This holiday provision is for school children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals.
Benefits-related free school meals (FSM) are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, and have a claim verified by their school or local authority.
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
- more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health
- more likely to experience social isolation
Aims of the programme
As a result of this programme, we want children who attend this provision to:
- Eat healthily over the school holidays
- Be active during the school holidays
- Take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment
- Be safe and not to be socially isolated
- Have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
- Be more engaged with school and other local services
We also want to ensure that the families who participate in this programme:
- Develop their understanding of nutrition and food budgeting
- Are signposted towards other information and support, for example, health, employment, and education
Enrichment activities
Holiday clubs must provide fun and enriching activities that provide children with opportunities to:
- Develop new skills or knowledge
- Consolidate existing skills and knowledge
- Try out new experiences
- Have fun and socialise
Over Easter:
- We expect that all participating children should benefit from at least a week of face-to-face provision at Easter, which should be for a minimum of 4 days
- For most children, each day at Easter should consist of at least 4 hours of provision, but the local authority should ensure that provision is tailored to needs
Over summer:
- For local authorities that have a summer holiday that spans 6 full calendar weeks, participating children should be offered at least 4 weeks of face-to-face provision, which cover a minimum of 16 days
- For local authorities that have a summer holiday that is less than 6 full calendar weeks, participating children should be offered at least 3 weeks of face-to-face provision, which should cover a minimum of 12 days
- If only 3 weeks are offered in summer, then these local authorities are expected to offer an additional week during a half-term holiday period (see below), so that their overall provision reaches 6 weeks across the year
- For most children, each day during summer should consist of at least 4 hours of provision, but the local authority should ensure that provision is tailored to need
Over Christmas:
- We expect that all participating children should benefit from a week of support which covers a minimum of 4 days
- As in 2021, our preference is at least 4 days of face-to-face provision, however where this is not possible, it should consist of at least 2 days of face-to-face provision complemented by at least 2 days of HAF support which can be provided in the form of high-quality food hampers and activity packs
- For most children, each day of face-to-face provision at Christmas should consist of at least 4 hours of provision but the local authority should ensure that provision is tailored to need.
