Get free childcare this Christmas - see if you're eligible

Christmas school holidays can be a juggling act with last-minute gift shopping, planning the big dinner, and the kids raiding the cupboards. It’s enough to drive anyone up the wall. But there’s support out there to help lighten the load.

Since 2018, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme has been helping families across England with free meals, fun activities and childcare during the big breaks. A Local Government (LGA) report shows kids who participate in the HAF programme benefit from improved health, wellbeing, and learning.

Sounds good, right? But a new report says lots of kids out there aren’t making use of it, partly because not all families know it exists.

So what exactly is the Holiday Activities and Food programme?

It’s a government scheme for primary school kids. While it’s mostly for families on low income or on benefits, local councils can choose to offer spots to other kids at their discretion. The programme gives your kids:

• A hot, healthy meal every day; some places throw in breakfast and tea too
• Fun activities like sports, crafts, cooking, even coding

Plus, you get free childcare so you can actually get stuff done.

It runs at Easter, summer, and Christmas. Councils aim to offer about six weeks of face-to-face activities across the year for primary school kids.

Since 2022, HAF has delivered more than 15 million activity days. Last year alone, nearly 5 million days of fun and food were provided. That’s a lot of happy tummies.

Who can go?

If your child gets benefits-related free school meals, your family’s likely eligible. But councils can also use up to 15% of their budget for families who don’t qualify but could do with the help.

How do I apply?

If your child gets free school meals, you might not need to apply – your school or council will usually send the details so you can automatically book activities.

Not heard about HAF but think your child might be eligible? Start by asking your school. They can often refer kids who’d benefit, even if they’re not on free school meals.

If that doesn’t work, check your local council’s website. Each council runs HAF a bit differently, so you might need to search “HAF” on their site or give them a quick call to find out how to apply.