Launched in 2020 following campaigner Marcus Rashford’s initiative to address food poverty among school children during holidays, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme has become an essential resource for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across Bexley. This government-funded initiative ensures that children from eligible families can access enriching activities and nutritious meals during school holidays, when many families face additional financial pressure.
The HAF programme has seen consistent participation across Bexley. In 2024 alone, the programme supported 260 SEND children during Easter, 508 during summer, and 295 during the winter holiday period. It runs during Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays in various community venues including community centres, church halls, schools, and purpose-built facilities.
What makes the HAF programme particularly valuable is its inclusivity. Children attending the SEND provision have a wide range of needs from mild autism to physical disabilities. Specialist SEND providers offer personalised support with ratios of 1:1 or 1:2 depending on individual requirements, ensuring every child can participate fully.
Local organisations like Bexley Snap and Dynamic Coaching CIC have been instrumental in delivering tailored activities for SEND children. Bexley Snap, a charity dedicated to disabled children and young people, provides opportunities for fun, exploration, and socialisation while enabling parents and carers to have a break from their caring responsibilities.
While ensuring children receive healthy meals remains a core aim, the HAF programme delivers numerous additional benefits through varied activities:
At Bexley Snap’s summer provision, children enjoyed unique animal encounters with Animalia Encounters, meeting creatures like snakes, rabbits, hedgehogs, tortoises, and lizards. As their Service Manager explains, “some of the children and young people had never seen some of the creatures, been in proximity or touched them… the children and young people were provided with a sensory and learning experience as they handled the animals and learnt about their feeding and sleeping habits.”
Dynamic Coaching offered a range of physical activities including multi-sports games, football, basketball, tennis, fencing, archery, and dodgeball, alongside creative activities like arts and crafts, cooking, and baking. Their coaches supported children “to foster social interactions with new young people and help develop new friendships whilst attending camp” through group-based tasks and team activities.
The programme also emphasises healthy eating and food education. At Bexley Snap, older children (12-16 years) were involved in menu planning, food preparation, cooking, and cleaning up, developing essential life skills. This approach allowed children to try new foods and learn about nutrition in an engaging way.
The programme has become invaluable to many families. One parent described HAF programmes as “such a blessing to me and so many other parents. Creating an opportunity for our children that means so much.”
Another parent explained the potential impact if the programme were to end: “I would have to give up my job and struggle to pay my mortgage as there would be nowhere, I could send my special needs children during the holidays. There is very limited SEND clubs and the ones there are very expensive especially as I have two special needs children and would not be able to afford it, but I also cannot afford to give up my job so would have a huge impact for me.”
Parents whose children attended Dynamic Coaching’s provision shared similar sentiments: “my daughter really enjoyed the camp, thank you to the Dynamic Coaches for their enthusiasm and getting my child involved, we look forward to future camps” and “this camp was brilliant for my son, he can struggle to settle but loved this camp and it really made a difference to his summer, thank you!”
Eligible families (those with children aged 5-16 who receive means-tested free school meals) receive vouchers via email, allowing them to access the booking system and secure places at their preferred clubs.
For parents interested in the programme, coordinators advise: “communicate with the provider as best you can with the exact needs of the children. Provide as much information as possible so that their needs can be fully met. This will allow your child to have the best experience possible.”
To find out more, parents can visit the HAF page on the Bexley Website: Holiday activities and food programme | London Borough of Bexley, where SEND providers are listed.
With continued support and recognition as “Best in supporting SEN children,” the HAF programme remains a crucial lifeline for SEND families across Bexley, providing not just food security but opportunities for development, socialisation, and enjoyment during school holidays.
The HAF programme’s success reflects in the words of one young participant at Dynamic Coaching’s provision: “The Coaches helped me a lot!” – a simple but powerful testament to the programme’s impact on the lives of SEND children and their families across Bexley.
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