£200m funding for school holiday support for low-income families in England confirmed
Free holiday clubs during Easter, Summer and Christmas breaks to continue through Holiday Activities and Food Programme.
Last updated 22nd Dec 2022
The Government has confirmed it will spend £200m on providing free holiday clubs to children from low income families in 2023.
The clubs, which operate across England, provided food and activities to around 600,000 children this summer across 8,000 sites.
The Department of Education says the cash confirmation will mean every local authority will be able to provide for their communities.
Scheme introduced to support low income families
As well as activities, the scheme ensures children get access to food throughout the school holidays.
Football, cookery classes and play sessions are among the activities on offer.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said : “Giving children access to nutritious meals and fun, enriching activities over the holidays supports children’s mental, physical and social development and offers them opportunities that they may otherwise not have, whilst helping parents who may not be able to afford similar childcare.
“It’s fantastic to see that over half a million children benefitted from the programme over the summer, and I’m delighted to announce the continuation of the programme into 2023.”
Pilot scheme rolled out across England
The Government’s Holiday Activities and Food programme started as a pilot in 2018.
It was created in response to the pressures that low-income families can face over the holidays, with some children being less likely to access organised out-of-school activities, and more likely to experience social isolation and ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health.
Marcus Rashford was among high profile names who kept the issue in the spotlight.
It provides for school-aged children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits related free school meals and is available for local authorities to fund clubs over summer, Easter and Christmas breaks.
Evidence suggests that attending holiday clubs can have a positive impact on children’s attainment, health and wellbeing. This is especially true of clubs that provide enrichment activities as well as meals and that involve children and parents in preparing healthy food.