Planning

Best Start Free Breakfast Clubs Enrichment Sponsorship Academic Year 26/27

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

17 Feb 2026 at 16:28

Market Engagement Notice
Planning

17 Feb 2026 at 16:05

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education (DfE) is in the planning stage of the procurement process for the "Best Start Free Breakfast Clubs Enrichment Sponsorship Academic Year 26/27". This initiative falls under the industry category of musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials, and accessories, aiming to support primary-aged pupils across several regions of the United Kingdom, including London, North East, North West, and more. The process is described as a market engagement notice rather than a formal competition, with current activities focusing on partnerships to enhance the breakfast club programme. Key dates include the engagement end date on 4 March 2026, offering businesses a timely opportunity to become involved in the early stages of this initiative. This is an opportunity for organisations to partner with DfE to contribute to the national rollout, which aims to benefit 680,000 children by September 2026.

Businesses specialising in educational resources, particularly in the arts, crafts, and physical activity categories, will find ample opportunities for growth through this tender. This initiative seeks collaborators that can provide engaging activities fostering creativity, outdoor exploration, and community connection, supporting pupils in Reception, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2. With an emphasis on enhancing the quality and accessibility of breakfast clubs, companies capable of offering enrichment resources will be highly valued. The procurement process is favourable for SMEs and VCSEs looking to expand their influence in an impactful educational programme that aligns with governmental goals to bridge socio-economic barriers and contribute to the welfare and development of future generations.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Best Start Free Breakfast Clubs Enrichment Sponsorship Academic Year 26/27

Notice Description

Best Start Free Breakfast Clubs: Enrichment Activities Partnership Market Engagement Notice This notice is not a call for competition. Could your organisation partner with the Department for Education's (DfE) free breakfast club programme to help pupils start the day ready to learn? The free breakfast club programme supports the government's aims of giving every pupil, regardless of their background, the best start in life. Free breakfast clubs break down barriers to every child achieving and thriving at school and in later life, by ensuring they are ready to learn as well as supporting families with the cost of living, and tackling poverty. The first 750 'early adopter' free breakfast clubs opened their doors in April 2025, and these schools are now successfully offering a free 30-minute club alongside a healthy breakfast to their pupils. Following on from the success of this test and learn phase, national rollout will begin in April 2026 targeting the most disadvantaged areas, with a further 500 schools taking part. By September 2026, over 680,000 children across 3,000 schools will benefit from the programme. We know the difference a soft start and healthy breakfast can make for pupils with regards to attendance, attainment and behaviour, and we believe greater impact can be achieved by partnering with organisations who can help schools make their breakfast clubs even better. Last October, in a landmark move, the government joined forces with four industry partners to provide the 750 early adopter schools with discounts and deals as part of a test and learn phase. These partnerships are helping schools to serve up more affordable, varied breakfast options whilst saving time for busy school staff, which is why we launched a market engagement period to explore further opportunities for food partnerships beyond July 2026, when the current agreements end. Alongside this, we would like to explore partnerships that can support pupils' soft start to the day. Our early adopter schools are already offering engaging activities that enhance children's development and wellbeing1, and we want to build on this success. To help support schools further, we are seeking partners who can offer resources that make free breakfast clubs even more fun and enriching, helping pupils begin the day ready to learn. We are also considering how activity ideas and materials could be brought together in one accessible place online to further support schools in shaping enjoyable and inclusive free breakfast club sessions. We are interested in resources suitable for all primary-aged pupils from Reception, Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7), and Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11), and welcome partners that could support light-touch, child-led activities for one or more of these age-groups in any of the following categories: express creativity explore the outdoors be active connect with the wider community develop wider life skills 2

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-1e21a0f8-8e4c-4477-9329-2bede83b019b
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/20034722-44ae-4055-a5fe-83436446e15d
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

37 - Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories

CPV Codes

37000000 - Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Feb 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Mar 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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