Doncaster Council has been allocated
£1,379,600 from the Department for Education’s Holiday
Activity & Food Programme.
The £1,379,600 will be used to offer free holiday and food
activity places to children and young people, who receive
benefits-related free school meals. Of this, £350,000 has
been allocated for the Christmas period.
The following information will be shared with partners across
Doncaster, asking for programme proposals to be submitted.
Doncaster Council wish to commission a partner(s) that can provide
free places at holiday clubs available in the Christmas holidays
2021. This will be made available to children in the local
authority area who are eligible for and receive benefits-related
free school meals.
Doncaster Council must ensure that holiday activities must be
available for a minimum of at least 4 days during the Christmas
2021 holiday period (20th December – 4th January). The
successful partner(s) will have flexibility about how they deliver
this level of provision to best serve the needs of children and
families in Doncaster, within the guidelines and taking into
account the flexibilities outlined below.
Partners must ensure that sufficient, adequate provision is
available across the borough for children with SEND or additional
needs. Partner(s) must follow all Government guidance in relation
to the coronavirus pandemic, including the ‘protective
measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other
out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19)
outbreak’https:
//www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak
May 2021.
The Christmas 2021 holiday programme is targeted at children whose
families receive benefits related free school meals and it is
expected that a chosen partner (working in conjunction with
schools) will undertake the necessary promotion to the eligible
children and their families in order to maximise take up of the
provision. We expect this will be undertaken using the
‘Edulog’ communication system.
There is greater flexibility in the programme for Christmas –
The DFE will support a blended programme of both face-to-face
provision alongside high quality hampers and activity packs
providing it meets the expectation of a minimum of 4 days’
worth of provision/support.
The DFE expectation is that all children taking part in HAF this
Christmas should receive a minimum of two days of face-to-face
provision. Beyond that, LAs will have scope to provide
additional support to participating children and this additional
support should be tailored to the needs of the children and
families in the LA.
If unable to deliver 4 days of face-to-face provision across the
borough, an alternative approach, meeting DFE minimum expectation
of how provision might be delivered is:
- Two days of face-to-face provision.
- This could be similar to the HAF provision we have seen at Easter
and in the summer.
- It could also be, for example, a Christmas festival or fayre
where children and their families are invited along to take part in
activities together, prepare a festive meal together and socialise.
At these events, the DFE expect that those attending should eat
high quality, healthy food and take part in some fun
activities.
- It could also involve a day trip, day out or a cultural
enrichment experience, providing that this includes a healthy meal
as well as an element of physical activity, for example, a
walk.
- Alongside this, the DFE would expect that children who attend the
above face-to-face provision also receive the equivalent of a
minimum of two further days of support in the form of high-quality
food hampers and activity packs.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: For Determination
Notice of proposed decision first published: 20/12/2021
Decision due: 18 Nov 2021 by Director of Learning, Opportunities and Skills
Contact: Riana Nelson, Executive Director of Children, Young People and Families (DCS) Email: riana.nelson@doncaster.gov.uk.