What's your motivation?

Today there are many different motivations for breakfast clubs that affect how they are run, how they are funded, how much they charge and who attends. Below is a simple summary of five ‘typical’ motivators. In reality many clubs cross over at least two of these motivators. There are also different operational models. Our planning your club pages will help you work out what is best for you.

Childcare breakfast clubs

These are some typical aspects of a childcare breakfast club: 

• Clubs are often run as part of a wraparound care package and charge competitive childcare rates.
• Members often need to sign up in advance.
• Staff and site provision are registered and inspected to formal day care standards.
• Clubs often run through the holidays.
• Activities and games are often offered as part of this provision.
• The club might be run by the school or by an outside provider on a school site or an independent setting.
• It is possible for some families to claim Working Tax Credit for the fees for formal childcare clubs.
• There are clear guidelines on who must register and who can volunteer to register as formal childcare.
• Breakfast is almost always served but some pre-school care provision are called breakfast clubs because of the time of operation and do not cater for meals.
• Childcare breakfast clubs are common in 0-11 settings.  

Visit our charging page for more information on charging for your club and the Working Tax Credit.

Study Support breakfast clubs

School breakfast clubs that do not operate as formal childcare generally offer a basic breakfast meal and a range of activities and games that support a young person’s achievement, wider learning and skills development. There are many variations of activities, age range, setting and menu type. Staffing ratios, qualifications and club rules are guided by a school’s ‘before and after school club policies’. Many clubs charge a fee to contribute towards running costs but subsidised or free places are often available to those who are not able to pay. Study support breakfast clubs are common in early years, primary and secondary age settings.

Targeted breakfast clubs

Targeted breakfast clubs operate for a specific group of young people who need additional support. This might be around behavioural or attendance issues, nutritional needs (obesity, eating disorders or malnutrition) or to provide additional social and emotional support. The target group are generally identified and invited to participate by the school or other statutory or voluntary services. Clubs tend to cater for a small number of young people and have a high ratio of staff-member support. Designated funding from a schools budget can be used to support such clubs. It is not uncommon for group of children and young people to be targeted to attend an existing children's club.

Meal Service breakfast clubs

These clubs are essentially a breakfast meal operated on a canteen service basis. They are supervised by meals service staff and do not generally offer additional activities or social/learning support. They are more commonly found in 11-18 year old settings and focus on providing a nutritious meal at the start of the day, in a safe place to be. The Welsh Assembly Government primary school free breakfast initiative and Glasgow Big Breakfast are examples of where central funding is provided to offer such a service. Many then ‘add value’ to these clubs in the form of extra activities or staffing support. 

Community breakfast clubs

Community breakfast clubs are either run by voluntary or local community organisations in a community centre or similar setting or sometimes on a school site. These clubs often cater for a focused target group such as teenage parents or for 16-18 year olds. They tend to have a broader well-being focus than specific learning support as their key goal. Sometimes schools also open their breakfast clubs to families and the wider community, as regular provision or as celebration events. Health and safety and staffing regulations are mainly dictated by the policies of the venue used and the organisation running the session.