Holiday and Food Activities Summer 2021

Medway Council is looking to seek tenders from suitably experienced new and existing holiday providers to develop and build on the delivery of healthy food and enrichment holiday programmes across Medway.

As part of the recent spending review, the government has granted funding to Local Authorities to provide these healthy food and enriching activities for children who receive benefits related free school meals

The grant stipulates that provision is for 6 weeks of the year, Easter, Summer, and Christmas holidays in 2021. This contract is for 4 weeks over the summer holiday period with a view to being extended for the Christmas provision through a variation of contract option. A full evaluation of the summer provision will determine the delivery of the Christmas provision.

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and provides funding up to the end of 2021-22, this supports the government's commitment to establish a Flexible Childcare fund to increase the availability of high quality and affordable flexible childcare.

The free holiday club places must be targeted at children who are eligible for and receiving benefits-related free school meals (FSM). However, up to 15% of the programme funding can be used to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals but who are considered by the local authority as vulnerable or in need of this provision. For example, this may include children assessed as being in need, looked-after children, children with an EHC plan (education, health and care), children assessed as otherwise vulnerable, or children living in areas of high deprivation.

This specification outlines the local context including the council's commitment to support children and their families, the need for promotion and advertising, mobilisation requirements and the Framework required for delivery as set out by the DfE.

School holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs (such as food and childcare) and reduced incomes. For some children that can lead to a holiday experience gap - with children from disadvantaged families are less likely to access organised out-of-school activities; more likely to experience 'unhealthy holidays' in terms of nutrition and physical health and are more likely to experience social isolation

Free holiday clubs are a response to this issue and evidence suggests that they can have a positive impact on children and young people. It also shows that they work best when they provide consistent and easily accessible enrichment activities, when they offer more than just breakfast or lunch, and when they involve children (and parents) in food preparation.

Medway Council is looking to commission new and existing holiday providers to develop and build on and enhance the delivery of existing healthy food and enrichment holiday programmes across Medway.