Hungry children are unable to concentrate in school. It's not just a guess, it's based on years of research. But despite all this still millions of children are coming to school without eating anything. That is why the breakfast club model is gaining so much momentum in the last ten years, and why attention is starting to be given to this model by educators, parents, and policymakers. So what occurs in a properly managed breakfast club, and how can children learn more effectively? Let's take a look at the facts.
What Is a Breakfast Club and Why It Matters
A breakfast club is a before school programme that provides children with a healthy meal, within a supervised and structured setting, prior to school's start time. Breakfast club for all children are catching on in the UK as they realise that hunger is one of the biggest and solvable obstacles to learning. The value of school breakfast clubs has been widely recognised by communities in the UK with an estimated 80% of schools operating one today. These clubs usually provide food as well as some light activities allowing children to settle, socialise and settle into the school day nicely.
How Breakfast Fuels the Learning Brain
Better Focus and Memory
The brain depends on glucose for its operation. A child who doesn't eat breakfast fails to get a sugar boost from the meal and can't focus as well. That's as simple as it gets! Mornings are the best time to eat, as students' focus, problem solving skills and memory are enhanced. According to a 2019 study, students eating breakfast on a regular basis performed better academically than students who did not eat breakfast.
Improved Behaviour in Class
The research has found a consistency that breakfast has not only a positive impact on grades, but also on behaviour. School breakfast programmes are often associated with increased attendance, punctuality, readiness to learn, decreased dropout rates, better behaviour in the classroom, and increased pro-social behaviour all of which are likely to impact school performance. This can easily be seen by teachers. Children are less irritable, distracted and engage in tasks after eating. A breakfast club can help to begin that day at school in a positive way.
The Research Behind Breakfast Clubs
IFS Study on Academic Progress
The Institute for Fiscal Studies provides one of the key facts on the subject: IFS research found that providing school breakfasts free to all children in disadvantaged English primary schools helps pupils make two months' additional progress over the course of a year. These improvements seem to stem from improved behaviour and concentration in school and there is no evidence that the improvements are dependent on whether or not the children eat breakfast in school. Progress of two months. That's important to any kid, but particularly important to kids who are already behind.
Breakfast Club Ideas That Support Learning
Activities That Warm Up the Brain
A well organised breakfast club is more than a food club. The pre-lesson time is a chance to playfully interact with children without pressure. The following are some ideas of activities that are being used successfully by schools:
Reading corners — Books and comics are available and children can read quietly, increasing their vocabulary prior to lessons.
Warm-up puzzles and board games — These encourage logical thinking and problem-solving skills to a low key level.
Drawing and colouring – Fine motor activities are used to assist younger children in settling and transition to the classroom.
Talking games – Games that encourage children to listen, take turns and engage in conversation to develop their communication skills.
These do not have to be fancy! The aim is to create a relaxed and positive setting in which children are safe and involved.
Social Skills Built Around the Table
One aspect that is sometimes overlooked, is the social aspect of a breakfast club. Research has shown that eating a meal alongside others can facilitate interaction amongst individuals and offer occasions to teach children social skills. Relationships have been shown to exert a significant impact on behaviour and many of the developmental outcomes in childhood and adolescence such as school performance, self-assurance and attitudes towards school. Eating together at a table with other students and conversing with one another fosters the type of relationships that make school a secure environment. Socially settled children are better learners.
Healthy Food Ideas for a Breakfast Club
The content of the food that a child eats is just as important as whether children eat it or not. In 2024, UNSW and Macquarie University researchers published a study in the Journal of School Psychology showing that an unhealthy breakfast is as detrimental as having no breakfast at all and a healthy breakfast each day is beneficial to students' motivation and achievement.
Breakfast club ideas, foods that are healthy and suitable to eat in the morning, which are easy to prepare and eat, include:
Slow release energy porridge with fruit to keep kids focused throughout the morning.
Protein from wholegrain toast or nut-free spreads helps you to stay focused.
Fresh fruit and low-sugar yoghurt that can be easily served in bulk and is enjoyed by most children
Proper hydration milk or water is often under-emphasized, but directly impacts on alertness.
Steer clear of sugary cereals and pastries. They have a rapid onset of energy and tend to cause crashes mid-morning when subjects of study are taught.
Final Words
The evidence is evident and coherent. A breakfast club is far more than a feeding programme. It is an educational setting for the early years. Children are focused, well behaved, able to relate to others and make measurable progress in school when they come in from a proper meal in a calm, social environment. The concept of running a successful breakfast club is simple – it's about good food, gentle activities and a welcoming environment. The effect those things make, however, extends far outside of the classroom.
