BREAKFAST clubs in schools are becoming a lifeline for working mums and dads, according to new research.

And their success is not just about ensuring children have a meal to start their day as they also offer pre-school day activities and support with homework as well as relieving pressure on hard pressed working parents.

The research, commissioned by breakfast cereal giant Kellogg’s, revealed that a third of working British mums would have to give up work if there was no support from school breakfast clubs.

One in five of those who completed the online survey recognised the cost for alternative morning childcare would mean they would have to tighten their purse strings, with nearly 20 per cent of parents claiming they save more than £50 every week by sending their children to breakfast clubs.

The survey of 2,003 working parents showed how it isn’t just “squeezed” families who rely on the clubs.

A quarter of top level professionals admitted they needed breakfast clubs to help juggle childcare, with nearly a third of public sector managers and office workers using the clubs as a lifeline to get to work on time.

Megan Jarvie, head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Family and Childcare Trust said breakfast clubs are not just about ensuring children have an adequate meal in the mornings but also providing busy families with much needed support.

She said: “Breakfast clubs are about much more than just cereal and toast in the morning – our research shows that breakfast clubs can help children do better in school and beyond, can help parents commit to their job’s work hours and can provide working families with the support they need to manage a work-life balance in modern Britain.

“Too many families are struggling to access childcare that meets their needs, but extended schools services like breakfast clubs can help fill the gaps when there is not enough out of school childcare available. They help boost outcomes for children from all backgrounds and support parents to work.”

School manager at Northwick Manor Primary School, Worcester, Tina Lewis said they have run a breakfast club for 12 years.

“It started off with six children and now we have got 120. We have really positive feedback from children and parents. I think it suits them both.”

The breakfast club starts at 8am and children can choose from a range of food like cereals, toast, crumpets and fruit juice. “We have our own kitchens and there are a variety of games, crafts, ICT activities and homework support they can do after their breakfast,” added Mrs Lewis.

She also pointed out that parents have the added peace of mind that once they are dropped off for the breakfast club they are at school, safe and supervised.

Kellogg’s has been supporting breakfast clubs in schools for 18 years providing funding, cereal donations and training to a network of 2,500 Breakfast Clubs across the UK.

Dave Lawlor, UK managing director for Kellogg’s, added: “Recent research has shown eating breakfast improves educational attainment.

“However it is not just children who benefit, breakfast clubs are also a vital resource to help working parents, saving millions in childcare costs and delivering benefits for employers across the UK. They are a lifeline, particularly for those parents on lower incomes.

“However it isn’t just the financial benefits, interestingly the report showed parents who take advantage of breakfast clubs are, on the whole, more likely to feel happier and calmer, with 59 per cent seeing a boost in wellbeing.”