Vacation actions and meals programme 2023

Overview

This doc offers info for native authorities delivering the vacation actions and meals programme for 2023 to 24. It is best to learn it alongside the grant dedication letter.

On 27 October 2021, the federal government introduced a 3 yr funding settlement of over £200 million annually for the vacation actions and meals ( HAF ) programme. The primary yr of this funding settlement was 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 is the second yr of the funding settlement. This follows the profitable roll out of the programme throughout all areas of England in 2021.

The funding for every native authority for the HAF programme will likely be confirmed within the grant dedication letter for the programme on an annual foundation.

This funding is for the 153 higher tier native authorities to coordinate and supply free vacation provision, together with wholesome meals and enriching actions. The programme will once more be out there to kids in each native authority in England. The vacation intervals that we count on native authorities to cowl are set out within the core supply part.

Background

Since 2018, the HAF programme has offered help to kids in receipt of free college meals by vacation intervals.

Following profitable pilots between 2018 and 2020, the programme was rolled out to all higher tier native authorities in 2021.

Analysis has proven that the college holidays will be strain factors for some households. For some kids that may result in a vacation expertise hole. Youngsters from low-income households are:

much less prone to entry organised out-of-school actions

extra prone to expertise ‘unhealthy holidays’ by way of diet and bodily well being

extra prone to expertise social isolation

The HAF programme is a response to this challenge. Proof reveals that free vacation golf equipment can have a constructive impression on kids and younger folks. They work finest once they:

present constant and simply accessible enrichment actions

cowl extra than simply breakfast or lunch

contain kids and oldsters in meals preparation

use native partnerships and connections, significantly with the VCSO sector

Since 2021, the HAF programme has enabled us to help lots of of 1000’s of youngsters and their households all through the Easter, summer season, and Christmas college holidays.

Who the programme is for

The HAF programme funding is primarily for varsity aged kids from reception to yr 11 (inclusive) who obtain benefits-related free college meals ( FSM ).

Advantages-related FSMs can be found to pupils if their mother and father are in receipt of one of many qualifying advantages and have a declare verified by their college or native authority.

For additional info on eligibility, go to apply without spending a dime college meals.

Native authorities are requested to make sure that the supply of free vacation membership provision is on the market for all kids in receipt of benefits-related free college meals of their space. Although this doesn’t imply we count on all to attend, as the supply is voluntary.

Common toddler free college meals

All kids in reception, yr 1 and yr 2 in England’s state-funded colleges obtain a free meal underneath the common toddler free college meals ( UIFSM ) coverage.

Toddler pupils who obtain a free meal underneath UIFSM should even be eligible for benefits-related FSM to have the ability to entry a spot on the HAF programme.

Different kids and households

As in earlier years, native authorities have discretion to make use of as much as 15% of their funding to supply free or subsidised vacation membership locations for youngsters who usually are not in receipt of benefits-related FSM however who the native authority imagine may benefit from HAF.

In deciding which kids ought to profit from the 15% versatile funding, native authorities ought to make sure that these locations are aligned to their native priorities.

Native authorities usually are not required to hunt written approval from the Division for Training ( DfE ) for using this 15% flexibility. They’re anticipated to proceed to observe and report on this component of their expenditure and guarantee it stays inside the restrict.

Goals of the programme

There are lots of advantages for youngsters who attend the HAF programme. We wish to encourage all HAF suppliers to make sure a top quality expertise that may end in kids:

receiving wholesome and nutritious meals

sustaining a wholesome degree of bodily exercise

being completely satisfied, having enjoyable and assembly new mates

growing a better understanding of meals, diet and different health-related points

participating in enjoyable and fascinating actions that help their improvement

feeling protected and safe

having access to the precise help companies

returning to high school feeling engaged and able to be taught

Households may profit, when HAF suppliers embrace their wants in planning and delivering their programme. This may very well be by:

offering alternatives to become involved in cookery lessons

making certain they’re signposted in the direction of different sources of data and help, resembling well being companies or employment and schooling alternatives

The core supply

Total, native authorities are anticipated to supply the equal of 6 weeks’ vacation provision to eligible kids.

