Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme 2026

This provision is for primary school aged children (aged 5-11 years inclusive) who are eligible for the service. These children will not have significant or complex special educational needs and / or disabilities, however, 12% of overall places must be available for children and young people who may need low-level SEND support. Funding will be allocated across all of the lots dependent on the need of the individuals using the service. Please note that the value is an estimated value only.

This provision is for secondary school aged children and young people (aged 11-16 years inclusive) who are eligible for the service. These young people will not have significant or complex special educational needs and / or disabilities, however, 12% of overall places must be available for young people who may need low- level SEND support. A programme in this category must be designed so that it is appealing to participants and can achieve high levels of engagement. It should look very different to a programme aimed at the primary age range. Factors that should be considered are times of sessions, type of venue, food offer and types of activities. Funding will be allocated across all of the lots dependent on the need of the individuals using the service. Please note that the value is an estimated value only.

This provision is for children and young people with moderate SEND needs. In school, these children and young people will get support, which is extra to, or different from, the support given to most children and young people in their class. Those with significant or more complex needs may also need specialist support, which may come not just from the school but from health and care services too. Due to the high level of need and support required, universal HAF provision will be unsuitable for children and young people with targeted or specialist SEND needs. Lot 3 providers will be required to demonstrate that they have appropriately trained staff, staff to child ratios of 1-2 1-3 or 1-4, knowledge and experience to work with children and young people with severe, profound and multiple SEND needs. Funding will be allocated across all of the lots dependent on the need of the individuals using the service. Please note that the value is an estimated value only.

This provision is for children and young people with complex SEND needs. Due to the high level of need and support required, universal and targeted SEND HAF provision will be unsuitable for children and young people. Lot 4 providers will be required to demonstrate that they have appropriately trained staff, staff to child ratios of 1-1 or 2-1, knowledge and experience to work with children and young people with severe, profound and multiple SEND needs. Funding will be allocated across all of the lots dependent on the need of the individuals using the service. Please note that the value is an estimated value only.