Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) – update for childcare providers

Now that the new school year has begun it’s time to reflect on the summer Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme.

Demand for places significantly increased. Last summer 18,000 eligible Free School Meal Children attended the programme, this figure rose to 19,000 this summer.

We welcomed a few new childcare providers to the programme, giving more choice and opportunity to access places.

With over 105 schemes delivering 40,000 places across Devon, children had an amazing choice of activities including paddle boarding, swimming, high ropes, outdoor activities, multi-sports, cookery, gardening, forest school and much more!

Feedback

Parents rated many schemes as ‘excellent’ and ‘good’ and told us that the programme is really helping them with the cost-of-living crisis. It was particularly reassuring for parents to know that their children were accessing a hot meal. They were especially happy that their children were able to access activities they wouldn’t normally be able to afford.  They felt that the programme had helped to improve their own wellbeing too. Some providers enabled parents to pay for more hours on top of the HAF funded time – this was a big help for working parents.

If this is something that you would be interested in accessing, please email haf@devon.gov.uk so we can explain all about how HAF works.

Children who attended the HAF programme told us:

 

 

Become a 2024 HAF provider

If you are a childcare provider and would like to be part of the HAF programme in 2024, please complete the expression of interest form.

HAF providers must include:

  • one hour of Physical Activity
  • an enriching activity
  • a hot nutritious meal
  • a 4-hour long session
  • for 4 days at Easter
  • for 16 days in Summer
  • for4 days in Winter

Photos from HAF programme

Below are photos of children and young people helping to prepare food at their HAF schemes.

Images left to right:

Kneading the dough – at On a Hill scheme; Pasta and meatballs – lunch ready to be served at Littletown Scheme; Appletree Farm children have made pizzas.

children and young people helping to prepare the food at their HAF schemes children and young people helping to prepare the food at their HAF schemes children and young people helping to prepare the food at their HAF schemes

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