A Newcastle head teacher has publicly criticized the government's free breakfast club initiative, claiming her school cannot afford to participate despite the promised funding.
Barbara Middleton, head of Shiremoor Primary School, says she has declined to join the scheme due to financial and logistical constraints. "The funding being paid doesn't afford me the employees that I would need to be able to run that safely," Middleton explained.
One major sticking point is the requirement that breakfast clubs operate for at least 30 minutes before lessons begin. Middleton argues this creates staffing challenges and would force her school to accommodate over 300 children in a single hall.
"Give us the funding to offer the breakfast club but give us flexibility," Middleton said. "Is the aim that all children are fed before school or is it that the government wants to increase free childcare?"
Currently, Shiremoor Primary provides bagels to students each morning through charity Magic Breakfast, which children can receive even if they arrive late.
Meanwhile, another head teacher has embraced the program. Craig Brown of Dean Bank Primary and Nursery School in Ferryhill estimates his school will receive approximately £10,000 from the government over the next academic year.
While acknowledging this won't cover all costs, Brown sees the government funding as a significant improvement over previous arrangements that relied on charitable foundations.
"The social environment for me is one of the big things," Brown noted. "I know a lot of families that don't have a dining table and don't have the opportunity to sit around and talk to the children. So actually if we can offer that as a school multiple times a day – not just at lunch time – then it's a winner."
The Department for Education defended the program, stating that many schools find it "fair and workable." A spokesperson highlighted increased funding compared to previous initiatives, noting that "an average primary school with 50% take-up will receive nearly £30,000 a year – around 18 times more than the previous National School Breakfast Programme."
Currently, 145 schools in northeast England have enrolled in the breakfast program, which provides £25 daily plus £1 per participating student to cover both food and staffing expenses.
The contrasting experiences reveal a divide in how schools are responding to the government's offer, with some embracing the additional resources while others question whether the funding adequately addresses the practical challenges of implementation.