Breakfast club costs 'too much' for schools
BBCA body representing headteachers has said many are reluctant to introduce free breakfast clubs because government funding is insufficient.
Labour ministers said they had increased support for the programme, which aims to give all primary-age children access to a healthy meal along with 30 minutes of free childcare at the start of the day.
So far 147 schools across north-east England have signed up to the scheme, which is due to expand rapidly in coming months.
But Schools North East said many local primaries were not planning to introduce breakfast clubs for all pupils over concern about the potential strain on their finances and staffing levels.
The organisation's director Chris Zarraga highlighted practical challenges.
He said: "There are quite strict regulations as to when they open, how many children they open to, and that has staffing implications for schools.
"And the cost around that recruitment and the actual financial cost of staff is difficult for many schools to absorb."
Paul Rickeard, chief executive of the Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Learning Trust which runs primary schools across the region, added that extending breakfast clubs to all was not feasible in the current financial situation.
He said: "We've got 4,000 children across the trust and whilst the government puts a grant in place, at this moment in time that grant wouldn't really allow us to put in the desired amount of staff that we'd need to make this happen."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Free breakfast clubs have already served more than seven million meals to children across the country, with hundreds more schools set to join the scheme this year, reaching an additional 500,000 pupils.
"Following the test and learn phase we strengthened the funding model, giving the average school an extra £6,500 a year.
"This has helped address early concerns and drive strong demand with the April expansion over-subscribed."
St Bernadette's Primary in Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, was among the first wave of schools to join the scheme last year.
Head teacher Sarah Brady said demand for its breakfast club had grown sharply, with pupils appreciating the healthy mix of yoghurt, fruit, toast and cereals.
She said she had noticed a positive impact on children's learning and wellbeing.
"It means they're happy to be in school," she said.
"They've got that lovely time together before they have to go in and get started at half past eight - and they're ready to learn."