Over Easter:

we count on that every one taking part kids ought to profit from a minimum of 1 week of face-to-face provision, which must be for no less than 4 days

Over summer season:

for native authorities which have a summer season vacation that spans 6 full calendar weeks, taking part kids must be provided a minimum of 4 weeks of face-to-face provision, which cowl a minimal of 16 days

for native authorities which have a summer season vacation that’s lower than 6 full calendar weeks, taking part kids must be provided a minimum of 3 weeks of face-to-face provision, which ought to cowl a minimal of 12 days

if solely 3 weeks are provided at summer season, then these native authorities, are anticipated to supply a further week throughout a half-term vacation interval, in order that their general provision reaches 6 weeks throughout the yr

Over Christmas:

we count on that every one taking part kids ought to profit from every week of help which covers a minimal of 4 days

as in 2021, our choice is a minimum of 4 days of face-to-face provision, nonetheless the place this isn’t potential, it ought to include a minimum of 2 days of face-to-face provision complimented by a minimum of 2 days of HAF help which will be offered within the type of top of the range meals hampers and exercise packs

Size of HAF periods

Our expectation is that in each HAF funded vacation week, native authorities ought to supply all eligible kids the equal of a minimum of 4 hours a day, 4 days every week. We all know that some particular person suppliers need the pliability to supply longer or shorter periods, and that is potential inside this description.

Instance To satisfy the wants of secondary-aged kids in the summertime, a supplier may supply 6 weeks of provision consisting of shorter periods, which included meals and actions for two to three hours and for 3 to 4 days per week. This may very well be complemented with alternatives for youngsters to undertake voluntary work, constructing new expertise or journeys and experiences.

In planning their HAF programme, native authorities are anticipated to ensure that eligible kids can entry a degree of provision that meets their wants. They need to keep in mind that the general HAF supply to the kid doesn’t have to be from a single supplier however will be delivered although a variety of suppliers with a mix of provides out there.

Different vacation intervals

Funding for this programme is on the market for the Easter, summer season, and Christmas holidays solely.

The one exception is for these native authorities with a shorter summer season vacation interval (lower than 6 full calendar weeks). These authorities have the pliability to restrict their summer season provision to three weeks and supply a further week (a minimal of 4 days) in one of many longer half-term vacation intervals.

Requirements for vacation provision

We now have developed a framework of requirements to supply a benchmark of what we count on from these delivering the vacation, actions, and meals programme.

One of many key roles of the native authority will likely be to:

enhance the standard of provision throughout the native space

make sure that suppliers are supported to fulfill the high-level framework of requirements

Framework of requirements

This part units out the requirements we count on for HAF funded suppliers. We count on native authorities to make finest use of the number of native and nationwide organisations who can be found to help them and their suppliers within the supply of those points of the HAF programme.

It’s the native authority’s position to make sure requirements are met throughout the programme and to help native suppliers who don’t meet them to make sure they’re adequately supported by coaching, help, and partnerships.

Not all suppliers must ship all points of the programme, however our clear expectation is that the place potential, all taking part kids ought to profit from all points of the programme. This may imply that native authorities undertake a blended strategy to making sure kids can entry completely different points of the programme by completely different suppliers.

Provision for all

We strongly encourage native authorities to make sure the golf equipment and suppliers they fund are open to all kids, not simply to those that obtained a spot funded by the HAF programme.

Meals provision

All suppliers should present a minimum of 1 meal a day (breakfast, lunch or a night meal and all meals offered at HAF golf equipment (together with snacks) should meet college meals requirements.

