To find out more about what it means to become a HAF Programme partner, we strongly recommend that you watch our introduction webinar that outlines all the elements required for delivery.

The 2024 Stage 1 introduction webinar and Stage 2 introduction webinars Part 1 and Part 2 - Policy, Staffing, Funding and Monitoring are currently being updated and will be available soon.

We have developed a HAF programme Toolkit to support programme partners in planning and developing their programme. This resource contains a number of key documents required for the Programme and some additional information to support high quality planning and delivery.

School holidays can be a pressure point for some families because of increased costs (such as food and childcare) and reduced incomes. For some children, that can lead to a holiday experience gap with children from disadvantaged families experiencing the following:

• less able to access organised out-of-school activities

• a possible impact in terms of nutrition and physical health

• more likely to experience social isolation.

Free holiday clubs are shown to have positive impact on children and young people and that they work best when they achieve the following:

• provide consistent and easily accessible activities

• cover more than just breakfast or lunch

• involve children (and families) in food preparation.

The programme for Easter and summer runs for a minimum of four hours a day, for four days a week (across one week in Easter and Christmas and across for four weeks over the summer). Each programme will run at different times and in different ways, but every programme is free for eligible children and their families to attend.

Each programme will be expected to provide a range of exciting activities and games and a healthy main meal. In addition, there should be a range of enjoyable and interesting opportunities for children to try new things and make new friends. Further ideas are included on the information sheets. You may want to work with local artists, musicians, and local organisations that can come in and provide some enriching activities for the children.

Element One - Food
There is an expectation that at least one healthy, balanced meal a day will be provided. There is no requirement for the meals to all be hot. However, this is a preference and will be encouraged wherever possible. The meals must meet School Food Standards: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools.

All food provided as part of the HAF Programme must comply with regulations on food preparation and consider allergies and dietary requirements in line with the new allergen legalisation ‘Natasha's Law’: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/natashas-legacy-becomes-law along with preferences, as well as any religious or cultural requirements for food. If at Christmas you are delivering the two day face to face model, please provide us with details of the contents of your food hampers in line with the HAF Programme.

Element Two – Enriching and Physical Activities
Clubs must provide fun and enriching activities that provide children with opportunities to develop new skills or knowledge which are age appropriate. They must provide activities which meet the Physical Activity Guidelines Physical activity guidelines - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) on a daily basis. If at Christmas you are delivering the two day face to face model with activity packs, please detail the contents of your activity packs in line with the HAF Programme.

Element Three – Increasing understanding and awareness of healthy eating
Clubs must include an element of nutritional education each day aimed at improving the knowledge and awareness of healthy eating for children.

Element Four – Signposting and Referrals
Clubs must be able to provide information, signposting or referrals to other services and support that would benefit the children who attend their provision and their families. This may include, but is not limited to, information about Citizen’s Advice, debt and financial education, healthcare professionals, family support services, housing support officers, and Jobcentre Plus, how to source, prepare and cook nutritious and low-cost food alongside increasing awareness of healthy eating.

Element Five - Policies and procedures
Programmes must be able to demonstrate and explain their safeguarding arrangements and have relevant and appropriate policies and procedures in place in relation to safeguarding, health and safety, insurance, accessibility and inclusiveness. Where appropriate, clubs must also be compliant with the Ofsted requirements for working with children.
 
To further support applications and development of programmes, we will soon have more information documents on particular aspects and a training programme to support partners. Information of these will be communicated through email and available on our dedicated website https://www.theeducationpeople.org/holiday-activities-and-food-programme-kent/

School holidays can be a pressure point for some families because of increased costs (such as food and childcare) and reduced incomes. For some children, that can lead to a holiday experience gap with children from disadvantaged families experiencing the following.

• less able to access organised out-of-school activities
• a possible impact in terms of nutrition and physical health
• more likely to experience social isolation.

