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    We can’t feed pupils for 60p, say schools in blow to Labour breakfast club pledge
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    We can’t feed pupils for 60p, say schools in blow to Labour breakfast club pledge


    We can’t feed pupils for 60p, say schools in blow to Labour breakfast club pledge

    https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/feb/16/we-cant-feed-pupils-for-60p-say-schools-in-blow-to-labour-breakfast-club-pledge

    Posted by cennep44

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    24 Comments

    2. Cruxed1 on

      Which bits supposed to be funded by it?

      If it’s purely for food 60p per kid per breakfast seems pretty doable no? Not saying you’d be eating luxuries but surely no ones really expecting that.

    3. IPreferToSmokeAlone on

      Why did they give just 60p each for one of their flagship education schemes? I can’t believe they are this stupid, there must be something I’m missing because if not this is the worst kind of gesture politics which they repeatedly claimed to be above

    4. PapaJrer on

      Interesting that some private companies submitted evidence to the CWB committee, sniffing around for some influence over breakfast clubs and referring to themselves as ‘stakeholders’. I’m sure struggling parents need their children inundated with Lego adverts during breakfast.

    5. TheodoreEDamascus on

      They need 30p Lee to show them how it’s done. With batch cooking and his undeniable genius, he could probably reduce it to 10p

    6. VamosFicar on

      Obviosly people here saying you can make it happen for 60p per child have no clue. You need catering/prep staff and supervisors for the kids, you need clean up afterwards. Then you have the food itself. And the food needs to be wholesome and nutricious and tasty (or the kids won’t want it).

      It’s a great idea and gives kids a good start to the day; but really this is replacing what should be happening at home. It’s not solving the core of the problem. Schools are being used not just to educate, but to care for pupils needs… taken to its natural conclusion they will be expected to make them hot drinks and put them to bed shortly.

    7. blahblahscience1 on

      60p for the food yes, 60p for the staff and food and clear up and alternatives for dietary requirements and allergies, no way you can do it.

    9. Its_Dakier on

      “Labour is so nasty refusing to spend the needed money to feed kids!”

      You see how easy it is to say that in opposition when you don’t care for budgetary constraints? I bet the same people who slaughtered the Tories on this don’t say a fucking peep.

    13. Kellsman on

      Food has to be prepared in commercial standard kitchen by staff who hold a minimum of Food Hygiene Certificate.
      The wages for one hour for one staff member has used the combined 60p of thirty children.
      Not sure this is going to work…

    15. blackleydynamo on

      All of this skirts the real issue, which is why the fuck are we letting parents get away with sending kids to school with no breakfast? Why it is the school’s job to feed the fucking kids?

      My dad grew up in the 50s and knew some kids from dirt poor families – properly “shoes mended with cardboard and no flushing toilet” poor – but without exception their parents would have *died of shame* if they’d sent the kids to school without at least some oatmeal or something inside them.

      Seriously. Own brand Weetabix or shreddies are *not* expensive, and neither is porridge. I work in social housing, I very much appreciate that there are lots of people struggling hard to make ends meet, but the idea that they can’t afford to give their kids a bit of toast or something simply isn’t credible.

    17. pajamakitten on

      Weetabix and milk might be better than nothing for hungry kids, however a nation that actually cares about its young people would be willing to pay for more than the basics. It does not have to be a huge slap-up meal, however kids are still worth more than 60p per person and a bowl of basic gruel.

    18. TheNickedKnockwurst on

      All schools must serve porridge and a go glass of milk in the mornings with optional toppings of dried fruit and cinnamon

      There’s half the problem solved already

      Catering must be nationalised, the profit margins of the catering companies from schools is extraordinary

      There’s the other half solved 

      Pay me 60k year and I’ll do it for you government

    20. Thebritishdovah on

      Just give them baked beans. /s

      That said, I am skeptical this is true. Reeks of it being out of context and likely just equipment or staffing issues.

    21. Particular_Aide_3825 on

      12 student is £7.20 

      Rice snaps are 85p in Asda  
      12 servings
      3l milk £2.35 would give you 12 servings 

      At £3.20 you have given 12 kids cerial with £4 left over… A loaf of nevells bread is 36p and  with 20 slices …more than enough to cook toast for 12 students 

      Tub butter £1.99  Asda 

       Wow so now your 12  students have cerial and toast! And still £2 left over 

      2x 2l  cartons of pure orange  juice at a pound 

      Means for that money your kids get cerial toast and juice! Perfect to set them up for the day! 

    23. JBWalker1 on

      I think people are imagining this as some big fancy breakfast set up like with school lunches with cooks and stuff. Breakfast clubs in my 2 schools were in a classroom with boxes of cereal and a couple of toasters and a teacher who came in early, probably unpaid. Thats all im expecting of this, no need for kitchens or whatever others are saying will be needed at schools.

      60p will get you a big bowl of supermarket brand cereal(20p tops), couple of slices of toast(another 20p tops), and a fruit(bananas are 15p). For kids who aren’t eating this is a big help for them. Even those who do have cereal at home if they then have fruit when they get to school that’ll be a nice little boost for them too.

      Theres staff costs too but 30 mins of maybe 2 teachers salary is sadly quite low.

      I dont see anywhere mentioning how the funding is provided either. Is it a flat 60p per student regardless of how many attend? If so then if 25% of students attend then thats £2.40 per breakfast which is huge. Or are schools actually having to submit how many students attend breakfast club each day.

      Not an ideal breakfast set up but it’s an improvement and at least the money will be efficiently used since there’s very little admin or overhead. Of the “60p” it’ll almost all go directly to a student eating, assuming it is the breakfast club type set ups which i remember and not buying pre made breakfasts from a supplier.