The breakfast clubs early adopter programme is now open for applications from schools. 

Background 

As announced by the Chancellor in September, The Department for Education (DfE) will be introducing free breakfast clubs in up to 750 early adopter schools from April 2025 as part of a test and learn phase in advance of national roll out.  

Early adopters will offer all primary-aged children on roll at their school, no matter their circumstances,  access to a free, universal breakfast club lasting at least 30 minutes that involves food, providing children with a supportive start to the day and helping families to have more choice about work.  Parents and carers can choose to take up the offer although we encourage schools to promote the offer and drive take up, particularly within disadvantaged groups. 

Application Process 

State funded schools with primary age children who wish to apply to be a breakfast club early adopter need to complete the expression of interest form via DfE login. Schools will be asked to complete a few short questions about current breakfast club provision and take-up, and there will be no expectation to explain why they wish to apply.

The expression of interest form is now live and will close on Friday 20 December 2024.

The DfE are expressly looking to understand how the breakfast club policy is implemented in a range of schools. They welcome interest from those:

• with an existing breakfast or before-school childcare offer
• without any existing provision
• that already work with, or are considering working with, private, voluntary or independent (PVI) childcare providers, including childminders, to deliver their breakfast clubs
• that may face initial challenges with setting up breakfast club provision (this will help us to understand how best to support schools)

Please note that while trusts may express interest in implementing the programme across multiple schools, each school must submit an individual application, logging in with its own DfE Sign-in. Within the form, there is an option for schools to indicate their intent to participate either individually or as part of a wider rollout across multiple schools within their trust.

The DfE will confirm which schools are participating in the early adopter programme in January. Guidance and support for early adopter schools are being developed in partnership with schools, local authorities, and the wider sector, and will be published in the new year.

Find out more 

Further information about the early adopters scheme is available at Breakfast clubs early adopters scheme – GOV.UK