This page is about schools in England. It does not cover Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
National rollout and the statutory duty
The national rollout began in April 2026. The current DfE guidance, updated 15 September 2026 for the 2026 to 2027 academic year, sets the requirements for schools delivering the funded programme (Overview).
The statutory duty to provide a free breakfast club is not yet in force. Section 30 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 inserts sections 551B–551D into the Education Act 1996. Only section 551B(2)–(7) came into force on 15 July 2026, under regulation 3(i) of SI 2026/803.
The duty in section 551B(1), the exemption arrangements in section 551C and the guidance provisions in section 551D remain uncommenced. The definitions are in force; the universal duty is not. Schools accepted onto the programme must meet its grant conditions now.
Which schools and pupils are eligible?
The conditions of grant, published 8 July 2026, cover September 2026 to July 2027 (section 1.3). Eligible settings include maintained mainstream and special schools, pupil referral units, mainstream academies, special and alternative provision academies, and non-maintained special schools. Settings established in a hospital are excluded (section 2.1).
Schools must have applied and been accepted onto the programme. Funding covers pupils on roll from Reception to Year 6, excluding pre-school, secondary and sixth-form provision (sections 2.1–2.2). Schools confirm their place through DfE Sign-in, accepting the grant conditions (section 1.2).
What must the free breakfast club provide?
Participating schools must offer all pupils on roll from Reception to Year 6:
- At least 30 minutes, directly before the compulsory school day begins, each school day.
- Breakfast meeting England’s school food standards.
- An accessible club with no fee, on the school site or nearby.
Schools must provide a place for every pupil who wants one, without a cap on places (Minimum requirements).
Funding rates and permitted spending
The funding methodology, published 8 July 2026, sets mainstream rates for September 2026 to July 2027 (section 4.1):
- £25 per day for fixed administration and staffing costs, regardless of attendance.
- £1 per pupil per day of attendance, paid in arrears.
For special schools and alternative provision, DfE’s current delivery guidance states £18.95 per day for fixed costs and £3.23 per pupil per day of attendance (How funding is calculated).
Schools joining the programme for the first time receive £1,000 once for set-up revenue costs such as equipment, training and booking systems (When payments will be made).
Both daily payments are subject to an area cost adjustment. Fixed funding is paid upfront each term; attendance funding follows in arrears (When payments will be made).
Per-pupil funding pays for breakfast food, drinks and associated staffing and delivery for primary-aged pupils on roll. It cannot fund lunch or other childcare. Schools cannot claim breakfast club and wraparound funding for the same provision at the same time. Wraparound funding can cover a separate session or a place in parallel paid-for provision. Schools remain responsible for grant compliance when passing funding to a provider (conditions, section 4).
Charging alongside paid childcare
Schools cannot impose compulsory extra charges for the free half-hour (conditions, section 4.1). Access must not depend on buying an earlier childcare session. Where paid provision runs alongside the free club, DfE expects a lower fee that reflects the free 30 minutes. Schools must avoid charges that discourage access and stigma for children using only the free club (Wraparound childcare).
Staffing, supervision and inclusion
DfE says ratios depend on children’s ages and staff qualifications. Schools and providers must arrange safe supervision, particularly during meals. When early years foundation stage children eat, a member of staff should be in the room and must hold a valid full-course paediatric first aid certificate (Staff training and qualifications).
Schools must fund reasonable adjustments needed by disabled children to attend, rather than charge families (Creating inclusive provision).
Attendance records and grant returns
From autumn term 2026, participating schools must record breakfast club attendance daily. The termly digital grant form continues to determine per-pupil funding (conditions, section 3.2).
For autumn, record attendance for 9–13 November 2026, unless DfE agrees another period. Submit the return between 16 November and 4 December 2026. A late return delays payment by another term (conditions, section 3.2).
Keep grant income, expenditure and supporting records for 7 years (section 5.2). Funds must be used to reimburse costs incurred by the end of July 2027 and must not be carried forward to fund breakfast clubs in 2027 to 2028. Funding not needed for the purposes set out in the grant conditions by that date should be returned to DfE (section 5.1).
Resources, articles and leadership roles
Use the free breakfast clubs checklist to organise delivery. Read our attendance article and the attendance guide for wider attendance work, and the wellbeing guide for pupil and staff wellbeing.
For leadership responsibilities, see the headteacher, deputy headteacher and school business manager pages. Prepare with the headteacher interview guide and organise the term with the School Leader Planner®.
