Free holiday clubs for pupils receiving FSM
The Department for Education announced back in November 2020 that it would be extending its holiday activities and food programme to cover the whole of England. They have made £220 million available to local authorities to coordinate the provision, including healthy food and enriching activities. The aims of the programme are to help children to be more active, eat healthily, be safe and not socially isolated so as to develop their resilience, character and wellbeing.
The provision is free for those children who receive benefits-related free school meals. There is a possibility for local authorities to apply to use some of their funding to provide free or subsidised places for those considered vulnerable. This may include:
- children assessed as being in need
- looked-after children
- children with an EHC plan (education, health and care plan)
- children assessed as otherwise vulnerable
- children living in areas of high deprivation
A video, featuring Marcus Rashford, has been produced to raise the profile of these clubs. The DfE is asking schools to circulate this information to all of their parents to encourage those who are eligible to sign up. More information should be available on your local authority website.