For some kids, the chance to take pleasure in a sizzling meal at a HAF membership is necessary and our aspiration is that suppliers ought to, the place potential, attempt to supply sizzling meals to kids attending HAF golf equipment. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that this isn’t all the time potential and that options to sizzling meals can typically be extra appropriate.

To make sure that all kids obtain a top quality and stigma free expertise, if a supplier is open to each HAF -funded and non- HAF -funded locations, it’s vital that all the kids attending are supplied with an an identical meals supply and that HAF funded kids are handled equally.

If kids on non- HAF -funded locations are given the choice to deliver a packed lunch, then we count on the native authority and the supplier to work collectively to make sure that kids attending by HAF have the identical selection. This may very well be fulfilled by the supplier and the native authority making preparations to supply packed lunches for HAF kids. All packed lunches should meet the college meals requirements.

Alternatively, for suppliers who present meals on-site, they might think about making the identical wholesome meals out there to all kids, however with a further cost for these non- HAF funded locations.

All meals offered as a part of the HAF programme should:

adjust to laws on meals preparation

take into consideration allergic reactions and dietary necessities (see the allergy steering for colleges)

take into consideration any spiritual or cultural necessities for meals

There’s flexibility within the design of the meals provision which ought to all the time be tailor-made to make sure that all meals meets the dietary wants of the youngsters and households who attend. The meals served also needs to be acceptable for the character of the session, for instance, providing chilly packed lunches for parks or outside venues or for day journeys.

Whereas there will be advantages to utilizing a central meals service to supply meals to HAF golf equipment, we count on native authorities to fastidiously think about whether or not utilizing a central meals service is the precise strategy for offering top quality, enticing and tailor-made meals for these attending the HAF programme.

Offering meals on website can present a possibility to have interaction kids and households in meals preparation and diet. Suppliers have reported that when kids are concerned in designing menus and the preparation of meals, they’re extra engaged and extra keen to attempt new and more healthy meals.

We advocate that native authorities think about the supply of the meals component of the HAF programme, particularly, in ensuring that suppliers and kids are concerned within the planning and preparation of meals. Such a developmental strategy will be key to effecting long-term change in engagement with meals and diet.

There are additionally environmental elements to contemplate when planning the meals provision. Native authorities ought to think about whether or not golf equipment getting ready meals on their very own premises would produce much less meals and packaging waste and end in fewer food-miles than off-site, centralised provision.

Meals suppliers

Native authorities ought to make sure that the suppliers they work with are, the place relevant, registered as a meals enterprise. This offers reassurance to all of these concerned that meals security requirements are being met.

A meals enterprise is outlined as anybody getting ready, cooking, storing, dealing with, distributing, supplying or promoting meals. Additional info is on the market on meals enterprise registration.

Native authorities are answerable for implementing meals hygiene legal guidelines and might examine any registered meals enterprise at any level within the meals manufacturing and distribution course of. We advocate that HAF coordinators inside every native authority are in common contact with their meals security inspectors to make sure that HAF suppliers are absolutely compliant.

Meals info laws – Natasha’s Legislation

From 1 October 2021, modifications to the Meals Info Laws 2014 got here into impact, including new labelling necessities for meals that’s pre-packed for direct sale ( PPDS ).

Native authorities ought to learn the steering on the Meals Requirements Company web site and make sure that all meals provision for the HAF programme meets these necessities.

Enrichment actions

All HAF -funded provision should present enjoyable and enriching actions that permit kids to:

develop new expertise or information

consolidate present expertise and information

check out new experiences

have enjoyable and socialise

This might embrace however isn’t restricted to:

bodily actions, for instance, soccer, swimming, desk tennis or cricket

artistic actions, for instance, placing on a play, junk modelling or drumming workshops

experiences, for instance, a nature stroll or visiting a metropolis farm

free play, for instance, enjoyable and freedom to loosen up and luxuriate in themselves

We count on all HAF suppliers to supply a balanced programme. For suppliers whose main focus is ready round a particular exercise or sport, we count on them to make sure that kids attending their provision profit from a holistic and various expertise.

