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HAF information for schools

The Holiday Activities and Food programme, known as HAF, offers free holiday activities and healthy food for eligible children and young people. The Department for Education (DfE) funds this programme.

This page provides information for schools about managing eligibility and HAF vouchers.

Data sharing and eligibility

Schools identify children and young people who receive targeted free school meals through their management information system (MIS).

For schools using Wonde, eligibility information is securely transferred to the HAF booking platform. This allows eligible children and young people to be identified automatically and supports the efficient distribution of HAF vouchers.

Voucher distribution

Schools issue HAF vouchers directly to parents and carers through the HAF booking platform, helping families access holiday activities quickly and easily.

Parents and carers can be added or updated within Wonde at any time. This means schools can issue vouchers after the main release date where circumstances change or additional families become eligible.

15% discretionary HAF places

Schools are encouraged to review Lancashire's arrangements for allocating the 15% discretionary HAF places. These places are intended for children and young people who are not eligible through targeted free school meals but who would benefit from accessing holiday activities and food provision.

A discretionary referral may be appropriate where a child or young person:

  • is supported through an early help assessment and plan

  • has a child in need plan or child protection plan

  • is a young carer

  • is a looked-after child

  • is subject to a special guardianship order (SGO)

  • is experiencing significant family challenges, such as:

    • bereavement

    • serious illness

    • domestic abuse

    • family breakdown

    • homelessness

    • displacement

Schools are encouraged to work closely with families and partner professionals to identify children and young people who may benefit from the discretionary allocation and to ensure available places are targeted towards those with the greatest need.

Further support for schools

Additional guidance and support for schools is available through the Holiday Activities Help Centre via the I'm a school – Holiday Activities.

This includes information on:

  • identifying and managing eligibility for HAF

  • issuing vouchers to children and young people who receive benefits-related free school meals

  • allocating and issuing vouchers for children who meet Lancashire's 15% discretionary eligibility criteria

  • managing parent and carer records through Wonde

  • troubleshooting common voucher and booking queries

  • accessing platform guidance and support materials

Schools are encouraged to review this guidance before each HAF delivery period to ensure eligible families can access their vouchers and book activities as smoothly as possible.

Independent schools

The Department for Education (DfE) states that children and young people must be in receipt of targeted free school meals to access funded HAF provision.

As independent schools do not typically administer targeted free school meals, they are unable to issue HAF vouchers directly through the booking system.

However, if a child attending your school is experiencing vulnerabilities and meets Lancashire's 15% discretionary eligibility criteria, a HAF place may still be available.

To request a discretionary HAF voucher on behalf of an eligible child or young person, please contact the HAF team at cfw-haf@lancashire.gov.uk. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the child's circumstances and the availability of discretionary funding.