Holiday activities and food programme
Information for local authorities whothat will receive funding to support disadvantaged children during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The holiday activities and food programme will provide grant funding to local authorities to coordinateco-ordinate free holiday provision for eligible children.
This guidance for local authorities explains:
- the aims and objectives of the programme
- what the funding covers
- how the funding will be allocated
The grant determination letter:
- sets out payments for the financial year
- includes supporting guidance outlining how we intend local authorities to use the funding
The Secretary of State for Education makes grant determinations under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003.
Updates to this page
Published 16 December 2020
Last updated 1110 March 2024
2025
+ show all updates
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Added 'Holiday activities and food programme 2025' and 'Holiday activities and food programme 2025: S31 grant determination letter'.
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Added 'Holiday activities and food programme 2024' and 'Holiday activities and food programme 2024: S31 grant determination letter' to page.
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Added 'Holiday activities and food programme 2023' and 'Holiday activities and food programme 2023: S31 grant determination letter' to page. The guidance on the page has been updated to reflect this addition.
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-
Added clarification on when an additional HAF week can take place in 'Holiday activities and food programme 2022'.
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-
Updated with grant determination letter and information for 2022.
-
-
Updated grant determination letter following the allocation of the contingency fund.
-
-
Updated payment schedule and added information on COVID-19 for summer 2021 in 'Holiday activities and food programme 2021'.
-
-
Added information on safeguarding requirements and a link to allergies guidance for schools.
-
-
Added the 'Holiday activities and food programme 2021: S31 grant determination letter'. Updated the guidance to include updated information on funding and new sections on payments and reporting, support for local authorities, standards for holiday provision and Ofsted registration.
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-
First published.
Update history
2026-02-20 14:24
Updated as MHCLG will publish the grant determination letter for the children, youth and families grant in April 2026. Added link to final local government finance settlement.
2025-12-17 16:02
Added information for the Holiday Activities and Food programme 2026 to 2027.
2025-03-10 10:08
Added ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2025’ and ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2025: S31 grant determination letter’.
2024-03-11 09:55
Added ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2024’ and ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2024: S31 grant determination letter’ to page.
2022-12-22 09:00
Added ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2023’ and ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2023: S31 grant determination letter’ to page. The guidance on the page has been updated to reflect this addition.
Details
The holiday activities and food programme will provide grant funding to local authorities to coordinateco-ordinate free holiday provision for eligible children.
This guidance for local authorities explains:
- the aims and objectives of the programme
- what the funding covers
- how the funding will be allocated
The grant determination letter:
- sets out payments for the financial year
- includes supporting guidance outlining how we intend local authorities to use the funding
The Secretary of State for Education makes grant determinations under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003.
Updates to this page
Published 16 December 2020
Last updated 1110 March 2024
2025
+ show all updates
-
Added 'Holiday activities and food programme 2025' and 'Holiday activities and food programme 2025: S31 grant determination letter'.
-
Added 'Holiday activities and food programme 2024' and 'Holiday activities and food programme 2024: S31 grant determination letter' to page.
-
-
Added 'Holiday activities and food programme 2023' and 'Holiday activities and food programme 2023: S31 grant determination letter' to page. The guidance on the page has been updated to reflect this addition.
-
-
Added clarification on when an additional HAF week can take place in 'Holiday activities and food programme 2022'.
-
-
Updated with grant determination letter and information for 2022.
-
-
Updated grant determination letter following the allocation of the contingency fund.
-
-
Updated payment schedule and added information on COVID-19 for summer 2021 in 'Holiday activities and food programme 2021'.
-
-
Added information on safeguarding requirements and a link to allergies guidance for schools.
-
-
Added the 'Holiday activities and food programme 2021: S31 grant determination letter'. Updated the guidance to include updated information on funding and new sections on payments and reporting, support for local authorities, standards for holiday provision and Ofsted registration.
-
-
First published.
Update history
2026-02-20 14:24
Updated as MHCLG will publish the grant determination letter for the children, youth and families grant in April 2026. Added link to final local government finance settlement.
2025-12-17 16:02
Added information for the Holiday Activities and Food programme 2026 to 2027.
2025-03-10 10:08
Added ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2025’ and ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2025: S31 grant determination letter’.
2024-03-11 09:55
Added ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2024’ and ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2024: S31 grant determination letter’ to page.
2022-12-22 09:00
Added ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2023’ and ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2023: S31 grant determination letter’ to page. The guidance on the page has been updated to reflect this addition.
Details
The holiday activities and food programme will provide grant funding to local authorities to coordinateco-ordinate free holiday provision for eligible children.
This guidance for local authorities explains:
- the aims and objectives of the programme
- what the funding covers
- how the funding will be allocated
The grant determination letter:
- sets out payments for the financial year
- includes supporting guidance outlining how we intend local authorities to use the funding
The Secretary of State for Education makes grant determinations under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003.
Updates to this page
Published 16 December 2020Last updated
-
Added 'Holiday activities and food programme 2025' and 'Holiday activities and food programme 2025: S31 grant determination letter'.
-
Added 'Holiday activities and food programme 2024' and 'Holiday activities and food programme 2024: S31 grant determination letter' to page.
-
Added 'Holiday activities and food programme 2023' and 'Holiday activities and food programme 2023: S31 grant determination letter' to page. The guidance on the page has been updated to reflect this addition.
-
Added clarification on when an additional HAF week can take place in 'Holiday activities and food programme 2022'.
-
Updated with grant determination letter and information for 2022.
-
Updated grant determination letter following the allocation of the contingency fund.
-
Updated payment schedule and added information on COVID-19 for summer 2021 in 'Holiday activities and food programme 2021'.
-
Added information on safeguarding requirements and a link to allergies guidance for schools.
-
Added the 'Holiday activities and food programme 2021: S31 grant determination letter'. Updated the guidance to include updated information on funding and new sections on payments and reporting, support for local authorities, standards for holiday provision and Ofsted registration.
-
First published.
Update history
2026-02-20 14:24
Updated as MHCLG will publish the grant determination letter for the children, youth and families grant in April 2026. Added link to final local government finance settlement.
2025-12-17 16:02
Added information for the Holiday Activities and Food programme 2026 to 2027.
2025-03-10 10:08
Added ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2025’ and ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2025: S31 grant determination letter’.
2024-03-11 09:55
Added ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2024’ and ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2024: S31 grant determination letter’ to page.
2022-12-22 09:00
Added ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2023’ and ‘Holiday activities and food programme 2023: S31 grant determination letter’ to page. The guidance on the page has been updated to reflect this addition.