Families, parents and carers
What can I access for my children and family?
All eligible children and young people will be able to access up to 24 days holiday activity each year. Programmes are a minimum of four hours of activity and include a meal for each day of the programme. Attendance is voluntary, but places will need to be booked in advance. The offer will differ between providers, but all programmes will offer a minimum of four hours provision with a meal (2.5 hours for secondary age programmes) and will include; physical activity, enrichment, food/nutrition education and a meal to replace the free school meal.
Who is eligible?
The Holiday Activity and Food programme is open to children and young people aged between 5 to 16 years (age 4 if in reception class full time) and in receipt of benefits-related free school meals. This is different to the universal free school meals that all children receive in reception, year 1 and year 2.
If you think you are eligible for free school meals but you have not applied, you can apply for free school meals here.
We are able to fund a small number of those that are not eligible for benefits-related free school meals. These places should be discussed on a one-to-one basis with a member of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) team member.
SEND support resources
The links below are for parents/carers and professionals to support children and young people who have SEND support needs. Resources are from Sunshine Academy.
FAQs
Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) provides funding for all government funded schools to offer free school meals to pupils in reception, year 1, and year 2. If families are in receipt of benefits, they should still apply for ‘benefits-related’ free school meals for their children, if they believe they are eligible.
Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Free school meals are a help on the costs of meals at the school of your child. You may be on a low income. If this is the case, you may receive help on meals, transport and uniform. You may also receive benefits like Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and tax credits
Pupil premium and free school meals are not the same, but they are related. Pupil premium is extra funding for every child who's eligible for free school meals throughout their time at school. The funding goes directly to the school and pays for things like school trips, breakfast clubs, or additional teachers and assistants to provide extra support and one-to-one tutoring.
Once a child is in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, their school will receive additional funding (Pupil premium) to help and support them through their education.
If your child requires assistance for the activity, please contact the provider to discuss further – you may be welcome to attend with your child or the activity provider may offer extra support for your child. We also have specific Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision, please discuss with the provider of the activity on booking.
We ask that children and young people dress appropriately for the activity they are doing on the day. If the activity is outdoors, please remember to bring a waterproof coat and something warm. It is advised to please also bring a water bottle, however drinks will also be available from the provider.
Yes. As part of every Nottinghamshire Holiday Activities and Food programme, refreshments and a meal will be provided free to each child and young person attending.
Please mention at the time of booking, any dietary requirements your child has. We will endeavour to meet all dietary needs.
Unfortunately we cannot offer transport to each person wanting to take part in an activity. Where residents live in a rural locality we will aim to support travel, but this will be considered on a one to one basis and by application. Please contact us via haf@nottscc.gov.uk.
All of our providers are DBS checked and OfSted registered where required (under 8 provision). There are a number of checks that providers must pass to be a deliverer of the programme, to ensure your child is in the safest of hands.
At the time of booking we will ask for an emergency contact number where an appropriate adult can be reached. Please ensure that this number is current and active whilst your child is at their chosen activity.
