Merton's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) projects offer lots of fun things to do during the school holidays for children and young people from 5 to 15 years old. They run during main school holidays and half-term holidays.
All the projects are free for children on benefits-related free school meals.
May half term mainstream brochure 2025
Parents and cares of eligible children should have received their vouchers for May Half-term, by email or text, along with instructions on how to use them to book holiday places for your children. There’s a helpline if you’re stuck, and all HAF providers will help parents through the booking process too. If you’re unsure whether a provider will be able to support your child appropriately, we encourage you to contact them using the details on the brochure for a discussion. Please email HAF@merton.gov.uk with any queries.
May half term special educational needs brochure 2025
The HAF offer for children with SEN is aimed at those attending Cricket Green, our Alternative Resource Provisions in our mainstream schools and other pupils with similar needs referred by their school. Instructions on how to book holiday places for your children can be found on the email/text in which you received your vouchers. If you’re stuck, contact HAF@merton.gov.uk. Have a great Half-term!
We are delighted that DfE will fund HAF in 2025-26. We have committed further funds, which will enable us to deliver HAF through all the holidays in 2025. We will be relying largely on existing providers to deliver in February and Easter 2025. We will be inviting existing providers and potential new providers to express interest and put forward proposals for HAF delivery from May 2025 through to February 2026.
Interested parties should note the current application form and providers guide as before. These will be updated shortly.
For further information or question please email the HAF Programme Manager, Bob Allen at bob.allen@merton.gov.uk
In addition to this programme, families who are eligible for Universal Credit may be able to claim back up to 85% of their childcare costs. Please visit Help With Childcare Costs (GOV.UK) to find out more
You can discover lots of things to do in the local area on the Young Merton website.
If your organisation would like to be part of the Holiday Activities and Food club programme in Merton, then please get in touch by emailing HAF@merton.gov.uk
Holiday Activities and Food: information for parents, carers and practitioners
The HAF clubs are part of the Government’s expanded Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme which is being delivered across the country in the main school holidays. Merton Council works with local schools, voluntary and community organisations, and childcare providers to provide the HAF programme. The free places are funded by the Department for Education. Visit the Government website for more information on the national programme.
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