Bodily actions

Vacation golf equipment should present actions that meet the bodily exercise tips each day.

Consistent with these tips, we count on:

all kids and younger folks taking part within the HAF programme ought to interact in moderate-to-vigorous bodily exercise for a mean of a minimum of 60 minutes per day

programme ought to interact in moderate-to-vigorous bodily exercise for a mean of a minimum of 60 minutes per day kids and younger folks taking part within the HAF programme ought to interact in quite a lot of varieties and intensities of bodily exercise to develop motion expertise, muscular health, and bone energy

programme ought to interact in quite a lot of varieties and intensities of bodily exercise to develop motion expertise, muscular health, and bone energy kids and younger folks ought to purpose to minimise the period of time spent being sedentary, and when bodily potential ought to break up lengthy intervals of not transferring with a minimum of gentle bodily exercise

Assembly the bodily exercise requirement doesn’t must be within the type of a structured exercise session, however may embrace energetic journey, free play and sports activities.

Growing consciousness of wholesome consuming, wholesome life, and constructive behaviours

We count on suppliers to include serving to kids to know extra about the advantages of wholesome consuming and diet into their programme. These don’t have to be formal studying actions. This might embrace:

getting kids concerned in meals preparation and cooking

rising fruit and greens

style exams

discussing meals and wholesome consuming throughout mealtimes

together with meals and diet in different actions

Providing constructive studying and improvement by HAF actions creates stigma-free alternatives to help kids and younger folks in studying about wholesome life and train. This might cowl, for instance, using vapes, cigarettes, medication, and the way this may result in points together with:

financial

social

private security

exploitation

criminality

Signposting and referrals and supporting households

HAF suppliers ought to be capable to supply info, signposting or referrals to different companies and help, that will profit the youngsters who attend their provision and their households. Different companies and help may embrace:

Residents Recommendation

college nurses, dentists, or different healthcare practitioners

household help companies or kids’s companies

housing help officers

Jobcentre Plus

organisations offering monetary schooling

early years and childcare, together with assist to pay for childcare (for instance, Tax-Free Childcare )

There are lots of ways in which suppliers can meet this component of the programme, for instance, by skilled and educated workers partaking with households throughout drop-off and pick-up instances.

We all know that many HAF suppliers have labored to supply weekly coaching and recommendation periods for folks, carers or different members of the family. We encourage suppliers who wish to accomplish that to proceed to supply these periods.

These periods may present recommendation on supply, put together and prepare dinner nutritious and low-cost meals. This may very well be mixed with the growing consciousness and understanding of wholesome consuming side of the programme, for instance, by inviting kids and their households to arrange and eat a meal collectively at a HAF session.

There are alternative routes of delivering this, for instance, by offering taking part kids with substances and recipes to remove and take a look at at house with their households.

Instance In Lambeth and Southwark, they labored with the Kitchen Social programme to include the ‘take and make’ into their Summer time of Meals and Enjoyable HAF programme. Taking part kids obtained a field of substances and recipe playing cards to take house in order that households may prepare dinner and eat wholesome meals collectively at house. The packing containers, which had been designed with nutritionists: met college meals requirements

had been low price

took underneath half-hour to make

had been ‘low prepare dinner’, which aimed to ease monetary constraints and construct households confidence in cooking The packing containers additionally included wholesome consuming and bodily exercise challenges and data to help kids studying and being energetic at house.

Insurance policies and procedures

There are all kinds of organisations and people concerned within the supply of the vacation, actions and meals programme together with:

colleges

faculties

nurseries

non-public suppliers

charities

youth golf equipment

group teams

All organisations delivering the HAF programme should be capable to display that they’ve in place related and acceptable insurance policies and procedures for:

safeguarding, together with the recruitment of workers and volunteers

well being and security

related insurance coverage insurance policies

accessibility and inclusiveness

Guaranteeing suppliers meet the programme requirements

Native authorities ought to have in place a system to observe the HAF suppliers they fund in order that they are often assured that they meet the anticipated requirements for the programme and are offering a top quality and enjoyable expertise for youngsters. Having an assurance course of in place will present reassurance to all concerned.

