Ready Steady Worcestershire - Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme

What is the HAF Programme?

HAF is a Department for Education (DfE) funded programme aimed at enabling children and young people in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSM) to attend school holiday activities and experiences during Easter, summer and Christmas.

In Worcestershire, we work with over 200 organisations to deliver the programme for families, this includes holiday club providers, workshop providers, supermarkets, suppliers, caterers, community groups, charities and schools.

The programme creates free places for eligible children to attend, with a focus on enriching activities with a healthy meal and snacks included.

Research has shown that the school holidays can be pressure points for some families, leading to a holiday experience gap. Through the HAF programme we are encouraging children that access our out-of-school activities to eat well, get active, have fun and make friends.

Click the buttons below for more information and other support available in Worcestershire.

How to take part in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme

How to join:

For Benefits Related FSM Eligible Children

Step 1: read through all the information on the buttons below to check that you are eligible.
Step 2: click ‘Sign Up Here’ and follow the steps to sign up or log in to your account
Step 3: add your child’s profile to start the verification process
Step 4: wait until your child’s FSM status has been verified (within 48hrs) then search and instant book activities when they go live!

Universal Infant Free School Meals

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England’s state-funded schools receive a free meal under the universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) policy.

Infant pupils who receive a free meal under UIFSM must also be eligible for benefits-related FSM to be able to access a place on the HAF programme

For Non-FSM Eligible Children

The HAF Programme has up to 15% of places available for children from the following groups:

children assessed by the local authority as being in need, at risk or vulnerable (this means the child has a CiN plan (Child in Need plan), CPP (Child Protection Plan) or EHA (Early Help Assessment).
Young Carers
Looked-after children or previously looked after children (Kinship carers only)
children with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan)
children directly referred by providers, school, parenting practitioner, health visitors, housing association (see below referral process)
children from refugee families.

The 15% flexibility is used at the discretion of HAF providers and places are limited due to funding criteria. Priority for HAF places will be given to FSM eligible children.

Sign Up Process

Step 1: read through all the information on the buttons below to check that you are eligible.
Step 2: click ‘Sign Up Here’ and follow the steps to sign up or log in to your account
Step 3: add your child’s profile to start the verification process
Step 4: wait until your child’s FSM status has been verified as ‘referred’ (within 48hrs) then search and request places from providers.
Step 5: providers will review pending place requests and allocate up to their 15% limit, you will be notified when your place is accepted or not accepted.

Note: due to the very limited places for non-FSM eligible children, referred status children cannot instant book places.

See our ‘Booking FAQs’ page for more information about the sign up process.