HAF Programme winter summary 2023

This page gives a summary of the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme events that took place across Devon in the Winter of 2023.

Overview

We had 105 activity providers offering a variety of activities in December. 2,161 children and young people attended across Devon.

We have achieved a higher take up than predicted. Particularly doubling the secondary age cohort, which was a target for us to increase (33% of winter attendance).

The total number of HAF-funded places attended this Winter was 5,506, of whom 3,670 were of primary age and 1,836 were of secondary age..

Attendance

	Primary Aged	Secondary Aged
FSM-Eligible / Non-SEND	1046	521
FSM-Eligible / SEND	170	137
Non FSM-Eligible / Non-SEND	96	81
Non FSM-Eligible / SEND	64	46
TOTAL number of HAF funded attendees (Sum of above)	1376	785
Other – Free	0	0
Other – Paid-For	0	0
TOTAL number of attendees (sum of all incl. other)	1376	785

Please note that FSM refers to free school meals and SEND denotes Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

SEND attendance

There were 417 individual children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who attended the HAF Winter 2023 scheme. Of these young people, 307 were FSM eligible.

Other eligible children

15% of the budget can be used for extended criteria children who are outside of the FSM category, and this can include children with SEND.

Following feedback from parents, we continue to work on removing barriers for parents of children with SEND and for 2024 we will be looking to fund enablers for HAF children and young people with more complex needs.

Recruitment of support workers is, as is the case in all sectors, currently a challenge for providers, so the number of places would be dependent on the staffing available.

We will continue to encourage parents to inform the provider at the time of booking of their child’s needs so we can ensure they have a great time, and their needs can be met before they start their HAF sessions.

No shows and empty places

We encourage providers to overbook places, hold waiting lists, and make contact with (remind) parents ahead of delivery. Providers also follow up on no-shows, and implement no-show policy.

When schemes are full, we offer extra places (+1236 places). 367 places were cancelled and offered to other children, whilst 806 places were no-shows. We will continue to implement the no-show policy.

Parent and carer consultation

We carried out a consultation with parents/carers (hereafter referred to as “parents”) at the end of the Christmas period to gather their feedback. We had 209 responses (144 Primary and 64 Secondary). 185 of these respondents were eligible for Benefit Related Free School Meals. 85% of respondents rated the scheme as excellent, whilst 87% rated staff as extremely friendly.

We continue to work with our HAF providers to ensure that they can offer parents help with how to pay for childcare using the existing government funding streams. We are also supporting some of the HAF providers to register with Ofsted so they are able to access these funding streams and have provided further info to parents via Childcare Choices.

The top reasons for parents choosing a HAF scheme for their child was the range of activities followed by the opportunity that the scheme affords for parents to work.

Meanwhile, parents told us that the main way that they found out about HAF continues to be through their school, followed by the HAF mailbox. Thank you to our dedicated staff, programme partners, and schools across Devon who are integral to getting the information out to the right families and for ensuring that a wide-range of activities are adopted by participants across the county.

HAF stories

To provide a positive experience for all children and young people, the HAF programme in Devon is designed to reduce barriers to participation.

One such success story was seen at Sporty Stars, where one child with severe autism attended with her enabler and was brilliantly supported by Lewis, Finn and Naomi.

To highlight the impact of this programme, we have been given permission by the child’s mother to share her own feedback:

“Wow – what an incredible week. I can honestly say with a hand on my heart that I never ever thought I’d seen my daughter the way she has been this week.. She has been so engaging, interactive, happy, fun, joyful, playful. She has actively tried to play with other children which she has never done before. Isabelle always solely plays on her own; whether that’s at school, home or outside; so to see her clearly wanting to play with others this week has really shocked me. It’s been wonderful to watch.”