Native authorities can even want to make sure that strong due diligence checks are carried out on every supplier they fund by the HAF programme.

It’s anticipated that native authorities will perform visits to the suppliers they fund in an effort to be glad that the supply is appropriate, and that the supplier has every little thing in place to ship a high-quality programme. We recognise that every native authority will develop a person strategy and a proportionate system to observe their HAF suppliers.

It will not be crucial or proportionate to go to each supplier throughout each vacation interval and there are lots of ways in which native authorities can preserve in common contact with suppliers. At the least, it’s anticipated that an assurance go to would usually be made to new suppliers or to suppliers that haven’t been visited for greater than 12 months.

We count on all suppliers who’re funded by the programme to fulfill our framework of requirements. We count on that assurance visits give attention to making certain that suppliers can meet the HAF programme requirements.

Meals provision

Verify:

what plans the supplier has in place to supply top quality and nutritious meals

how will they make sure that the meals served will meet the college meals requirements

if they’ve talked to kids and households concerning the meals they are going to serve

if they’ve a sturdy system in place to make sure the meals they serve takes under consideration dietary, spiritual or cultural necessities

if they’ve a sturdy system in place to handle allergic reactions

if they’re open to each HAF -funded and non- HAF -funded kids, and the way they make sure that all kids get the identical expertise

Consciousness and understanding of wholesome consuming

Verify:

if the supplier will run particular periods on wholesome consuming

what actions or periods the supplier has deliberate that help kids in making good selections about meals

how they plan to include the theme of wholesome consuming and wholesome life into their HAF provision

Signposting and referrals

Verify:

how the supplier engages with the households of the youngsters who attend their provision

what the supplier has in place to information and advise kids and their households to make sure they’re conscious of and, the place acceptable, referred to different companies and businesses

Enriching actions

Verify:

what enrichment actions will likely be on supply

why the supplier has chosen them

if the actions on supply are age acceptable

Accessibility and inclusiveness

Verify:

if the supplier has a bespoke supply for youngsters with particular instructional wants and disabilities ( SEND ) that’s clearly highlighted

) that’s clearly highlighted how the supplier will make sure that the wants of youngsters with SEND are recognized

are recognized how the supplier will make sure that all workers are appropriately skilled to ship top quality, accessible and inclusive provision

Safeguarding

Verify:

if all workers have obtained safeguarding coaching

if all workers been checked and vetted by the Disclosure and Barring Service ( DBS ), the place acceptable

), the place acceptable what insurance policies the supplier has in place to make sure safeguarding incidents are handled robustly and quickly

Well being and security insurance policies and procedures

Verify what well being and security procedures and insurance policies the supplier has in place.

Insurance coverage insurance policies and procedures

Verify if the supplier has updated and acceptable insurance coverage insurance policies in place.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding and selling the welfare of youngsters is everybody’s duty. We wish each HAF membership to be a protected and completely satisfied place for youngsters, and for folks, carers and households to really feel assured that their little one is nicely taken care of and that strong safeguarding preparations are in place.

Native authorities are statutorily answerable for safeguarding in relation to kids in want, underneath statute 17 of the Youngsters Act 1989, and taken care of kids underneath statute 20 of the Youngsters Act 1989.

We encourage all native authorities to work carefully with their native safeguarding kids partnership to:

make them conscious of the HAF programme and what it will possibly supply

programme and what it will possibly supply make sure that they will help the programme to place safeguarding preparations in place

As set out in working collectively to safeguard kids, safeguarding is outlined for the needs of this steering as:

defending kids from maltreatment

stopping impairment of youngsters’s psychological and bodily well being or improvement

making certain that kids develop up in circumstances according to the supply of protected and efficient care

taking motion when you determine kids to be susceptible to hurt

Native authorities ought to make sure that their native safeguarding companions perceive the vacation, actions and meals programme and people engaged on the supply of the programme are conversant in the working collectively to safeguard kids steering.

