The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is a government programme that aims to provide healthy food and enriching activities to children and young people aged 5 to 16 who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. HAF is funded by the Department for Education. The programme has provided healthy food and enriching activities to eligible children since 2018 and has ensured that during the school holidays more children in Dorset have:
eaten healthily
been active
taken part in engaging and enriching activities
been safe and less socially isolated
developed a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
been more engaged with school
The programme includes the delivery of enriching activities and nutritious food during the Easter, summer, and Christmas school holidays.
In Dorset during 2025/2026 this has meant:
73 providers delivered a variety of activities including sports, cultural, forest school/outdoor education and food nutrition across Dorset
approx 6000 places were taken up by children with SEND
just under 1900 eligible children took part in summer 2025
over 20,000 hot nutritious meals were served across the year
activities took place across Dorset in all the towns and 17 village locations
HAF provision plays an important role in supporting families beyond the school term, offering accessible holiday activities that reduce isolation, support working parents and promote children’s wellbeing. Through closer links with Family Hubs, we are strengthening pathways for families to access wider early help support, including parenting, health and community services. This integrated approach ensures that HAF is not a standalone programme, but a key component of a joined-up “Best Start in Life” system, contributing to improved outcomes for children and families across Dorset.
In the 2025/26 financial year, Dorset Council received £932,930 from the Department for Education (DfE) to support the HAF programme. Additionally, the Council secured:
Ukraine Response Tariff grant: £10,000
Household Support Fund: £11,000
To further address the cost-of-Living crisis, the Council also allocated £30,000 from its reserves.
£69,224 (7.4%) was spent on administration costs. This funded 1 part time Programme Co-ordinator and 1 part-time Business Support Officer.
This investment enabled the delivery of a wide-ranging, countywide programme, reaching thousands of children and families, supporting 73 providers, and providing over 20,000 nutritious meals alongside enriching activities. The relatively low administration cost represents strong value for money, ensuring that the majority of funding is directed towards frontline provision and direct support for children and young people.
There was a slight decrease in the number of children recorded as attending the programme during summer and winter.
The larger numbers during the winter period in 2024 can be attributed to a well-attended family fun day held at Farmer Palmers in Wareham, which drew over 200 children to the event. We also did not repeat the February Half term activities mostly due to budget constraints and continuity of provision during the other half terms.
The number of eligible children reached in each holiday period:
2024 to 2025
Holiday period
Primary-age HAF funded
Secondary-age HAF funded
Total HAF funded
Easter 2024
760
266
1,026
Summer 2024
1,356
553
1,909
Winter 2024
928
212
1,140
February 2025 (new)
476
107
583
2025 to 2026
Holiday period
Primary-age HAF funded
Secondary-age HAF funded
Total HAF funded
Easter 2025
848
222
1,070
Summer 2025
1,568
291
1,859
Winter 2025
680
205
885
There is a significantly higher number of primary aged children accessing the programme compared to secondary aged. This is largely due to the need for childcare for the younger aged cohort and their willingness to attend holiday club type activity. Engaging with the teenage eligible young people remains a challenge.
The proportion of primary age and secondary age children who have participated in the programme:
2024 to 2025
Period
Primary-age HAF funded
Primary-age HAF funded
Easter 2024
74%
26%
Summer 2024
71%
29%
Winter 2024
81%
19%
2025 to 2026
Period
Primary-age HAF funded
Primary-age HAF funded
Easter 2025
79%
21%
Summer 2025
84%
16%
Winter 2025
77%
23%
There is a considerable proportion of children with special educational needs and disabilities who are also eligible for free school meals. It is essential that we continue to ensure providers are inclusive in their approach and support them to do this through access to additional funding and training opportunities.
The number of children with additional needs and, or a disability who have participated in the programme:
2024 to 2025
Period
HAF-funded with SEND
Easter 2024
36%
Summer 2024
35%
Winter 2024
37%
February 2025 (new)
33%
2025
Period
HAF-funded with SEND
Easter 2025
30%
Summer 2025
29%
Winter 202
32%
The programme is maintaining its numbers and, in some instances, the number of sessions attended each holiday period is increasing. Feedback from families suggest that the participants enjoy their time at the provision and return attendances are good.
