn't right. That is the daily funding rate for children, but, alongside that, schools get an initial start-up grant, and they get a termly payment of £1,000.
"So it is more generous than that."
Here is what the scheme will offer and what it means for your child.
What are breakfast clubs and are they free?
Breakfast clubs are free. They offer a meal and 30 minutes of childcare before the school day begins.
The clubs are not mandatory but have been growing in popularity and use for years.
Studies have shown that children are more focused and behave better having had breakfast — and that many are from homes that struggle to put food on a child’s table.
The clubs became a lifeline for many during the pandemic, and governments have since pledged to expand them to more schools.
“As well as helping children thrive academically and socially, breakfast clubs give parents and carers more choices in childcare, and support families with the cost of living,” the Government has said.
More schools can now apply for the breakfast club initiative, with additional schools being added to the programme in stages as it rolls out.
This differs from the National School Breakfast Programme, which offers subsidies to help cover the cost of running a club but does not include childcare. The National School Breakfast Programme has also been extended for another year.
Details and plans may vary from school to school, so be sure to check the website for the latest updates.
Here are all the London schools participating in the initiative.
All the London schools taking part
Barking and Dagenham: John Perry Primary School, William Ford CofE Junior School, Robert Clack School, Monteagle Primary School, Richard Alibon Primary School with ARP for Cognitive and Learning Difficulties: SEN BaseBarnet: Claremont Primary School, Ashmole Primary School, Tudor Primary SchoolBexley: Willow Bank Primary School, Jubilee Primary SchoolBromley: Warren Road Primary School, Hayes Primary SchoolCroydon: Chestnut Park Primary School, Oasis Academy Ryelands, Elmwood Junior SchoolEaling: Downe Manor Primary School, Blair Peach Primary School, Wolf Fields Primary SchoolEnfield: Carterhatch Infant School, St Matthew's CofE Primary SchoolHaringey: Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, St Mary's Priory RC Infant School, Earlham Primary SchoolHarrow: The Welldon Park Academy, Weald Rise Primary School, Glebe Primary SchoolHavering: Drapers' Pyrgo Priory SchoolHillingdon: St Matthew's CofE Primary School, Pield Heath House RC SchoolHounslow: Cavendish Primary School, The Rosary Catholic Primary SchoolMerton: St Teresa's Catholic Primary SchoolNewham: Bobby Moore Academy, Brampton Primary SchoolRedbridge: Coppice Primary SchoolRichmond upon Thames: Nelson Primary SchoolSutton: Cheam Park Farm Primary Academy, Cheam Common Junior Academy, Cheam Fields Primary Academy, Brookfield Primary Academy, Cheam Common Infants' AcademyWaltham Forest: Salisbury Manor Primary School, Edinburgh Primary School, Ainslie Wood Primary School, Lime Academy Hornbeam
