Cambridgeshire holiday activities and food (HAF) programme

HAF provider information

Local authorities in England coordinate the provision of funded holiday scheme places for eligible families. The HAF Programme operates during the Easter, Summer, and Christmas school holidays. All schemes must offer a healthy meal and snacks, enriching activities, and physical activity. Holiday scheme providers must be approved by the Cambridgeshire HAF Team to offer funded places, subject to funding availability.

Eligibility criteria

Families receiving targeted free school meals (FSM)
Families just managing financially (referral to the HAF Team from a professional required)

HAF programme dates and funded hours 2026/2027

2026:

21 - 31 December - 16 funded HAF hours

2027:

Easter 30 March to 9 April 2027 - 16 funded HAF hours
Summer 22 July to 31 August 2027 - 64 funded HAF hours
Christmas 20 December to 31 December 2027 - 16 funded HAF hours

HAF parent information

Information for parents can be found on the Cambridgeshire HAF programme | Cambridgeshire County Council webpage.

The HAF programme requirements

At least one nutritional meal a day must be offered. All food, including any snacks, must meet the School food standards. Hot meals should be served whenever possible, with a nutritious cold option served if not. All food provided as part of the programme must:
Comply with regulations on food preparation.
Take into account allergies and dietary requirements; see the allergy guidance for schools.
Take into account any religious or cultural requirements for food.
Nutritional education should be offered daily to support healthy eating. This might include children being involved in food preparation, cooking, growing food and/or other opportunities such as taste testing. Please see the HAF Support Documents below for Nutritional Education Ideas and the HAF Healthy Schools webpage for further details.
Information, signposting, or referrals to other services and support that would be of benefit. This may include the Cambridgeshire Holiday Voucher Scheme, the Household Support Fund, or Keep Your Head – Mental health and wellbeing information for children, young people, adults, professionals, and schools across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.
Fun and enriching experiences and free play opportunities.
Meet the Physical Activity Guidelines of an average of at least 60 minutes per day, which can include active travel, free play and sports.
Providers must demonstrate that they are insured and have the relevant and appropriate policies and procedures in place in relation to: Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Equality and SEND.
The Provider, if registered on the Early Years Register, must always have at least one member of staff with a fully compliant 12-hour Paediatric First Aid certificate present in the setting and on outings.
The Provider, if registered on the Childcare Register, including the Voluntary Register, must always have at least one person with an appropriate first aid certificate present in the setting and on outings. Cambridgeshire County Council consider that an appropriate certificate will have in-person CPR training with paediatric CPR and paediatric first aid for choking included.
If the Provider is not registered with Ofsted, they are strongly encouraged to always have at least one person with an appropriate first aid certificate present in the setting and on outings. Cambridgeshire County Council consider that an appropriate certificate will have in-person CPR training with paediatric CPR and paediatric first aid for choking included.
The first aid-qualified member of staff must be working with the children and be able to respond quickly to any incidents. If your setting is spread out, operates from several different rooms, or has children playing inside and outside at the same time, it may be necessary to have more than one first aider on duty at any one time, to enable them to respond quickly. In addition, having more than one first aider will enable cover during outings or if a member of staff is on leave.
Providers should be Ofsted registered, with no compliance action requirements, or legally exempt from registration.