Wandsworth Council Backs Free Breakfast Club Rollout

Launching in April 2025, this initiative promises to deliver transformative benefits for families and schools in Wandsworth. Each participating primary school will offer all children a nutritious breakfast alongside 30 minutes of free childcare at the start of the school day, providing parents with valuable flexibility and peace of mind.

On 26 November, Penwortham Primary School, a long-standing participant in the council’s programme with Magic Breakfast since 2023, hosted Stephen Morgan, MP & Minister for Early Education, to announce the government’s free breakfast programme.

During the visit, the minister engaged warmly with staff and students, taking the time to interact with children in the breakfast club. Many children shared how the breakfast helped them feel more focused and prepared for the school day, improving both their learning and overall well-being.

Reflecting on the visit, Sandie Andrews, Headteacher at Penwortham Primary School said: "Seeing the positive impact of our breakfast club every day is so rewarding. It's wonderful to watch children have a healthy and filling start to the day, ready to learn and thrive. Hosting the minister and MP was a fantastic opportunity to showcase how initiatives like this transform lives in our school community."

Wandsworth Council has been at the forefront of tackling food insecurity through its partnership with Magic Breakfast, a charity committed to ending hunger as a barrier to education. Last year, the council piloted a tailored breakfast provision in 20 schools, reaching nearly 4,000 children each day. Building on this success, the programme has now expanded to all primary schools that want to join it, currently 40 schools, ensuring even more children and families benefit from this vital support.

The results from the programme were overwhelmingly positive, with more than 90% of schools reporting improvements in children’s readiness to learn and 82% observing better attendance and punctuality. Moreover, every participating school agreed that the programme had alleviated financial pressures on families.

Cabinet Member for Children, Kate Stock, said: "The results from our programme with Magic Breakfast speak for themselves: children are more focused, families feel supported, and schools see improved attendance. The government’s breakfast club is a fantastic opportunity to build on this success and ensure no child in Wandsworth starts their school day hungry."

Using insights from our programme, Wandsworth Council had the opportunity to share experiences and recommendations with the Department for Education (DfE) at a roundtable event. Local authorities and schools with breakfast programmes came together to discuss their successes and challenges, and the Council was able to provide valuable advice to support the national rollout, ensuring the programme delivers maximum impact for children and families.

A healthy breakfast is vital in supporting children’s physical health, mental well-being, and academic success. The roll out of free breakfast meals directly addresses food insecurity while also easing the financial burden of childcare, aligning closely with Wandsworth Council’s core priorities. Earlier this year Wandsworth Council won the Most Improved Council in the 2024 Good Food Local London Awards for its work to improve the accessibility and quality of food available to people in Wandsworth including children.

Alongside this initiative, the council’s Cost of Living Hub offers a wealth of resources, including grants, assistance with utility bills, and information about free or low-cost activities for children. Find out about all available support for Wandsworth residents on the Cost of Living Hub.

For more information about Magic Breakfast and how to get involved, visit Magic Breakfast’s website or contact Wandsworth Council for guidance on the application process.