The Fund: Holiday Activities and Food
Since 2018, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) fund has been offering support to children in receipt of free school meals during holiday periods. After successful pilots between 2018 and 2020, the programme was expanded.
In Norfolk, the programme is known as “Big Norfolk Holiday Fun” and offers consistent and easily accessible activities during the school holidays. This funding ensures that sufficient, high-quality provision is available across Norfolk, as well as resources the operational delivery of the programme. Additional details provided below illustrates how the funding has been utilised.
2022-2023 Data Insights
We award funding to a broad range of organisations, particularly to those smaller community organisations who hold existing relationships with children and families. In the last 12 months we have focused growing provision to target older children and those with special educational needs (SEN).
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Number of providers 2022-2023
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Distributed to create provision across Norfolk
It is crucial for us to ensure that there is sufficient and high-quality provision available across the area for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or additional needs who are in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM). These children often face additional challenges and barriers, and it’s essential to make sure they can access appropriate support and activities during the longer school holidays. To achieve this, we take several steps:
Collaboration with Providers: We work closely with holiday activity providers to plan how they will accommodate children with SEND or additional needs. This may involve providing training and resources for staff to create inclusive and accessible activities.
Accessibility: Ensuring that holiday activities and venues are physically accessible and inclusive for children with varying needs. This may include considering facilities for children with mobility challenges or sensory impairments.
Partnership with Special Schools: We collaborate with specific organisations and special schools in the area to provide suitable provision for children with more complex needs. This partnership can help ensure that children with diverse needs can access appropriate activities and support.
Adequate Funding: We allocated funding to cover the provision of free holiday places and 1-2-1 support. Sufficient funding is essential to ensure that a wide range of activities and resources are available to cater to the diverse needs of children with SEND.
Inclusivity in Programme Delivery: The aim of the programme should be to make free places available to all children in receipt of free school meals during longer school holidays, including those with SEND or additional needs. We actively promote inclusivity and ensure that no child is left behind due to their circumstances.
By implementing these measures, we create an inclusive and enriching holiday programme that benefits all children, regardless of their background or needs. Providing adequate and appropriate support for children with SEND or additional needs ensures that they have equal opportunities to enjoy their holidays, participate in activities, and have fun.
Engaging and providing appealing activities for the secondary school-age range can be challenging but essential. To ensure the success of the programme for this age group, we have focused on the following areas:
Tailored Food and Activities: We have worked on making the activity offer for secondary age children distinct from that for younger children.
Venue Selection: The choice of venue is crucial in building an attractive offer for this age range. We have found success with provision outside of the typical school venues.
Engaging Local Organisations: Partnering with local organisations that have expertise in delivering programmes to the secondary age range has been highly effective. These trusted and established organisations have helped achieve growth in attracting older children to the programme.
By considering these factors and implementing a tailored approach for the secondary age group, the Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme has created a meaningful and engaging experience for older children, addressing their unique needs and interests during the school holidays.