Introduction
Breakfast and after-school clubs are more than just convenient childcare - they play a vital role in supporting working families, improving pupil wellbeing, and creating additional income streams for schools/trusts. But running a club successfully takes careful planning, clear financial oversight, and community engagement.
Here’s how to get it right - and make it work for everyone involved.
Why run an in-house breakfast or after-school club?
Before diving into logistics, it’s worth remembering the key benefits:
✓ Supports parents and carers, particularly those working full time or shifts by providing an affordable childcare alternative, run by people they are familiar with and trust as part of a school community.
✓ Improves attendance and punctuality, especially for breakfast clubs.
✓ Enhances pupil wellbeing through healthy meals, social interaction, and enrichment activities.
✓ Improves behaviour and academic attainment.
✓ Provides an income opportunity when well-managed.
Getting started: Funding for breakfast clubs
For schools considering a breakfast club, funding is available through the Department for Education's (DfE) National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) if they have 40% or more pupils, in bands A-F of the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI).
The Early Adopters Scheme also offers financial support to schools rolling out 30 minutes of a free breakfast club before school. The aim is to ensure that no child starts the school day hungry.
Check the latest eligibility and application details on the DfE website.
Setting prices: Striking the right balance
For paid clubs (especially after-school), you’ll need to work out sustainable pricing.
Consider the following:
1. Direct costs: Staff wages, food, equipment, cleaning, and utilities.
2. Overheads: Proportion of insurance, premises costs, and admin time.
3. Contingency/surplus: It’s wise to build in a small surplus to reinvest or cover unforeseen costs.
Pricing will depend on your community. Many schools operate a tiered model (e.g., full rate, sibling discount, or free places for pupil premium children).
Survey parents early to understand what they’re willing to pay and what they need from the club. Research what other local schools charge to establish the going rate in your local area.
Boosting uptake
A well-run club should be both inclusive and attractive.
Here’s how to build momentum:
1. Promote the club clearly and regularly - via newsletters, social media, and word of mouth. Ensure you are promoting the club at open sessions for new starters; You might even find your pupil numbers will increase as a well-run club is proven to be attractive to working parents.
2. Offer a mix of activities that appeal to different age groups with a balance of fun and learning: sports, crafts, homework help, quiet games, math challenges, and books to read.
3. Provide flexibility: Consider part-sessions, ad-hoc bookings, or drop-in availability where possible.
4. Engage pupils in planning the club - if they’re excited, they’ll tell their parents!
5. Create a welcoming space: Ensure the environment is warm, well-organised, and supervised by friendly, consistent staff.
6. Special themed events: Run seasonal themed events on days when attendance is lower to encourage more pupils to come and fill spaces, e.g., a summer party or a halloween-themed crafts and dress-up 'spooktacular'.
7. Ask for feedback regularly and adapt your offer as needed.
Making it sustainable
To keep your club running smoothly, consider the following practical tips:
✓ Track income and expenditure carefully.
✓ Monitor attendance patterns and adjust staffing as needed. You may notice fewer pupils attending at the start and end of the week when parents may work from home. Think about ways to encourage more pupils to come on these quieter days, such as themed activities or special events.
✓ Look for partnerships: Local businesses or community champions from supermarkets may donate breakfast supplies or offer sponsorship.
✓ Use surplus income wisely to invest back into resources, training, or further enrichment.
Need help?
We provide trading account templates exclusively for our subscribing customers. These are perfect for preparing budgets and tracking profit and loss for your breakfast or after-school club, helping you ensure long-term success.
Contact us today to access our resources and start planning your club with confidence.
