HAF Information for schools
About the Buckinghamshire HAF Programme
Funded by the Department for Education, the aim of the HAF programme is to offer free holiday clubs or activity places over the longer school holidays to children who receive benefits-related free school meals.
HAF provides an opportunity for children and young people to engage in a range of holiday activities, from football to photography, music to art, science to drama, there is an activity for every age and interest. The offer also includes a healthy hot meal for children attending each holiday session.
HAF clubs aim to give children enriching experiences and enable them to have fun and socialise with friends.
What does a HAF club include
Each HAF activity club 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
- incorporate helping children to understand more about the benefits of healthy eating and nutrition as well as opportunities to learn about healthy lifestyles and exercise
- include a healthy hot meal for each attendee
Ordering HAF vouchers
From Christmas 2023, E-Vouchers will distribute HAF vouchers for all schools across Buckinghamshire via their Holiday Activities system. Schools will need to order their vouchers ahead of the distribution dates.
- How to order HAF vouchers step-by-step guide
- How to order HAF vouchers video tutorial
Schools need to ensure their MIS data is kept up-to-date with FSM-eligible children marked accordingly, as this data is used to generate and issue HAF vouchers to parents/carers.
Schools will have the capability to refer other children onto the programme through extended eligibility criteria with Buckinghamshire Council approval. The process for this will be sent to schools separately.
How can schools get involved in the programme
Schools can get involved by:
- Schools can play a key role in the signposting and advertising of HAF to their pupils. Alongside ordering the HAF vouchers for families, schools can also signpost parents towards HAF, assisting them where necessary to book onto provision in their local area.
- Schools can also refer individual pupils they feel would benefit from HAF, as part of the 15% extended eligibility.
- Schools can rent their school facilities to HAF providers.
- Should a school wish to host HAF provision, please contact the HAF team by emailing [email protected] and we will advertise this to current and prospective providers.
- Schools can work alongside a HAF provider to run HAF provision from their school facilities at a lesser rate.
- The advantage of this is that the school can help shape the HAF provision to best suit the needs of their eligible pupils.
- This also means the school is not involved in the application and reporting processes. This is instead handled by the provider they are working with.
- Schools can become a HAF provider themselves by applying for HAF funding.
- This allows a school to have full control over their offer and allows the school to be flexible in how they use their facilities.
For more information on the impact of HAF and how schools can get involved, you can request a school pack by emailing [email protected]
30 Buckinghamshire schools are currently involved in the HAF programme, either as a venue for HAF provision or as a provider.