Introduction to HAF

The DfE stipulated that provision must be distributed by the following percentages:

• 85% should be aimed at children in reception to year 11 who are in receipt of benefits related Free School Meals (FSM)
• 15% is flexible so that the provision could be on offer to ‘children assessed by the local authority as being in need, at risk or vulnerable’

The aims of the programme, as stipulated by the DfE, were that children and young people should:

• Eat healthily over the school holidays
• Be active during the school holidays
• Be safe and not socially isolated
• Have greater knowledge of health and nutrition
• Take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character, and wellbeing
• Be more engaged with school and other local services

They also wanted to ensure that families who participated in the programme:

• developed an understanding of nutrition and food budgeting
• were signposted towards other information and support, for example, health, employment, and education

The DfE guidance explained that these goals should be met through by most of the face-to-face provision, with each session providing:

• An enriching activity (an activity that helps develop or consolidate new skills, provide new experience or an opportunity to socialise)
• At least one meal at the activity provision site that meets school food standards
• At least one hour of physical activity
• The activity should provide an element of relevant nutritional education to both children and parents
• Activity providers should be signposting parents to local support and services to help benefit the family.

Delivery Dates:

HAF, as stipulated, is delivered: for one week at Easter; Four weeks in the Summer and one week at Christmas for four hours a day for four days a week.

Gloucestershire context:

At the beginning of 2021, there were:

• 16,300 children eligible for benefits related free school meals
• Across 6 Districts: districts - Cheltenham, Cotswolds, Gloucester City, Forest of Dean, Tewkesbury & Stroud
• Target of 50% free school meal children to reach through provision, set by GCC

Throughout the HAF pilot in 2021 there were challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first spring HAF, the world was still in the height of the pandemic with England facing social distancing restrictions. Therefore, reasonable adjustments had to be made to the delivery of the programme.

GCC recognised that in Gloucestershire the needs of families in each district varied greatly and therefore 6 district lead partners were appointed from the summer to help shape their area’s offer to ensure it was relevant to the families and communities each worked with.