Guidance for HAF providers

The Department for Education (DfE) sets out the national objectives for children participating in the holiday activities and food programme,

The objectives are to:

  • eat healthily over the school holidays
  • be active during the school holidays
  • take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment
  • be safe and not to be socially isolated
  • have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition and to be more engaged with school and other local services.

The guidance includes objectives for families who participate in this programme as being:

  • to develop their understanding of nutrition and food budgeting; and
  • for them to be signposted towards other information and support, for example, health, employment, and education.

Before making an application to deliver a HAF programme, please read the DfE's guidance: Holiday activities and food programme 2023.

Quality assurance visits are carried out throughout the delivery period to ensure that providers are delivering the best service possible to our children.