In October 2025, according to the most recent census, Dorset had 9,314 children eligible for free school meals, a slight decrease from the previous year.
Areas where there is a high number of children eligible for benefit related free school meals include:
Over 37% of Dorset children who are eligible for Free School Meals also have a special educational need or disability (SEND). This is consistent with data recorded in 2024 to 2025 and reflects the increasing complexity of need seen nationally.
In line with national SEND reform priorities, the HAF programme plays an important role in supporting a more inclusive, confident and responsive system. Our approach focuses not only on meeting immediate need, but on building the capacity of providers to support children and young people effectively within mainstream settings.
To achieve this, we continue to invest in workforce development and inclusive practice by offering free training and ringfenced funding, enabling providers to employ additional staff and make reasonable adjustments based on individual need. This supports a more consistent and sustainable model of inclusion across the provider network.
We also work in partnership with specialist Short Breaks providers to deliver targeted activities for children with more complex needs, ensuring that all children are able to access enriching experiences during the holiday period.
Through this approach, HAF contributes to early help and prevention by:
supporting children to access activities alongside their peers
building confidence and skills in mainstream provision
reducing the need for more specialist intervention over time
This ensures that HAF is not only inclusive in delivery but actively contributes to Dorset’s wider ambition to improve outcomes for children with SEND as part of a joined-up Best Start in Life system.
We conducted a customer experience survey after the summer holidays on the benefits of the HAF programme to the families that took part. From the parents’ perspective they reported that:
outcomes for children included:
been eating healthier (9)
a greater knowledge of health and nutrition (6)
learnt new things (34)
taken up a new hobby, such as sport, music or art (14)
made new friends (43)
felt less socially isolated (39)
settled back to school or college easier (25)
not noticed any difference since taking part / didn’t take part (5)
57 % of parents said that their children felt less socially isolated over the summer holidays, this was an increase from 55% in 2024/2025
the most significant outcome was that children had made new friends (63%)
37% of parents/ carers felt that their children settled back to school or college easier because of the HAF programme
Changing children’s lifestyle choices when it comes to eating healthier remains a challenge. We will continue to work with partners such as the Friendly Food Club to help us improve on this outcome.
"This is such a helpful scheme, it allowed my daughter to have a more settled transition back to school still see her friends and remain in a routine that allowed her to be more grounded and relaxed over the summer."
"This changed our lives. I can’t afford to take my children out during the holidays, they had one of the best summers this year because of the incredible variety of activities. I was so impressed with the meals provided too and really enjoyed being able to go with my children to their activities as well as a few options of leaving them so I could have a break."
"Provision for primary age school children is excellent, however specialised sessions specifically advertised for secondary age could be improved. Especially opportunities to participate in outdoor adventure activities if possible. I believe that there may be a great number of teenagers who would benefit from appropriately aged activities during the holidays especially as many youth centres and programmes have closed in recent years. However, my compliments to all involved in the HAF programme. Such a brilliant thing for Dorset’s young people."
"My children have loved the summer in Dorset activities. They get to try out new hobbies and sports that they wouldn’t usually be able to access. My son who has ADHD and is autistic gets so much support from the activity hosts and has a great time learning how to be social. Without these opportunities my children would not be as confident to try new things and I certainly enjoy the respite from it and get to run all the errands needed sage in the knowledge that my children are well cared for and having a great time."
"They loved the chance to do something new- go to a farm -and make new friends, it’s also encouraged one of them to join a new club."
"Summer in Dorset allowed me to work knowing that my son was participating in fun activities with other children rather than spending his days glued to the Xbox!"
"Very much needed. My child really enjoyed the activities and gave her a break from home life with a complex needs brother."
