Why HAF matters
Welcome to HAF
Welcome to the Coventry Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Guide. This guide has been created to support you in understanding the programme to share clear information with families and helping more children access opportunities that keep them active, connected and engaged during the school holidays. Thank you for working with us to make HAF a success across Coventry.
What is the Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF)?
HAF is a national Department for Education funded programme aimed at enabling eligible children and young people to attend activities and experiences in the Christmas, Easter and Summer school holidays for free.
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What do children get? |
Why it matters |
|---|---|
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Free nutritious meal at every HAF club – meeting food school standards. |
Supports good health and reduces holiday hunger. |
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Free physical activities – including sports, games, dance. |
Helping children to meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity. |
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Free enriching activities – including arts, cooking, crafts, trips. |
Supports children into trying new activities, learning and increasing confidence. |
Your role
Schools have trusted relationships with children and families. Your promotion and support of HAF can significantly increase participation and help children return to school happier, healthier and ready to learn. The greatest barrier is that eligible families do not know the programme exists or realise that they qualify.
What we need your school to do
We recommend appointing a HAF School Champion to help and support eligible families and children utilise the HAF offer.
This person could be in a role already such as:
- DSL
- Family Support Worker
- Pastoral Lead
- Attendance Lead
- Inclusion Lead
- School Business Manager
Responsibilities of the HAF Champion:
- Receive HAF updates from the Coventry team
- Share information with staff
- Coordinate promotion within the school
- Ensure resources are displayed
- Be the key contact for the HAF team
Termly checklist
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Activity |
Complete |
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Staff briefed |
- |
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Posters/banners displayed |
- |
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Parent communications sent |
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Website updated |
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Social media shared |
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If your HAF Champion has any questions or needs support, they can email the HAF team on haf@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:haf@coventry.gov.uk] and a member of the team will help.
How to help a parent and/or carer book
A parent and/or carer does not need a HAF Code to access the new booking system [http://eequ.org/coventryhaf].
When a parent and/or carer is prompted to enter their child's details please ensure they use their child’s legal name and ensure their date of birth is correct.
Use our digital guide [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7465/booking-system-user-guide] to support a parent and/or carer through the booking process.
Parents and/or carers can also call Coventry City Council Customer Service team on 08085 834 333 or visit local Family Hubs and libraries for in-person booking assistance.
School promotional toolkit
Please follow our social media pages:
- Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/coventryhaf]
- Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/haf_coventry]
Newsletter template
Coventry’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme offers eligible children and young people free activities, new experiences and a nutritious meal during the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays. Families can explore available clubs and book places [https://eequ.org/coventryhaf]. Please speak to the school if you need help or would like to find out whether your child may be eligible.
Text message template
Free HAF holiday clubs are back! Eligible children can enjoy fun activities and a healthy meal. Book at Coventry HAF [https://eequ.org/coventryhaf] or ask the school for help.
How to apply to become a HAF provider
Do you offer wraparound childcare before or after school?
Do you already offer paid spaces holiday clubs during Easter, Summer or Winter holidays?
Do you have staff available and venue space during holiday time?
If so, you may be interested in applying to become a HAF provider. Please email haf@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:haf@coventry.gov.uk] and the team will be able to advise on the next application window and share the short application form.
Alternatively, if you hire out your school as a venue, we may be able to match you to a trusted provider who is looking for space to run a HAF club.
Another option may be to link up with some neighbouring schools (potentially with a larger hall space or kitchen) to share the running of a HAF club. This would share the staffing resource across the schools and provide a HAF option for multiple schools in the same area.
School referrals
School teachers can make referrals for children who are not automatically eligible for HAF, but who may benefit from accessing holiday activities and support. This may include children who are vulnerable, at risk of social isolation, experiencing wellbeing challenges, or whose families are facing difficult financial circumstances.
If you feel a child would benefit from a HAF place, please email us at haf@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:haf@coventry.gov.uk] and we can share the short referral form.
Once a form has been submitted, a decision will be made within 7 working days, and the outcome will be sent by email to the person making the referral and the parent and/or guardian of the child if the referral is successful.
If a child has been granted eligibility for a particular HAF programme, this does not entitle eligibility for ongoing programmes and referrals may need to be resubmitted if the circumstance has not changed for a family or child.