Parent FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Holiday Activities and Food Programme?

The Holiday Activities and Food Programme is an initiative funded by the Department for Education to provide a programme of funded activities during the school holidays aimed to get children who attend to:

• Eat more healthily over the school holidays
• Be more active during the school holidays
• Take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment
• Be safe and not to be socially isolated
• Have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
• Be more engaged with school and other local services

Programmes can be led by a range of organisations. From across the public, private and community and voluntary sectors, they must offer a range of catering, sports and physical activity and enrichment activities.

Who can access the programme?

The holiday activities and food programme is available to all children and young people who are eligible for ‘Targeted’ Free School Meals.

What’s included?

Each eligible child or young person will be able to access the three HAF funded school holiday periods; Winter, Easter and Summer. With 4 days provision per week during Winter and Easter and up to 16 days during the Summer. Each HAF provider will offer:

• One healthy meal during the session
• Enjoyable activities. These vary from provider to provider but may include creative, enriching and/or physical activities
• Nutritional Education
• Socialising and friendly spaces to build relationships
• Guidance and signposting for parents and carers to support your family

How do I register?

• View the activity finder and check that the programme is suitable for your child
• Follow the ‘book now’ link to our HAF booking system ‘Eequ’
• If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please contact us so we can confirm

Programme places are offered on a first come first served basis. Where a provider is full, you can register with alternative providers or join their waiting list.

My school hasn’t sent me a Voucher code – what do I do?

Since Summer 2025 we now use the ‘EEQU’ booking system which no longer uses codes /vouchers to access HAF. This new system can be accessed directly to view and create bookings without the need for a code/voucher. Please contact haf@northamptonshiresport.org we will check your eligibility directly and ensure you can book your places.

What if my child attends a school outside Northamptonshire, or lives outside of Northamptonshire ?

If a child is eligible for ‘Targeted’ Free School Meals, and attends a Northamptonshire school, or lives within Northamptonshire, then they are eligible to sign up to the Northamptonshire Holiday Activities and Food programme.

If they don’t live in, or go to school in Northamptonshire, then you need to go to the relevant local authority (council) site. The Holiday Activity and Food Programme is a nationwide initiative, which will also be offered in Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire.

Does my child / young person have to attend?

No, the programme is voluntary, but we hope that all children and young people who meet the eligibility criteria will take part. Everyone who is eligible is welcome to join the Holiday Activity and Food programme. If you do book places and can no longer attend we do ask you cancel on the EEQU system so that another family can take advantage and the place isn’t wasted.

My child or young person attends an existing holiday provision, as I work. Can they still access the Holiday Activity and Food programme?

Yes, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for ‘Targeted’ Free School Meals, they are welcome to access the Holiday Activity and Food programme.

My existing holiday provider isn’t providing free places for those eligible for ‘Targeted’ Free School Meals. Can they do so?

Yes, ask your current childcare provider to apply for funded HAF places by contacting us at haf@northamptonshiresport.org

How can I access the HAF programme without being automatically eligible through ‘Targeted’ Free School Meals?

There are a small number of discretionary places for the programme for families that aren’t automatically eligible. For these places we must have a referral made to us via one of our partner organisations:

– Northamptonshire Young Carers
– Northamptonshire Children’s Trust
– Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service
– Northamptonshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner
– North Northamptonshire Council
– West Northamptonshire Council
– NHFT Services
– The Northamptonshire school the individual attends