HAF Information for providers

Each HAF activity session should:

• operate for a minimum of four hours a day (ideally longer, for example, six hours)
• include both enriching and physical activities to create a balanced programme for children and young people, ensuring they have a holistic and varied experience
• incorporate helping children to understand more about the benefits of healthy eating and nutrition into their programme as well as stigma-free opportunities to support children and young people in learning about healthy lifestyles and exercise
• include a healthy hot meal for each attendee (can be cooked on-site or delivered via a caterer or food business)
• HAF grant-funded holiday activities can only be provided to children in Buckinghamshire who receive benefits-related free school meals
• Grants will be awarded to organisations that can demonstrate an ability to deliver activities in line with the government HAF guidance
• Buckinghamshire Council HAF cannot fund Ofsted-registered venues or organisations that are currently subject to a 'not-met' or Ofsted inspection judgement less than 'good.' That is a current 'requires improvement', 'inadequate' rating, or where a 'notice to improve' is published following a 'complaint about childcare provision', without a follow-up inspection report evidencing at least a 'good' Ofsted judgment or a 'met' judgement. Where there is a current investigation underway by Ofsted or the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), this may preclude funding from the HAF Programme until resolved.

You can contact the Buckinghamshire HAF project team at [email protected] if you have any questions about applying.

Mixed provision is when some of the total places offered by an organisation are funded separately, for example by fee-paying customers or from another funding pot.

We welcome HAF funding applications that involve mixed provision.

For these applications, we will fully fund any costs that apply only to the HAF-specific places. Funding for other costs is given on a pro-rata basis according to the proportion of HAF places, for example, venue or staffing costs.

Buckinghamshire Council are working with the Melanoma Fund to promote Sun Safety to HAF providers. This includes the promotion of the Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code. This campaign distributes free educational resources to those who work outdoors with primary-aged children. Find out more in the Melanoma Fund UK Outdoor Sun Safety Code.

The Melanoma Fund is exploring the idea of getting at least one adult in each club to be Sun Guard Accredited. HAF providers and other settings can achieve this by accessing their free course. (LINK)

As part of their funding, Buckinghamshire HAF providers have the opportunity to attend training sessions. These occur in the build-up to each delivery period. Topics include:

• Safeguarding,
• Autism Awareness,
• Impact of Early Trauma,

Settings are also encouraged to explore the full range of training opportunities. These are delivered by Buckinghamshire Council's Early Years service. This is available alongside the funded opportunities presented to HAF providers.

Providers operating from Ofsted-registered venues can also apply to offer Tax-Free and Universal Credit Childcare places to eligible families. These can be used to top up HAF hours or to help a family pay for a full day of provision. To find out more about childcare support available, visit the Best Start In Life website.