There are a variety of accredited organisations who can present safeguarding and little one safety coaching programs for these concerned in working with kids. We count on native authorities to have the ability to display that these concerned within the supply of the vacation, actions and meals programme of their space are competent and have obtained sufficient coaching and help.

We count on each native authority to supply and keep a central register of all of the suppliers they fund by their HAF programme and to place in place a system for inspecting every supplier and making certain all adhere to the requirements set out on this steering.

Vacation golf equipment in class settings

We all know that colleges are protected locations and have safeguarding preparations in place.

The place actions are offered by the governing physique or proprietor of a faculty, underneath the direct supervision or administration of their college workers the college’s little one safety coverage will apply.

The place the actions are offered individually within the college however by one other physique, the governing physique or proprietor ought to search assurance that the physique involved has acceptable safeguarding and little one safety insurance policies and process in place.

We advocate that anybody concerned within the supply of a vacation membership in class settings is conversant in half 1 of preserving kids protected in schooling.

Vacation golf equipment in out of college settings

By out-of-school settings we imply organisations or people that present tuition, coaching, instruction or actions to kids in England with out their mother and father’ or carers’ supervision, however usually are not:

colleges

faculties

schooling settings offering various provision

16 to 19 academies

suppliers caring for youngsters which might be registered with Ofsted or a childminder company

These settings typically present tuition, coaching, instruction or actions exterior regular college hours (for instance, evenings, weekends, college holidays), though some settings are run part-time throughout college hours to assist meet the wants of these in house schooling.

The steering for suppliers working out-of-school settings on preserving kids protected throughout group actions, after-school golf equipment and tuition covers recommendation on what insurance policies and procedures suppliers ought to have in place for well being and security, safeguarding and little one safety, workers suitability, and governance.

Volunteers and DBS checking

We all know that in some settings, volunteers can play an necessary position within the supply of vacation golf equipment.

On no account ought to a volunteer in respect of whom no checks have been obtained be left unsupervised or allowed to work in regulated exercise.

For among the voluntary workers concerned within the supply of the vacation, actions and meals programme in vacation golf equipment, this work will likely be executed usually and thought of to be regulated exercise. This implies they are going to be topic to an enhanced DBS test with barred record info.

There could also be a really small variety of volunteers who don’t usually perform this position, and so it will not be thought of as regulated exercise. This implies they will not be required to have an enhanced DBS test.

The steering on regulated exercise in relation to kids accommodates definitions of what we imply by common and controlled exercise.

Instance A visitor speaker or presenter visits a vacation, actions and meals programme membership to ship a chat on nature. The visitor is escorted by workers on the membership (who’re DBS checked) whereas on the premises and isn’t left unsupervised with kids at any time. In these circumstances, we’d not count on a DBS test to be carried out.

To offer reassurance to folks, households and carers, we strongly advocate that every one volunteers who’re concerned within the supply of the vacation, actions and meals programme in vacation golf equipment ought to have an enhanced DBS test (which, the place relevant, ought to embrace kids’s barred record info).

We don’t advocate vacation golf equipment utilizing volunteers that aren’t DBS checked, but when this happens, it’s the duty of the native authority to make sure that volunteers usually are not at any level left alone and unsupervised with kids in vacation golf equipment.

Different staff

All workers who’re employed by vacation membership suppliers funded by the vacation, actions and meals programme must be topic to an enhanced DBS test with barred record info.

Half 3 of preserving kids protected in schooling units out a transparent course of for protected recruitment. We advocate native authorities and vacation cubs suppliers comply with this finest observe when recruiting volunteers.

