Today, on a visit to Bishop David Sheppard Primary School in Southport, Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport and the Northern Parishes, called on local schools to work in partnership with the government to make their breakfast club free to parents.
From September 2026, the Government will offer 1,500 primary schools on the National School Breakfast Club Programme the resources needed to improve the schools’ offer to parents.
Meeting with staff and pupils, the MP offered their support to local schools as they look towards joining the scheme, which is saving parents £450 and improving students’ wellbeing, concentration and school-readiness.
In their test and learn phase, the ‘Best Start free breakfast clubs’ have served 5 million meals, with up to 180,000 children able to access the free breakfast clubs – including nearly 80,000 disadvantaged children.
As the national rollout begins next year, over more 500,000 children will be able to access free breakfast clubs including 200,000 disadvantaged children. Schools across Southport and the Northern Parishes will be invited to join the scheme.
It is hoped that, by making the club free, more parents will be able to access the provision – boosting parents’ work choices and children’s life chances.
MP for Southport and the Northern Parishes, Patrick Hurley, said:
“It’s been fantastic to meet with the school community at Bishop David Sheppard Primary, to speak to them about the difference the Government’s free breakfast clubs could make here.
“Free breakfast clubs show the differences governments make – stronger public services, better support for working parents, more opportunity for children.
“As schools across Southport join the national rollout, I’m encouraging parents to use the clubs to give pupils the best start to their day.”
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:
“Free breakfast clubs demonstrate national renewal in action – breaking down barriers so every child gets the best start in life, regardless of their background.
“By rolling out free breakfast clubs to half a million more children, we’re not just filling empty stomachs, we’re supercharging the nation’s morning routines.
“This is about building a country where background doesn’t mean destiny, where we invest in our children’s futures, and where we deliver the real change working families desperately need.”
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