Free holiday clubs can have are shown to have positive impact on children and young people and that they work best when they achieve the following:

• provide consistent and easily accessible activities
• cover more than just breakfast or lunch
• involve children (and families) in food preparation.

Please click on the buttons below to view some helpful documents.

The delivery model of your programme must be included in your application, we have included both the four days and two days with additional resources models for you to select from.

Please discuss with the HAF team your proposed delivery model if it differs from the above. We appreciate that depending on age group and needs of the community a varied model is sometimes required.

Please find below the application and funding forms, guidance notes and information about Natasha’s Law for the 2022 HAF Programme delivery.

Natasha's Law 
Natasha's Law Food Standards Agency
Stage 1 Application form 2024
Stage 1 checklist 2024

To support your application the following information regarding the elements of the HAF Programme is detailed below.
There are several elements to providing the full HAF Programme offer. The provision that you agree to offer will be monitored by the HAF Programme Team and details of monitoring and evaluation procedures will be sent out to approved partners.

For 2024 we have changed the application process and divided it into two stages.

Stage 1 – We require details of location for the HAF Programme/s and proposed number of places that can be delivered. This is to ensure we can map Programmes and ensure there is a sufficient spread across the county.

If Stage 1 is accepted, partners will be invited to complete and submit a Stage 2 application. This second stage asks for more details about the delivery, quality and how each element will be provided.

The deadline for Stage 1 is 12 January 2024 for Easter 2024 delivery.
The deadline for Stage 2 is 26 January 2024 for Easter 2024 delivery.

Kent HAF Programme Stage 2 checklist for Applications 2024.

Kent Stage 2 HAF Programme Application Form 2024.

We will accept applications throughout the year, with deadlines for specific delivery times as follows (for both stages 1 and 2):
Summer 2024 – 17 May 2024
Christmas 2024 – 18 October 2024

We encourage all potential partners to submit a Stage 1 application as soon as possible, so we can map and plan provision across the county.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate in contacting us at

[email protected]

Schools hold information about the children that attend and often know which families are eligible. You can get in touch with the school to ask who the best contact person for your programme would be.

If families have not yet checked their eligibility for FSM, they can use the eligibility checker below:

https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/kent/
If you need any further support, please email the HAF Programme Team.

In Kent we use an online eligibility checking system for the HAF Programme. Each eligible child will be issued an Evoucher and through this families can search for local HAF programmes and request a place. These are issued by the child/young persons school on the lead up to each HAF Programme holiday period.

Please note: Families who are not eligible for benefits related free school meals or not referred by their Social Worker or Early Help Worker cannot be funded through the HAF Programme, but can still attend activities through self-funding.

Programme partners can advertise the programme in their usual way. This may include getting in touch with local schools, using social media, and approaching other local organisations who have contact with families. Each programme will have its own information and booking system. When sharing information:

• provide a range of contact details (for example phone number, name of lead person, email address, website)
• make it clear which delivery model you plan to use
• be clear about how flexible you can be, if at all, once a booking is made
• be prepared to support families who may need help in completing the forms.

It is important that partners have safeguarding at the forefront of their programme. This must include the following points.

• A designated safeguarding lead with up-to-date training that includes a working knowledge of the Kent procedures.
• Making sure that all staff understand safeguarding and the policy and procedures that are used by the programme.
• Ensuring that enough information is collected about children and young people in case any action needs to be taken. This includes the child’s full name, date of birth, address, who has parental responsibility for the child/young person, the school that the child/young person attends (this also helps with eligibility), and emergency contact details for the parent/carer.

All programme partners commit to making their programme accessible for a wide range of children, ensuring that they meet the legal requirement of the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments. With parental agreement it may also be helpful to contact the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) at the child’s school to help build a picture of what support may need to be offered. Using forms to get detailed information about each child and their needs will enable programme partners to ensure that every child is fully included and can enjoy the opportunities that are offered.

If you have questions, please email [email protected]