Ofsted registration

Vacation golf equipment might must legally register with Ofsted relying on the supply they provide, they could even be eligible to register with Ofsted on the voluntary register or they could be exempt from registration solely. Each golf equipment and suppliers that will require registration with Ofsted, and people which might be exempt, can take part within the HAF programme.

To help the elevating of high quality and to higher meet the safeguarding wants of youngsters and younger folks, sure suppliers can select to register with Ofsted even when they don’t have to.

One of many direct advantages to kids and households of suppliers being Ofsted registered is that households could also be eligible for tax free childcare or the childcare prices component of Common Credit score. By means of this households could possibly declare again as much as 85% of their childcare prices if they’re attending and paying for further childcare at Ofsted registered settings.

It’s the duty of particular person HAF suppliers to know whether or not they’re required by legislation to be Ofsted registered and to proceed to evaluation their standing as and when the supply they’re providing modifications.

We count on native authorities to test with all their HAF suppliers that they’re appropriately registered, significantly these suppliers who might have amended their childcare supply in the course of the holidays due to the HAF programme.

Tailoring your provision

Native authorities and their suppliers could have flexibility about how they ship provision to finest serve the wants of youngsters and households of their space. We encourage all native authorities to have a wealthy mixture of provision catering for youngsters with completely different pursuits and of various ages.

There also needs to be good geographical unfold throughout the native authority however with elevated provide in areas with greater ranges of FSM households in an effort to maximise attendance ranges.

Working with kids with SEND or extra wants

There’s flexibility in how the programme will be delivered to kids with SEND or extra wants who’re in receipt of FSM . A number of the key factors for native authorities to contemplate when designing and implementing provision for youngsters with SEND or extra wants embrace:

figuring out essentially the most susceptible kids, younger folks and households

making selections and, the place acceptable, delegating duty for determination making to completely different ranges of the system to allow responsive help

talking to households usually to know how their wants might have modified and should have continued to vary

being versatile in supporting households

making certain workers are skilled, supported and supplied with acceptable gear in an effort to present versatile and responsive care according to authorities steering

sustaining a constructive degree of belief in workers from a guardian perspective

making certain workers obtain the precise degree of coaching from a supplier perspective

Danger assessments are an necessary a part of this provision and must be used as an enabler to supply help moderately than a barrier.

danger evaluation which helps efficient danger administration and inventive considering will result in completely different approaches to face-to-face help moderately than help being withdrawn significantly for youngsters, younger folks and households who’re significantly susceptible or at excessive danger.

There are lots of native and nationwide organisations together with particular colleges with experience in working with kids with SEND or extra wants and we advocate that native authorities interact with them.

Working with the secondary college age vary

We all know from earlier years that offering a HAF programme that’s interesting and has excessive engagement ranges with the secondary college age vary will be difficult. Provision for this age vary will typically look completely different to that aimed on the main age vary and native authorities ought to make particular plans for this.

There must be flexibility within the programme you supply to older kids with cautious consideration being given to a distinct mannequin of meals and exercise provision.

This might embrace contemplating the placement of provision, resembling, pop up parks or city areas. Some areas have reported a discount in anti-social behaviour round these areas with a focussed HAF provision. Others have reported will increase to the degrees of assurance amongst mother and father and households that their kids and younger persons are protected and safe when attending a HAF programme.

You may also think about the position that older kids can have in supporting, designing and main periods for his or her friends or for youthful kids – to assist them to socialize and develop management expertise which will be essential for these in yr 9 to 11.

