Fuelling students’ minds with healthy food
More students than ever are accessing breakfast at school, fuelling their minds before heading to the classroom for the day.
A $5.1 million State Government boost to breakfast provider funding was announced in the 2023-24 State Budget, which has since seen support flow on to some of the state’s most disadvantaged schools. New data has shown that 85% of those – 218 schools – participated in the breakfast program during 2024.
The number of participating schools providing breakfast five days a week has also risen from 58% of participating schools in 2023 to 70% in 2024, with sites able to work with providers to select the level of service delivery their school community needs.
Two key organisations, Foodbank SA and KickStart for Kids, provide the breakfast program in schools, which assists students to have a good start to their day.
Studies show that children who consume a healthy breakfast each day have improved school performance.
Unfortunately, as families grapple with the cost of living, demand is growing and that is being reflected in our schools.
A department survey of food provision in our public schools last year found that 74% (215 of 290 responding schools) had a school breakfast program. Of these, 86% had reported an increase in demand for the breakfast program over the last year.
Meanwhile, a small lunch program pilot being conducted in collaboration with ºÚÁϳԹÏn independent retail chain, Drake’s Supermarkets, has been extended until the end of the year.
The program, running in two Murray Bridge primary schools, sees students offered a sandwich option with a piece of fruit and muesli bar once a week.
Read more about breakfast programs in SA schools, preschools and children’s services.
