Work Programme: Big Norfolk Holiday Fun

Since 2021, the programme has reached over 20,000 unique children and young people, particularly those eligible for free school meals and from vulnerable backgrounds.

Parent surveys, conducted since 2022, have collected 2,655 responses, providing a rich dataset. The 2024 surveys revealed that parents and carers identified four main benefits: positive social skills and experiences for their child, keeping the child occupied, family support, and specific SEND-related benefits. Parents appreciated that their children didn’t miss out during holidays due to financial constraints and were able to improve their social skills. Overall, the programme has had a significant positive impact on families, particularly those in need.

The programme has positively impacted children’s health and wellbeing. There has been an increase in physical activity after the holidays, with between 48% of children increasing their movement levels. The programme has also inspired children to try healthier foods, with 53% children reporting a shift in eating habits.

Feedback from activity providers aligns with parents’ reports, indicating positive impacts on children’s behaviour and wellbeing. Providers noted that children enjoyed activities they wouldn’t normally do at home, such as sowing seeds or baking. They also recognised the need for children to have space to grow away from their families and home, and to mix with new children and experiences. This feedback underscores the value of the programme and the potential benefits of incorporating similar models into future childcare and holiday clubs.

The programme has seen a significant increase in the number of providers, from 75 in Easter 2022 to 190 in Easter 2025. These providers, ranging from large national entities like Premier Education to local grassroots providers like Twinkles, have received over £8m in funding. In summer 2024, 72% of providers said that being involved in BNHF improved the inclusivity of their sessions.

Provider drop-in sessions, initiated in September 2022, have been instrumental in updating providers on programme developments and providing additional training. Quality assurance visits have been beneficial in offering advice, resolving issues, and ensuring adherence to funding requirements. Over 67 providers have improved their safeguarding knowledge and skills through the Safer Programme.

The programme has allocated up to 15% of its funding to support vulnerable children who do not receive means-tested free school meals. These children, including refugees, looked after children, and those in homes with domestic abuse or mental health issues, can access free places via an Awarded Place. The number of children referred for a place rose to 1,101 between 2024 and 2025, up from 994 in 2023.

The reasons for requesting an awarded place varied, with the top reason being to support the family or carer. Referrals mainly came from providers who knew the families, followed by schools. However, there were limited referrals from other organisations like the Safer Schools Team, Family Outreach, Community Focus Officers, and the NHS.

The programme has made significant strides in improving holiday activity provision for children with SEND. The number of specialist SEND providers increased from 4 to 12 by Easter 2025, offering approximately 2,726 places. The percentage of SEND children participating in the programme also increased from 25% in Winter 2023 to 29% by Winter 2024.

Additional support for children with SEND was provided, including the option for parents to disclose if their child was awaiting a SEND diagnosis or already diagnosed. This allowed providers to better manage staffing and needs. Funding was made available for families to access additional one-to-one support.

The programme has emphasised the importance of healthy eating and providing meals, preferably hot, to participating children. This inclusion posed a challenge to most providers who were not accustomed to this aspect of their offer. To address this, the programme required all providers to have a Level 2 Food Hygiene certification, with 75 individuals obtaining this qualification directly from the programme by Easter 2024. The proportion of providers offering hot food increased between Winters 2022 and 2023.

The programme saw an increase in the number of children wanting to try healthy foods and do more cooking at home. Complaints about the food provision fell quickly from 2022, and food boxes distributed to attendees were well received.