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Consideration was given to a report from the Children and Young
People Select Committee following a scrutiny review of the Holidays
are Fun programme.
The
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme was funded by the
Department for Education and the Holiday Enrichment Programme (HEP)
was funded by Public Health. The Stockton-on-Tees HAF team held a
competition to rename the programme and selected “Holidays
Are Fun” to remove some of the stigma some parents associated
with holiday hunger.
HAF
was offered free to school aged children from reception to year 11
who were in receipt of benefit related free school
meals.
The
two programmes covered the following holiday periods:
·
Holiday Activities and Food – DfE funded
– covered Easter, Summer and Christmas and the provision had
to be 4 hours a day for at least 4 days a week
·
Holiday Enrichment Programme – Public Health
funded – covered May, October and February and the provision
had to be two hours a day for at least four days
The
overall aim of the review was to understand if HAF was inclusive of
and attended by those families who most needed it and the impact
that the programme has had on family health and social and economic
wellbeing.
The Select Committee report concluded
that the HAF programme provided much
needed support to children and families in need over holiday
periods and feedback illustrated that the programme was highly valued. Work was continuing to
ensure that the programme was meeting
the needs of children in most need and it was encouraging that
auto-enrolment of free school meals was helping to identify
eligible children. Providers had a good working relationship with
the Council and children benefited from taking part in a wide
variety of activities, many of which they would otherwise be unable
to due to cost. In addition, the programme offered the
opportunities for lifelong learning and had been a vehicle
for providing support outside of holiday periods.
The Select Committee acknowledged the
contribution from Public Health which
enabled the programme to also operate
during half term periods. The Select Committee were also mindful
that ongoing Government funding was uncertain and consideration needed to be given
making the programme sustainable in the longer term, for
example, through the introduction of some paid
for places.
RESOLVED that:-
1.
The Council continues to develop and promote the HAF
programme to the residents of the Borough to ensure that the
programme is meeting the needs of children in most need.
2.
The offer for SEND and secondary school children is
further developed and promotional materials refreshed to target
these children.
3.
Communications with town and parish councils are
reviewed and strengthened.
4.
The Council works with providers to increase up take
in all wards and decrease non-attendance.
5.
Consideration be given to how paid for places could
be introduced to ...
view the full decision text for item 5.
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