This year’s data and feedback have highlighted several key areas for development:
secondary-aged engagement remains lower, with feedback from parents highlighting a need for more age-appropriate provision
the programme continues to have a strong positive impact on children’s wellbeing, particularly in reducing isolation and building friendships
healthy eating outcomes require further development, particularly in influencing longer-term behaviours
demand for SEND provision remains high, reinforcing the importance of workforce capacity and inclusive practice
These insights have directly informed our priorities and action plan for 2026.
WOW opportunities allow children and providers to take part in activities they may not usually have access to. These include ukulele and music technology sessions, cooking workshops delivered by the Friendly Food Club, visits from the Action Van, and sessions with Mini Professors, a Dorset based STEM provider offering fun, hands on experiences for children and young people. Most WOW providers are brought into existing HAF provision and deliver at least one session in each setting each year.
Objectives
To give children and young people attending the HAF programme the opportunity to take part in activities they would not normally experience.
To give providers the chance to learn new skills that they can use in future HAF activities.
To increase the range of STEM, cookery, and cultural activities available within the programme.
Attendance
Over 120 sessions were delivered by wow providers in 2025/2026.
Case study: The friendly food club
Holiday Activities & Food Programme Dorset Council & Friendly Food Club 2025
Summary of activity
Holiday
No of sessions
No if providers
No children reached/meals served
Easter 2025
11
11
280
Summer 2025
28.5
24
514 plus 400 events
Christmas 2025
6
6
112 plus 130 events (132 Christmas gift bags)
Total
44.5
Not applicable
906 at HAF sessions and 530 at events
Children’s feedback
Scarlett, 5: “I liked cooking with Andria. She showed us how to use the sharp knife to cut the carrots without cutting our fingers. I squashed garlic and grated the carrot, and we used a frying pan to fry the chicken, which was fun.”
Poppy, 8: “I peeled ginger and chopped it up. I haven’t done that before.”
Arthur, 5 agreed: “I have never used a grater before, and it was fun. I would like to do more cooking.”
Kit, 8: “I give the lunch we made ten out of ten, the chicken was the best and I especially liked squashing the garlic.”
97% children said “I’ve learned something new today”
This year’s food worksheet - 500 distributed
Picture of children enjoying eating and cooking healthy food.
Provider feedback
Gemma Edwards, Senior instructor at Cumulus said: “We’re very happy to welcome the Friendly Food Club back today. The children really enjoy the classes, and are not only cooking, but are also learning about healthy foods and developing life skills. The imaginative recipes mean they are also trying some things they maybe haven’t tried before, which is good, because children can be fussy about food. They all have a great time, eat some great food and grow in confidence, all things we are firmly committed to at Cumulus.”
“The children were engaged from the beginning; they were inquisitive and most were willing to try new things. They had access to various types of equipment depending on their age and skill level and were encouraged to use new techniques.
The children were pleased with their wraps and eager to take them home at the end of the day!”
“It was a great activity, children really enjoyed trying the new food and lots of conversations from parents about the food at home. Encourages good conversations between families.”
“It gave them something new to try and do over the summer It taught them lots of skills such as knife safety It allowed them to take risks It taught them about healthy food options, what food look like in raw states such as herbs, how to follow a recipe and put foods together to make a meal It allowed them to have a sensory experience smelling and tasting foods They had good fun”
“The children/young people really enjoy taking part in the preparation and cooking, even if not all are willing to try the finished item! They learn a lot about fruit and veg and cooking in general, together with safe cooking /cutting skills. They also learn to share and be part of a team”
What a great year!! Looking forward to 2026 for more tasty recipes and great cooking!
Strategic Context: Moving to a “Schools Out” holistic offer
Over the past year, Dorset has begun a strategic shift in how we present and deliver support to children, young people and families during school holiday periods. While the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme has traditionally focused on discrete holiday periods -particularly summer - we are now moving towards a more holistic “Schools Out” approach.
