HAF activity providers

What do HAF activity providers do?

Community-based organisations are supported to provide healthy and enriching activities and healthy meals for children aged 5 to 16 years.

The Department for Education (DfE) provides funding to local authorities to coordinate a programme of healthy food and enriching activities for disadvantaged children during the 2025 Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays.

HAF Activity providers are required to demonstrate they can meet the programme’s framework of standards

This is explained by the DfE in the HAF Guidance 2025

The HAF Standards

Enriching activities

Activity providers should deliver fun and enriching activities which support children and young people to:

• develop new skills or knowledge
• consolidate existing skills and knowledge
• try out new experiences
• have fun and socialise

Examples of enriching activities could include

• physical activities such as football, swimming or gymnastics
• creative activities such as musical theatre or music workshops
• experiences such as a nature walk, visiting a city farm etc.
• free play, for example, fun and freedom to relax and enjoy themselves

Food

Activity providers must provide children with at least one meal a day, ideally the meal should be hot, however in some circumstances there is greater flexibility like day trips.

All food provided at HAF (including snacks) must meet school food standards.

Activity providers need to comply with regulations on food preparation. They must take account of allergies, dietary requirements, preferences and religious or cultural requirements.

Physical activities

Activity providers must provide daily activities which meet the Physical Activity Guidelines.

All children and young people participating in the HAF activities should engage in physical activity for an average of at least 60 minutes per day which is offered in a variety of types and intensities to develop movement skills, muscular fitness and bone strength.

Meeting the physical activity requirement does not have to be in the form of a structured and focussed physical activity session, but might include active travel, free play and sports.

Increasing awareness of healthy eating, healthy lifestyles and positive behaviours

Activity providers should aim to improve the knowledge and awareness of healthy eating and lifestyles for children and young people attending.

These do not need to be formal learning activities and could, for example, include activities such as

• getting children involved in food preparation and cooking
• taste tests
• discussing food and healthy eating during mealtimes
• including food and nutrition in other activities

Activity providers should also consider support the whole family in this area. These should provide advice on how to source, prepare and cook nutritious and low-cost food.

Signposting and referrals

Activity providers must be able to provide information, signposting or referrals to other services and support that would benefit the attendees and their families. This could include information on: Citizen’s Advice, Children’s Services and other local authority services and organisations providing financial education.

Policies and procedures

Activity providers must be able to demonstrate that they have relevant and appropriate policies and procedures in place in relation to

1. Safeguarding
2. Health and Safety
3. Insurance
4. Accessibility and inclusiveness, including addressing equality and diversity

Applications for 2025

If you would like to apply to be a HAF Activity provider please contact holidayactivities@iow.gov.uk for further information.

How Schools can get involved with and support the HAF Programme

• schools can apply to deliver HAF Activities
• schools can lease out their premises to external providers to deliver HAF activities
• promote HAF activities to families in your school, encourage them to book on and attend
• refer families who are eligible for discretionary funding into programme