New feedback from councils, published in a new report today,
shows that free holiday provision for low-income families
improves children's health and wellbeing and boosts future school
attendance.
The Holiday and Activities Food (HAF) programme, funded by the
Department for Education (DfE), provides funding for local
authorities to coordinate free essential holiday provision for
primary school-aged children from low-income families who receive
benefits-related free school meals.
The programme offers access to healthy meals and a variety of
enriching school holiday activities which parents may otherwise
be unable to afford, delivering a wide range of benefits for
children's health and wellbeing.
Feedback from councils, gathered by the Local Government
Association (LGA), found that narrowing the ‘holiday experience
gap', by giving children from low-income households access to
similar opportunities to their peers during school holidays, had
a positive impact on school attendance when children return to
school, their self-esteem, developing healthy eating habits,
tackling holiday hunger, and inclusivity for children with SEND.
Councils also reported that the HAF provides an important
opportunity to identify families for signposting to other welfare
support and advice services available from local councils and
partner organisations.
However, councils also highlighted that while demand for HAF
provision is high, there are some eligible children who are
missing out, and the most vulnerable families are often the least
likely to attend programme services. Barriers to access include
transport challenges, language, digital exclusion, lack of
awareness, and stigma. Data-sharing limitations between local
authorities, schools, and central government are also restricting
the ability of councils to identify all eligible families in
their area.
In August 2025, the Government committed to extending funding for
a further three years to support low-income families. Councils
can also use up to 15 per cent of their allocated funding for
programme provision for children who are not in receipt of FSMs
but would benefit from the HAF programme.
The LGA is making a series of recommendations to government to
improve the effectiveness of the HAF programme as it is extended
for a further three years:
- Provide clear national guidance for integrated delivery of
the HAF programme with other support services and local welfare
provision.
- Allow councils sufficient flexibility around eligibility and
duration of provision to meet local need.
- Facilitate councils to build and maintain effective working
relationships with SEND schools and specialist providers to
improve access for children with complex needs.
- Invest in robust data collection and evaluation on outcomes
across food, hunger, physical activity, employment, and child
poverty.
- Enable DfE, DWP, schools and councils to share data to
identify eligible families.
Cllr Dr MBE, Chair of the LGA's Health
and Wellbeing Committee, said:
“Extending the HAF funding is an important part of efforts to
combat child poverty. But as we enter another three years of the
HAF programme, it is vital that we tackle the barriers to access
and efficiency. Councils are well placed to understand their
local picture and explore solutions that work for their
residents.
“Now is the time to ensure the programme works for every eligible
family. Our recommendations to government focus on integration,
flexibility, and inclusion to maximise impact for our children.”
“Child poverty not only limits children's life chances and their
overall health and wellbeing, but it also imposes significant
long-term costs on our economy and society.”
Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Chair of the LGA's Children, Young
People and Families Committee, said:
“The feedback from councils shown in this report demonstrates
just how essential the HAF programme is in supporting vulnerable
children, offering healthy, nutritious and affordable food while
also providing vital wraparound, holistic support for families
during the school holidays.
“We look forward to working with government to improve the
delivery of the programme and ensure councils can continue to
support their local families for the long-term."
Notes to editors
