- 1,400 new schools to offer free breakfast clubs from
September saving more families up to £450 a year
- Legal limits on branded uniform will be in force - and
schools told to go even further to cut costs on expensive items
- Heading to school after the summer holidays now almost £1,000
cheaper for many families between expanded free school meals,
cheaper uniform and free breakfasts
Families will see the cost of going to school slashed even
further from September, as guidance confirming caps on branded
uniforms is issued to schools and more free breakfast clubs are
confirmed.
Parents at 1,400 more schools will find out if they can save up
to £450 through free breakfast clubs from September, when more
than 2,700 will be up and running. It means the government has
smashed its target of adding 2,000 schools to the programme this
year. Over 680,000 children will attend them after the
summer holidays - up from 300,000 today.
The clubs are already delivering cumulative savings of nearly
£25million to families by serving up over 10 million free
breakfasts and five million hours of childcare unlocked. For a
family using their club every day that's worth up to £450 and 95
hours a year, or nearly two working weeks back on the morning
juggle. Children arrive more settled, fed and ready to learn from
the moment the school day begins.
From September schools must comply with the new legal limits on
the number of branded uniform items they can require. It means
parents can buy more of the everyday basics, like trousers and
shirts, from any shop or supermarket rather than one pricey
supplier.
After polling found a third of parents still worry about uniform
costs the government is also publishing strengthened statutory
guidance today telling schools to take more steps to bring down
the cost of individual items, especially for more expensive items
like blazers and jumpers, in time for the 2027 school year.
Taken together, heading back to school is now set to be almost
£1,000 cheaper for many families. A child could benefit from up
to £450 a year through a free breakfast club and up to £500 a
year through the expansion of free school meals to every
household on Universal Credit on top of cheaper uniform as the
new branded-item limit bites.
Education Secretary said:
No parent should have to choose between a summer day out to
the beach and kitting their child out for school.
From September, families will feel the difference at the
school gates: free breakfast clubs at 1,400 more schools, an end
to expensive lists of branded uniform, and more free lunches for
those who need them.
That's the British childhood this government believes in and
why we'll always fight to give every child the very best start in
life."
Today's announcement builds on the biggest ever expansion of
funded childcare, now saving families using their full 30 hours
an average of £8,000 a year per child with more than 548,000
codes validated by parents for the working parent entitlement in
spring 2026.
Ahead of the new school year, the government is making it easier
for all families to enjoy the weekend treats, days out and day
trips over the summer with the government's Great British Summer
Saving scheme. From 25 June to 1 September, VAT has been cut on
children's meals in restaurants, children's and family tickets
for theatres and cinemas, and tickets for family attractions,
alongside free bus travel for children aged five to 15 in England
throughout August. This is part of the government's work to ease
the cost of living, including action to take £117 off household
energy bills, freezing rail fares and prescription charges and
increases the national minimum and living wage.
A consultation on early years funding, published today, will also
set out plans to tackle the postcode lottery holding some
children back.
Government is setting out proposals that will mean councils pass
more funding for disadvantaged two-year-olds directly to
nurseries and childminders.
Families will also feel the difference at their local Best Start
Family Hub the one-stop shops where parents can find everything
from stay-and-play sessions to health visitors and parenting
advice. Backed by over £900 million, more than 200 are already
open, on the way to up to 1,000 by 2028.
To drive that ambition forward, the government is today launching
the Best Start Improvement Coalition bringing together business,
charities and social investors to ensure every hub delivers for
the families who need it most.
Notes to editors:
- Families can save up to £500 a year through the expansion of
free school meals to every household on Universal Credit,
- Around £300 a year through the Holiday Activities and Food
programme.
- Families can save up to £200 a year through the free
stay-and-play sessions at their local Best Start Family Hub part
of a rollout backed by nearly 9 in 10 parents (86%), who support
their introduction.
