Research on the national rollout of free breakfast clubs
About the research
The Department for Education (DfE) has commissioned Ipsos UK, Ecorys, the Behavioural Insights Team, UCL and Northumbria University to evaluate the national rollout of free and universal breakfast clubs in primary schools across England.
The evaluation will help the DfE understand how fee breakfast clubs work in practice, the difference they make for schools, pupils and families, and how schools can be supported as the programme is rolled out more widely.
Why is this research important?
Schools’ and parents’ experiences are central to the evaluation. Your insights will help the DfE understand what works well in practice, what challenges schools face and what support may be needed.
This evidence will inform the ongoing rollout and support the successful statutory implementation of the policy, helping schools across England create the best possible provision for pupils and families.
What will the evaluation explore?
The research will explore:
- how schools set up and deliver free breakfast clubs in practice;
- the day-to-day realities of running free breakfast clubs, including routines, staffing, food, space and activities;
- what helps schools to deliver the programme successfully and what challenges they experience;
- how schools engage pupils and families;
- the difference free breakfast clubs make to pupils, including their mood, friendships, attendance, punctuality and readiness for school;
- the difference the programme makes to parents and families; and
- how the programme can be refined as it is rolled out more widely.
Why might your school be invited to take part?
Schools across England operate in a wide range of contexts. Large-scale data will help the research team understand the national picture, but learning directly from schools is essential to understand what works in practice.
Schools may be invited to take part so that the evaluation reflects different experiences, challenges and successes. The research will include schools that are delivering free breakfast clubs and schools that are not yet taking part in the programme. Hearing from both groups will help the research team understand the difference the programme makes.
What could taking part involve?
If your school is invited to take part, we will ask you to:
- complete a short sign-up survey and nominate a main contact for the research;
- support sharing surveys with school staff and parents. All materials will be provided, making it as easy as possible.
Some schools will also be invited to:
- take part in an interview or group discussion with the research team; or
- participate in an in-depth case study visit.
For schools taking part in a case study visit, activities may include discussions with school leaders and staff, small discussion groups with pupils, and a quiet, non-intrusive observation of a free breakfast club session.
The research team will provide clear information before each activity and will aim to keep the time required from schools to a minimum.
How will the findings be used?
The findings will be shared with the DfE to inform the ongoing rollout of free and universal breakfast clubs.
The research will identify practical lessons about how free breakfast clubs work in different contexts, the support schools may need and how the programme can be improved as it expands. These findings will be used to refine the programme and guidance provided to schools.
Participation, confidentiality and data protection
Participation in the research is voluntary. Schools, staff, parents and pupils can choose whether or not to take part in any research activity.
Ipsos UK and its research partners will handle information securely and in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Schools and individual participants will not be identified in reports without permission. Any quotations used in reporting will be anonymised.
Questions about the research
For more information about the evaluation, please contact: [email protected]
