The government has been promoting its policy of introducing free breakfast clubs in all primary schools in England as a key initiative to tackle child poverty. However, it appears ministers are unwilling to meet the estimated £3bn annual cost required to end the controversial two-child benefits cap.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson recently announced the first 750 schools that will serve as “early adopters” of the breakfast clubs, with 67,000 out of the 180,000 pupils benefiting coming from the most disadvantaged areas of the country.
The government is framing the breakfast clubs not only as a way to improve school attendance and educational performance but also as a primary tool in reducing poverty. It is being presented as a solution that can boost children’s academic achievement in areas such as reading, writing, and mathematics by enhancing focus and concentration.
Labour’s general election manifesto included a pledge to roll out breakfast clubs across all schools in England during its first term in office to raise standards and create more opportunities for every child. The Department for Education stated that these clubs are part of the government’s commitment to address child poverty and improve children’s well-being.
While the breakfast clubs are widely supported, many Labour MPs argue that the emphasis on the role of these clubs in addressing child poverty is being used to soften the public for the government’s decision to retain the two-child benefit cap. They assert that, despite the government’s rhetoric on poverty reduction, ministers are likely to reject calls to end the cap this summer.
The two-child benefit cap, introduced in 2017 by the Conservative government, limits families from receiving child tax credits or universal credit for more than two children. Labour MPs have been pushing for a compromise, proposing an extension of the cap to three children, which they argue would incur minimal cost. However, government insiders have suggested that the idea has already been dismissed by the government’s child poverty taskforce, which is co-chaired by Phillipson and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall. The taskforce is due to report before the summer spending review.
With mounting pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to either raise taxes or cut spending due to worsening public finances, sources indicate that the prospect of lifting the cap in the near future is highly unlikely. One Labour source noted that while it may not be financially feasible to lift the cap at this time, the government can still focus on other measures to alleviate child poverty.
In a related issue, some headteachers have expressed reluctance to participate in the breakfast club pilot scheme due to concerns about inadequate funding. The government has allocated only 60p per pupil, leaving schools with the risk of a financial deficit if they join the initiative. Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), welcomed the scheme but highlighted the need for adequate funding: “We’ve already heard from school leaders who are worried that funding for the scheme will fall short of the cost of delivering it.”
The two-child benefit cap, which has faced criticism from numerous figures within Labour as being punitive, remains a significant point of contention. Last July, seven Labour MPs were suspended from the party for voting in favor of scrapping the cap. Despite this, ministers have indicated they would like to see it lifted but have made it clear that this can only happen if the public finances allow for it.
Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto pledged to spend £315 million on breakfast clubs by 2028–29, but there are growing concerns about funding challenges. Some charities warn that the government’s insistence on breakfast clubs being at least 30 minutes long, as opposed to shorter “grab and go” options or meals served in classrooms, may drive up costs by requiring additional staff to implement the policy effectively.
As the debate continues, both sides are under pressure to find solutions that will benefit the most vulnerable children while managing the financial constraints facing the government.
Stay tuned to London Pulse News for further updates on the ongoing debate around child poverty, the two-child benefit cap, and the breakfast club initiative.
