Free Breakfast Clubs for Half a Million More Children

From April next year, half a million more children across the country will benefit from Labour’s Best Start free breakfast clubs and I am calling on all eligible schools in Stockport to apply to join the next wave of the programme.

What this means for families here in Stockport

For parents in Stockport, this programme could save up to £450 and 95 hours every year. That is money back in pockets and precious time back in busy lives. And most importantly, it ensures children start the day ready to learn, concentrate, and thrive.

Applications have opened for the first 500 schools that will start delivering free breakfast clubs from April 2026- including 8 here locally. A further 1,500 schools will join in September 2026, with 11 in our constituency eligible to apply.

I will be supporting every local school that wants to get involved.

Prioritising the areas that need it most

Labour has been clear that this support must go where it will make the biggest difference. That is why schools with the highest proportion of children on free school meals are being prioritised. It is a practical, targeted approach that ensures we help families who need that support the most.

And this is not just about offering a meal. Breakfast clubs give children a calm, supportive start to the day. For many, especially those with special educational needs, that gentle transition can be transformative for their learning and wellbeing.

Better support for schools

Labour is also increasing the per-child funding rate for mainstream schools, making sure breakfast clubs can offer a variety of healthy meal options. Every school running a club will receive a guaranteed £25 per day to help with staffing and administration.

For a typical primary school with 50% take-up, this means a 28% increase in funding. It is a practical, fully funded approach that makes running a breakfast club straightforward and sustainable.

Why this investment matters

We know these clubs work. They have already delivered over 5 million free breakfasts during the test-and-learn phase. Research shows breakfast clubs can boost attainment among 5-7 year-olds by the equivalent of two months’ progress in maths, reading and writing.

Parents also tell us the difference is real. More than a third say it is difficult to give their child a healthy breakfast every morning- often because of time pressures or fussy eating. Breakfast clubs take that burden away and give children consistency, nutrition and stability.

Part of a bigger plan to support families

This is just one part of Labour’s wider plan to ensure no child is held back by hunger or household finances:

• Expanding free school meals to every family on Universal Credit.

• Lifting 100,000 children out of poverty.

• Introducing 30 hours of free childcare for working parents, saving them up to £7,500 a year.

• Revising School Food Standards to improve children’s health.

And with the Child Poverty Strategy on the way, Labour is examining every lever, housing, employment, health, childcare and education, to improve life chances for the next generation.

This is Labour delivering real change for working families. I am determined that children in Stockport get their fair share of these opportunities.

I will be directly contacting schools in Stockport that are eligible to apply.