School breakfast clubs face closure as staff shortages limit growth

A Kellogg's-commissioned survey of primary school teachers reveals that demand for breakfast clubs has risen steadily, but only 20% of schools feel able to enlarge their programmes. Seventy-one percent of teachers believe many children still lack access to these clubs, which help parents arrive at work on time. Staff shortages are cited by 27% of respondents as the biggest obstacle, followed by insufficient dining space and equipment.

About half of teachers already devote three to five hours each week to running the clubs, with volunteers and parents also contributing. The research coincides with Kellogg's 15th anniversary of its Breakfast Club Awards, which grant £1,000 to winning schools and recognize improvements in pupil concentration, punctuality, and social interaction.