This shift reflects our ambition to:
provide joined-up support across all school closure periods, promoting both HAF provision and paid for out of school's holiday clubs
align services more closely with family needs year-round, working closing with Family Information Services to promote all funding opportunities for provisions and families such as tax-free childcare to support families outside of the HAF funding periods.
reduce fragmentation by integrating HAF provision with wraparound childcare and enrichment
By bringing together HAF and wraparound childcare under a single, more cohesive narrative, we aim to:
improve accessibility and understanding for families
strengthen continuity of care and provision
ensure consistent messaging across services and partners
As part of this transition, our branding has been refreshed to reflect this broader, more inclusive offer. The move away from a singular “seasonal-focused” identity toward a “Schools Out” framework ensures that families recognise the full range of support available throughout the year.
During 2025 to 2026, Dorset has also aligned its programme approach with the government’s “Best Start in Life” agenda, which emphasises the importance of early intervention, equitable access to opportunities, and improved outcomes for children and families.
In support of this, we have:
reviewed how HAF contributes to wider early help and prevention priorities
strengthened links with education, childcare and family support services
ensured our delivery model reflects a whole-system approach to child wellbeing
To support this alignment, our branding has been updated to more closely reflect national government messaging and visual identity. This change enables Dorset to:
clearly demonstrate alignment with national priorities and frameworks
reinforce consistent messaging to families, partners and stakeholders
increase recognition and trust through familiar, government-aligned design and language
The updated branding and messaging ensure that our local offer:
sits confidently within the national policy landscape
communicates a clear, unified vision of support
emphasises the shared goal of giving every child in Dorset the best possible start in life
The impact of this change will be in place for Summer 2026 onwards.
Visual examples
Updated HAF promotional leaflet for families in line with BSIL colour, branding and promoting new Schools Out messaging.
For the years of 2025 to 2026 prior to Summer 2026, where we previously categorise our offer into three distinct segments:
Easter in Dorset
Summer in Dorset
Winter in Dorset
Each holiday period had its own dedicated webpage and accompanying promotional materials, which parents and young people are directed to throughout the respective holidays.
Analytics of HAF programme page from June 2025 to June 2026
From website analytics we can see sharp boosts of page activity that coincides with the promotional activity we have run, so we can determine that we are delivering this traffic to the pages.
The first spike in summer can correlate to an email and print campaign to schools to share with parents on 23 June when listings were live. The second larger spike in the start of July can be attributed to a follow up email campaign pushing for attendance to booked space. This showcases the importance of email campaigns at directing traffic towards our site and reminding HAF families to visit and book their spaces. The consistent flurry of spikes across summer and the spikes in winter (November and December spikes) and Easter (March and April) can all be attributed to our communication campaigns and when the listings of the activities were live and promoted.
Our communication list of active HAF parents is now at an audience of 3,167, showing a consistent strong growth since previous periods (2,605 recipients summer in Dorset 2025, 1,186 Easter in Dorset 2025.)
For future communication we expect a reduction of audience due to the changes to eligibility to free school meals from September 2026.
The HAF Programme builds directly on Dorset Council’s strategic shift towards a more integrated “Best Start in Life” (BSIL) approach. As outlined earlier in this report, HAF is no longer viewed as a standalone holiday programme but as a key component of a wider early help system that supports children, young people, and families year-round
Through its delivery of nutritious food, enriching activities, and targeted provision, HAF contributes to improving outcomes for children by ensuring they are healthy, safe, socially connected, and ready to learn during and beyond school holidays.
Importantly, the programme plays a preventative role within Dorset’s early help offer by:
reducing social isolation during school holidays
supporting children’s physical and emotional wellbeing
strengthening engagement with education and improving transitions back to school
providing structured, safe environments for vulnerable children
supporting working families and reducing pressure on households
This aligns strongly with Dorset Council’s wider corporate objectives, particularly:
supporting the most vulnerable children and families
improving health and wellbeing outcomes
reducing inequality and improving access to opportunities
delivering effective early help and prevention services
Furthermore, HAF’s integration with Family Hubs, childcare provision, and community partners strengthens pathways into wider support services, ensuring families can access help earlier and more effectively.
