Portsmouth’s city councillors will debate a motion this week to back the government’s plan to roll out free breakfast clubs in every primary school.
The motion, spearheaded by Councillor Tom Coles and seconded by Councillor Mary Vallely, highlights the benefits of breakfast clubs for children, families, and schools in Portsmouth.
In England, schools with at least 40 per cent of pupils from low-income areas are eligible for a subsidy covering 75 per cent of food and delivery costs under the National School Breakfast Club Programme. Currently, around 12 per cent of state schools participate in the scheme, which is set to end in July 2025.
The government has pledged to establish free breakfast clubs in all primary schools as part of its strategy to address hunger, improve school attendance, and ease household financial pressures. Funding for the initiative is set to triple to over £33m by 2025-26, with 750 schools invited to join an “early adopter” rollout that began accepting applications on 27 November 2024.
The breakfast clubs aim to break the link between a child’s background and their opportunities, while also serving as a form of early morning childcare. Research by IPSOS Mori indicates that over half of parents struggle to find flexible childcare options, and breakfast clubs offer an additional solution, providing 30 minutes of free childcare before the school day starts.
“Every child in Portsmouth deserves the best chance to succeed and thrive, no matter their background,” the motion states. “Breakfast clubs will help ensure children start the day ready to learn and provide essential support for families juggling work and school commitments.”
The motion calls for the cabinet member for children, families and education to encourage Portsmouth primary schools to join the ‘early adopter’ programme. The council’s communications team will promote the breakfast clubs and their benefits, while the leader of the council will write to the education secretary, welcoming the initiative and requesting Portsmouth’s involvement in shaping future policy.
The motion will be debated during a full council meeting on Tuesday, December 17.
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