Rachel Reeves has pledged £1.4 billion to renovate deteriorating schools and triple the budget for free breakfast clubs as she prepares for her first budget announcement.
Reeves emphasised that children “should not suffer” due to the UK’s strained finances, despite Labour’s need to address a projected £22 billion deficit.
Economists pointed out that the funding is largely intended to sustain existing projects rather than initiate many new ones, and educators argued that more substantial financial support is required.
The Treasury explained that the £1.4 billion will “ensure the delivery” of the school rebuilding program launched in 2020 under Boris Johnson, which aims to rebuild or refurbish around 500 schools over a decade, though progress has been limited. This funding represents a £550 million increase from the previous year to accelerate the program.
Following safety concerns over reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), more than 100 educational institutions were closed last autumn.
The new budget also includes £1.8 billion to expand government-funded childcare and £15 million in capital funding for school nurseries, intended to establish or expand 300 nurseries across England.
Additionally, Reeves announced a threefold increase in funding for free breakfast clubs, boosting it to £30 million by 2025-26, building on a £7 million pilot launching in April for up to 750 schools.
Labour’s manifesto pledges £315 million for breakfast clubs by 2028-29. Christine Farquharson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies noted that the £30 million represents an increase over the previously announced £7 million but is still only a fraction of the planned future investment.
Keywords:
o Rachel Reeves
o Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC)
o Education funding in UK
o Labour government
