HAF Annual Report 2022/23

The HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme offers free holiday provision, including healthy food and enriching activities, in the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays. It is for school-aged children in reception to year 11 inclusive who receive benefits-related free school meals.

In 2021, the government announced a three-year funding settlement for the HAF programme which follows the national rollout of the programme across England in 2021.

Research has shown that the school holidays can be pressure points for some families. For some children, this can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from low-income households being less likely to access organised out-of-school activities. They are more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health; and more likely to experience social isolation. The HAF programme aims to respond to this issue.

HAF activity places are made available to school-aged children in Buckinghamshire in reception to year 11 inclusive who receive benefits-related free school meals (FSM). At April 2022, there were 10,160 children and young people eligible for FSM in Buckinghamshire.

In line with government guidance, from April 2022 local authorities have been able to use up to 15% of HAF programme places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals but who the local authority believes could benefit from HAF provision.

A referral system is used in collaboration with schools, social care and family support teams to ensure the allocation of these places goes to the children and young people who will benefit most.

Children and young people attending HAF clubs and activities enjoy free, high-quality holiday activities and a healthy hot meal at each session they attend.

Holiday sessions run for at least 4 hours a day and are available for:

• 16 days across the Summer 2022 holiday period
• 4 days across each of the Easter 2022 (Spring) and Christmas 2022 (Winter) holiday periods

Children and families choose and book HAF activity sessions from the activity programme published before each delivery period.