Beakfasts For School Children But Not With the School Dinner Service - Through Breakfast Clubs

15th January 2026

New funding will allow every primary pupil in Scotland to access a breakfast club, the First Minister has said.

Staff working in Bright Start Breakfasts clubs can be paid. The programme's funding guidance explicitly allows grant money to be used for staffing costs, including wages, training, and related expenses.

How Funding Works
Eligible costs: The Bright Start Breakfasts Fund can cover staff salaries, volunteer expenses, food, equipment, and training.

Flexibility: Organisations applying for funding can decide whether to use it for paid staff, volunteers, or a mix of both.

Multiple clubs: Applications can be made for more than one breakfast club, with staffing costs included in each.

Why Staff Pay Matters
Consistency: Paid staff ensure clubs run reliably, especially in areas where volunteer capacity is limited.

Quality: Funding wages helps maintain standards of care, safeguarding, and food provision.

Equity: Rural and deprived communities benefit from having secure staffing rather than relying solely on volunteers.

Trade-offs
Budget limits: While staff pay is eligible, the overall grant size may not cover full-time salaries for all staff. Clubs often combine paid roles with volunteer support.

Local variation: Some councils or organisations may prioritise food costs over staffing, depending on community needs.

The Scottish Budget will provide an additional £15 million in 2026-27 to expand breakfast club provision and help schools, councils and third sector partners prepare for the introduction of universal breakfast club services by August 2027. The Scottish Government then plans to invest £44 million per year from 2027-28 to deliver the clubs for all primary school children in Scotland who want to access them. Every pupil attending a school specifically for children with additional support needs will also benefit.

Breakfast clubs not only give children a nutritious meal before school starts, they can also help improve school attendance and confidence in children, and the option of an early drop-off means parents have more flexibility so they can work or study.

First Minister John Swinney said:

"My government is focused on delivering the priorities of the people of Scotland and through our budget, we are acting to provide help with the cost of living and doing all we can to eradicate child poverty.

"We know extending the school day before and after class can help children and their parents, particularly families who might be struggling with balancing the demands of getting to work early as well as the cost of the weekly food shop.

"Breakfast clubs are a perfect example of how we can give families the option of some extra support. Children can get a healthy start to their day as they eat breakfast and play with their friends, while parents are better able to get to work, or to take up training or study, knowing their children are being well looked after - there are clear benefits for the whole family.  

"That is why we will invest £44 million each year to deliver a national breakfast club programme across all primary and special schools from August 2027, with the Scottish Budget investing £15 million in the coming year to support the expansion and help partners prepare."