Primarily based on earlier years of the HAF programme, we all know that there are a number of elements that native authorities ought to take into consideration when designing a programme for the secondary age vary, resembling:

working focus teams with older kids in your space to higher perceive their wants

the prices of working focussed provision – the prices of provision for this age vary will be greater than for the first age vary

the meals and exercise supply

a distinct working mannequin, for instance, providing afternoon or night periods – some areas have reported success working twilight periods with a night meal being the main focus and others have operated a ‘avenue meals’ type supply

the selection of venue is usually essential in constructing a sexy supply for this age vary – some areas have reported that faculty venues will be much less widespread however pop-up provision in parks and metropolis centres will be extremely efficient

journey prices – native authorities ought to attempt to guarantee provision is native and accessible and should want to work with native transport suppliers to supply free or discounted journey to supply better freedom and mobility in the course of the holidays

There are lots of native and nationwide organisations with experience in supply to the secondary age vary and we advocate that native authorities interact with them. Working by trusted and established organisations is a technique of attaining efficient attain and supply

Atmosphere and sustainability

DfE is dedicated to sustainable improvement practices and believes it’s important for native authorities to contemplate these and their impression on the surroundings. We strongly encourage native authorities to make their very own judgements on how sustainable improvement will be mirrored of their ethos, day-to-day operations and all through the supply of their HAF programmes.

Some practices that native authorities might want to think about are:

minimising using single-use plastics

the place potential utilizing regionally sourced meals and substances

making use of meals surplus organisations

making certain there may be a variety of recycling and compost amenities for waste

rising fruit and greens and exhibiting how they can be utilized and cooked.

encouraging uniform banks and change schemes

This record isn’t exhaustive and native authorities are inspired to replicate on their settings and think about ways in which their programmes will be extra environmentally pleasant and sustainable.

Instance As a part of the HAF programme in Leeds in 2021, Zero Waste Leeds ran a faculty uniform change scheme. The purpose of this was to make it straightforward to share good high quality, used college uniform and stopping it from going to landfill. With clothes manufacturing having a sizeable carbon impression, Zero Waste Leeds discovered that they might cut back their environmental footprint by sharing uniform in order that it’s worn for longer and demand is lowered for brand spanking new uniforms. Schemes resembling this may additionally help these households who may need assistance with the price of new uniforms.

Native coordination by authorities

Some native authorities might coordinate the HAF programme themselves, and others might select to work with one other organisation to coordinate the supply on their behalf.

It’s a requirement that each native authority will appoint or have in place a HAF coordinator who takes duty inside the native authority for the supply of the programme. This will likely be alongside having adequate workers who’re devoted to engaged on HAF all yr spherical.

The extent of useful resource in every native authority will likely be decided regionally however must be proportionate to the extent of funding obtained.

Native authorities have duty for the coordination and implementation of the HAF programme of their space, which includes a number of necessary points.

Mapping provision, demand, and creating an area plan

We count on every native authority to have carried out mapping of the out there vacation provision in your space to make sure that adequate ranges of vacation provision exist. This mapping must be thought of alongside knowledge exhibiting the placement of FSM eligible kids.

The native authority can then make sure that their provision is focused on the proper areas and continues to help these of biggest want. Native authorities ought to make sure that when mapping provision, they distinguish between the completely different age ranges and kinds of provision which might be out there and guarantee all wants are met throughout their space.

This mapping will mean you can develop an area plan for provision together with any commissioning exercise, based mostly on what you already know about native provide and demand.

Steering group

All native authorities could have established a steering group whose position it’s to help the supply of the programme and make sure that the precise companions proceed to be engaged with and supportive of your programme.

We all know that the HAF programme works finest when it’s a cross-cutting and collaborative effort and we advocate that your steering group ought to embrace representatives from a variety of native our bodies, together with:

native public well being officers

college leaders

youth companies and younger folks

social companies and safeguarding leads

charities and the voluntary sector

native police and different uniform companies

Complementing your programme with different help

Partnership working has far-reaching advantages for HAF suppliers, making certain sources go additional and finest observe is shared. Constructing and sustaining efficient partnerships with a variety of native organisations can help areas in profitable supply.

In lots of areas, native authorities have been profitable in drawing in wider help to boost their native programme. For instance, this may very well be by direct commissioning, or by bringing in funding or help in variety from different sources resembling:

philanthropists