HAF — Holiday Activities and Food — provides free holiday clubs for eligible children three times a year. Most families who qualify have no idea it exists. Here's everything you need to know, and exactly how to get a place before they're gone.
The Holiday Activities and Food programme is funded by the Department for Education and delivered through local councils across England. It runs during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays, providing free activity clubs for eligible children — including a free meal every day they attend.
The activities vary enormously by provider and area — sports, arts and crafts, cooking, trips out, multi-sport, music, drama. The quality is generally good because providers have to meet DfE standards to receive the funding. This isn't a childcare last resort. Many children genuinely enjoy it.
The government has confirmed HAF funding will continue until at least 2029.
Easter
Up to 4 days
Book by February/March
Summer
Up to 16 days
Book by May/June
Christmas
Up to 4 days
Book by October/November
Over the summer alone, eligible children can access up to 16 free days. At the market rate for holiday childcare — typically £25–45 a day in England — that's £400–720 of free provision per child per summer. For a family with two eligible children, the summer HAF entitlement alone is worth up to £1,440.
HAF eligibility is tied directly to Free School Meals eligibility. If your child receives Free School Meals, they qualify for HAF. It's that simple.
Currently (until August 2026), FSM eligibility for children in Year 3 and above requires Universal Credit with household net earned income under £7,400 per year, or another qualifying benefit. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive Universal Infant Free School Meals automatically — but this doesn't automatically confer HAF eligibility. Check with your local council whether UIFSM qualifies in your area; some councils include these younger children, others don't.
From September 2026, the FSM rules change. All children from households receiving Universal Credit will qualify for FSM — and therefore HAF — regardless of income. If you're currently on UC but over the £7,400 income threshold, your children won't qualify now but will from September 2026 once you apply for FSM under the new rules.
HAF is also available to children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or those who are looked after by a local authority, regardless of FSM status. Some councils also have discretionary places for children who just miss the eligibility threshold — worth asking.
This is where families who know about HAF fall down. Places are free, funded, and limited. In most areas, particularly for popular summer sessions, they fill up within days of booking opening.
Summer places typically open for booking in May or early June. Easter places usually open in January or February. Christmas in October. These aren't firm rules — councils set their own timelines — but they're broadly what to expect.
The way to not miss out is simple: find your council's HAF programme now, get onto their mailing list or follow their social media, and book the moment places open. Don't wait until you need childcare and assume places will be available.
There's no single national booking system. Each local authority runs their own programme through their own providers. Search for "[your council name] HAF programme" or "[your council name] holiday activities food 2026."
If the search doesn't return clear results, try searching "[your council name] free school holiday clubs" or check your council's website directly under the children or families section.
Once you've found your local programme, you'll typically need to provide evidence of FSM eligibility — usually your child's FSM letter from the council or a reference number. Some councils have an online booking system; others require you to contact providers directly.
Don't assume the school will tell you. Schools are not required to inform families about HAF, and many don't. The responsibility for finding and booking rests with you. It's not bureaucratic — it's genuinely just a matter of finding the local programme and getting in early.
The meal requirement is non-negotiable for funded providers — every child must receive a free meal every day they attend. Activities vary. The best HAF programmes include day trips, sports coaching from qualified coaches, arts and crafts workshops, cooking classes, and forest school activities. Some are genuinely excellent.
Hours are typically full day (9am–3pm or similar) though half-day sessions exist. Unlike commercial holiday clubs, HAF sessions are usually run in smaller groups with higher staff ratios — a requirement of the funding conditions.
Children with additional needs or disabilities are entitled to access HAF with appropriate adjustments. If your child has specific requirements, discuss these with the provider before booking. Most funded providers are experienced at making reasonable adjustments.
Siblings who both have FSM eligibility can both attend HAF. Whether they'll be in the same session or the same provider depends entirely on your local programme and what's available. It's worth asking when you book whether sibling groups can be placed together — many councils try to accommodate this.
If only one child has FSM eligibility (for example, one is old enough and one is in Reception under UIFSM), check whether your council offers places to the younger child. Policies vary significantly.
Our tool checks HAF eligibility alongside Free School Meals, uniform grants and all other family entitlements — based on your actual circumstances.
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