Where can I watch or read about the Better Breakfasts webinar?
You can watch the full webinar recording and read a blog with highlights here.
Where can I find out more about the free breakfast club programme?
Read our Latest News post about the pilot launch here.
Nutritional requirements
Are there nutritional requirements for the breakfast clubs?
Yes, the food served at breakfast clubs will need to be compliant with the school food standards (SFS).
We have plenty of information on nutritional requirements and guidelines, along with a range of compliant menus and shopping lists on our resources page. These low-effort menus allow you to focus on getting the children excited about eating more fruit and veg!
How will breakfast clubs be monitored?
Monitoring SFS is the responsibility of the school, and this hasn't changed with the offer. We understand that checking the standards might seem daunting at first, so we have developed guides for schools. You can also find these on our resources page.
How often should we serve fruit and vegetables?
We believe you can incorporate fruit and veg every day. In our breakfast club menus, you’ll notice a variety of options, from fruits like satsumas to crunchy veggie sticks. Breakfast is a great opportunity to introduce a wider range of foods, especially when done gently and with the children’s involvement - for example, helping to design the menu.
Can we serve honey?
Honey can be served once or twice a week. Cream cheese, marmite, and hummus are all other great savoury toppings for things like bagels. If the children are seated to eat in the morning, adding slices of apple, a sprinkle of cinnamon, dots of blueberries, grated carrots and cucumber, and seeds (not sesame) can be fun, delicious and a good way to introduce variety and fresh food. Butter or spread and a low-sugar jam also work, but remember to serve fresh fruit and veg and a dairy option such as plain yoghurt, and regular or soft cheese to balance the meal.
Can we serve juice?
We recommend that breakfast clubs serve water only, aligning with our guidance for the entire school day. Juice is a little high in sugar, and eating whole fruits and veg is a more efficient way of getting those crucial vitamins and minerals in, as well as helpful fibre.
You mentioned that baked beans should be served only a limited number of times each week. Could you explain why?
Standard baked beans contain surprisingly high levels of sugar and salt, which is why they should not be served every day. However, a delicious, healthier baked beans recipe is available in our breakfast resources.
Are dairy items a good option for breakfast?
Absolutely! Yoghurt (plain) and regular or soft cheese on toast are all great dairy items to serve.
How often do you recommend reviewing the menu?
It depends, but a varied menu is always a good approach. Maybe you could try adapting your menu according to the seasons. Why not consider a termly review where the children can contribute to creating the next menu?
Sometimes children have breakfast both at home and at school. Do you have any suggestions for avoiding this overlap?
We emphasise the importance of nutrition, focusing on foods that are low in fat, sugar, and salt, while also increasing the variety and amount of fruit and vegetables in children’s diets. By offering these healthier options, we help prevent children from eating large amounts of less nutritious foods at breakfast.
Funding for clubs
How will breakfast clubs be funded under the pilot scheme?
School budgets are not needed for this pilot - it is a separate strand of funding, specifically for breakfast. Schools will receive 60p per child per day to cover food and staffing costs. The funding is delivered directly to schools for in-house provision or to contract out. You can find more details on the government website.
We encourage schools to enhance their existing provision rather than replace it. However, the new offer does present a complex picture - and we'll be watching to see how external providers respond.
We currently run a small breakfast club but would like to extend our offer. Is there a way for us to apply for funding?
Ahead of the rollout of free breakfasts in all primaries, you may wish to explore funding from local businesses - many of the clubs we have worked with have had success on this front. Alternatively, you can explore corporations which run schemes that provide ingredients for school breakfasts. Just don't forget to add fresh fruit and veg to the staples that these schemes offer!
The breakfast club environment
What do breakfast clubs typically look like in schools?
The number of children attending breakfast clubs can vary widely; we've seen anywhere from six to 100.
If you are worried about space, running a grab-and-go or in-class model would work best. If you are worried about resources it’s important to keep the menu simple but balanced: yogurt, fruits, wholemeal toast, low-sugar jam, etc. Learn more about these models here.
How can we make the club inclusive and engaging?
Consulting with children and parents is key to creating a breakfast club that works for everyone. This is particularly important when choosing your model and menus.
As a rule of thumb, families most in need of the club will be the least likely to access it, so considering how you promote it is crucial. Could members of your school community help spread the word in different languages, or could you get children to offer taster pots in the playground to show what's on offer? More creative approaches like these - which go beyond putting a notice in the school newsletter - can really make an impact.
One way to gather children’s opinions is by letting them vote for their favourite SFS-compliant breakfasts using stickers, beads, or beans. Another fun approach is holding a competition where children draw a nutritious breakfast to be served at the club.
Involving children in these activities also encourages them to try new foods at breakfast. Menu design, reviews for dishes, and certificates for trying new things are just a few ideas we offer in our breakfast resources. Take your time with introducing new items - start slowly and don’t hesitate to use positive peer modelling. Once one child tries something new, others will follow!
Breakfast clubs in settings other than primary schools
How will this pilot work for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)?
We are aware that there are unique challenges to providing breakfast clubs to children with SEND.
We have worked in some special schools to set up clubs before and after school, so it is possible! We are just finalising a piece of work with our academic partners at the Universities of Hertfordshire and Essex looking into adapting our Nourish programme for SEND settings. Once this is completed later this month, we will look to issue more tailored guidance to special schools around the breakfast rollout.