“It’s hard to put into words how much this week has meant to myself and to Isabelle. Just how much she has gained from it. Being exposed to neurotypical children will only benefit her. She has learnt important social and communication skills which she typically struggles with. This week I regularly saw her participating in high five’s, cuddles, holding hands and playing catch. Things I have only ever dreamt of. Even elements such as the music, lights, the language of the children and how they talk to her and engage in play with her. She somehow seems happier – like she’s realised she has this whole new set of skills, and is able to be a part of something, to make friends and have fun. That’s huge, really huge. She has surpassed all my expectations ten fold.

“She won’t appreciate or understand the impact she has on others, which I think makes it even more special, but I really noticed it and it warmed my heart. The innocence of children was so apparent – all children just want to be accepted. All the parents should be so proud of their children for how they accepted my daughter and became kind and caring friends to her over the week. I’d be immensely proud if they were my children.”

Feedback from parents

My children don’t normally access a playscheme due to the cost. It has been really nice for them to be able to do so and undertake activities they don’t normally do. THANK YOU
It has helped, financially, with food. The kids had a chance to experience new skills and teamwork something I could not have provided this term.
The impact to my daughter has been amazing, she is quite reserved and shy, however Matt and his staff made a big effort to make her feel comfortable. By the end of the last session she had no issues, and seems really happy. I cannot thank the HAF programme enough, it has been a real eye opener seeing the positive impact of such a scheme.
The programme makes a huge different to me, firstly the fact my son is entertained and out having fun, as well as reducing my food bill which is already a struggle.
It is a fantastic opportunity for our children and to know they can do things during the holidays that we couldn’t afford for them to do. Also they are getting out in the fresh air and it’s helping our youngest confidence grow
I was able to go to work and earn more money over the Christmas holidays for us as a family. I have no other childcare this made a massive difference knowing my daughter was looked after and safe. As a single mum I really appreciate the help and for free was amazing.
Allowed myself to work in the confidence that my child is being cared for and looked after even with his challenges.
The scheme is fantastic. My child loved it and really improved his mental health as he was really positive about his experiences.
Proud of my son for trying all activities and always coming home smiling and happy.
Its helped take the stress and worry of what i can do with them that doesn’t break the bank and they still have a good time and can return to school being able to say they did something.
It’s helped to know my children are doing something different than just screen time, they get exercise while having fun. It’s helped financially and gave me time to do things that aren’t usually easy to do with my children.
I always feel guilty that I can’t afford to take J out anywhere for the holidays so it’s a really blessing that he can spend half the day at places like these as he has lots of different activities to experience.
The HAF scheme has allowed me to continue working and at times have a break from caring responsibilities. Without HAF, my child would be much more dysregulated.
It has provided the children with good opportunities to engage with other children and to keep active. It has given me peace of mind that they are well looked after and have a good meal.
Made a huge impact financially, both my husband and myself are currently unable to work, and the fact it allowed our children to have so much fun, and then to be fed each day was so generous. Financially Christmas is a real drain on our limited finances, so I must thank the council and the staff at the facility in Cullompton.

Feedback from delivery staff

Support the families, enable a bit of a break for the parents and siblings
Somewhere for them to go and the parents to get a break
Financial difficult to take all the children out so gives them opportunities they would not otherwise have.
Family support – Aiding child’s needs, health and wellbeing.
Empower families – Financial constraints – Respite
They can just be themselves, don’t have to mask.
HAF provides opportunities they would never experience.
Extended criteria – this winter delivery the number of places available for this is greatly reduced due to the demand from the Benefit Related Free School Meal children who take priority.

Quality assurance visits

They have several zones with activities. One had bead making and another was a music session where they re-wrote a Christmas Carol and played musical instruments.

One of the children brought his own acoustic guitar and played to me.

There was target football and dodge ball and later a large inflatable goal where they took it in turns to score and save goals.

They also have the use of the smaller room upstairs where art and craft is available and offered.

The menu is published in advance to all the families. The roast and curry are always the favourite so they are always included.

They are shown the menu the previous day and asked to choose which option they would like.