Information for providers
We are very pleased to announce that the Department for Education have confirmed that the HAF programme will be funded for another year 2025-2026.
The Funding Round for Holiday Activities & Food Programme 2025/26 is now open. Closing date is Friday 28th February at 12 noon. Please read the service specification before you complete the application. HAF Service Specification
If you would like to apply please click on this LINK
Have a look here to preview the questions on our application form
The Department for Education (DfE) funded Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme aims to support children to eat more healthily, be more active over the school holidays and have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition as well as be more engaged with school and other local services.
Further detail about what the HAF programme is and why it was created can be found here.
Information for providers about the HAF programme is set out below.
Who is this programme for?
Funding will be prioritised for school aged children and young people from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who are receiving benefit related free school meals, and their families. Eligible children will be sent a code to use for booking your HAF place from your school.
HAF providers will hold a waiting list for extended criteria places and will not be able to confirm a place until a week before the Holiday period. Priority must be given to the benefit-related free school meal children.
Extended criteria
You will be aware that we have been running the Department for Education (DfE) Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for a number of years in Devon.
The programme is continuing for the coming financial year and will cover the Spring, Summer and Winter holidays for 2025/6. It’s fully funded by the DfE, and they set the criteria for those attending and the aims of the programme.
Nationally, the aim is to provide activities, including a nutritional meal, during the school holidays to young people, aged five to 16 who are eligible for benefit-related Free School Meals (FSM).
That means, it’s a condition of their funding that places are allocated to children and young people who are eligible for FSM first. Beyond that, we have taken a decision locally to use an extended criteria.
We are very happy for places to be given to children and young people who meet the extended criteria, but in the first instance, we have to prioritise the allocation of places to those who are eligible for benefit-related FSM.
If the child is eligible for benefits-related FSMs, then they can book places on our new centralised booking system.
If the child is not eligible for benefits-related FSMs, they may be able to access an extended criteria place. In Devon, our extended criteria places are prioritised for the following children:
- Looked-after
- Previously looked after
- Children with EHCP
- Young Carers
Please note the number of these places are limited. You will hold a waiting list for extended criteria places and will not be able to confirm a place until a week before the Holiday period. Priority must be given to the Benefit Related Free School Meal Children.
If a child meets the extended criteria, the parents will contact you and let you know that they are requesting an extended criteria place and explain which category.
Paid-for places
A number of HAF providers have registered with Ofsted and will offer paid-for places as well as HAF-funded places. Please promote this link with parents and carers to see what government help is available for them: Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK
What activities are eligible for funding and who can get involved?
There are lots of different activities that are eligible for the funding. For example:
- A selection of sports (including rugby, football, netball)
- Forest school/outdoor activities such as den building, cooking on an open fire
- Arts and crafts
- Music, drama and dance
- Scooting and skateboarding
- Orienteering and out-ward bound activities
- Cooking classes and activities
- Food boxes and activity boxes
Similarly, a range of providers can sign up to deliver these activities. The following are some examples of the types of providers that can get involved with the HAF programme:
- Childminders
- Schools (infant, junior and secondary)
- Food providers and hospitality services
- Forest schools
- Early Years (nurseries, pre-schools)
- Special Needs providers
- Youth groups
- Sports Clubs
- Farms
- Youth hostels and out-ward bound providers
Contact information
If you have any queries, please email haf@devon.gov.uk.