Tameside HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) Programme

Play, Eat, Thrive - because every child deserves a healthy, happy holiday.

Every school holiday, thousands of children and young people across Tameside benefit from our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme - an initiative designed to support families by providing healthy meals and enriching activities for school years Reception - Year 11.

Funded by the Department for Education, the programme is open to families in receipt of benefits-related free school meals. Since 2021, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council has proudly delivered HAF across the borough.

Through strong partnerships and a commitment to inclusion, we’re creating safe, fun, and nourishing environments where children can Play, Eat & Thrive - because every child deserves a healthy, happy holiday.

Aims of the programme

As a result of this programme, we want children who attend this provision to:

eat healthily over the school holidays
be active during the school holidays
take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment
be safe and not to be socially isolated
have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
be more engaged with school and other local services.
We also want to ensure that the families who participate in this programme:
develop their understanding of nutrition and food budgeting
are signposted towards other information and support, for example, health, employment, education, early help and social care.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible children and young people must be in recipient of benefit related free school meals.

Eligibility checks on the EEQU booking system are automatic and use the most up to date free school meals data, the registration system will automatically recognise those who are eligible.

Currently all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 can get free school meals whatever your income – this does not make you eligible for HAF. But if you receive one of the qualifying incomes (see below) you will need to register for benefit related free school meals in order for the registration system to recognise that your child is eligible for a school holiday activity place (HAF).

Your child may qualify for free school meals if you get any of the following:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
The guaranteed part of Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (if your annual gross income is £16,190 or less and you don’t get Working Tax Credit)
Working Tax Credit run-off after you come off Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit that you applied for on, or after, 1 April 2018. As long as your household income is less than £7,400 a year after tax, not including any benefits.
You may also qualify if you are an asylum seeker, or if a child receives any of these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian.

Think you are Eligible and don’t already claim your entailment?
Apply for Free School Meals here

Our Family Information Service can talk you through the options that are available for families who don't qualify for HAF under the government guidance.
The Family Information Service (FIS) - Tameside MBC

How to book

Step 1: Register for benefit-related free school meals

Step 2: Create your online EEQU account

Step 3: Browse the website and find activities your child would love.

Step 4: Book your spaces through the online system.

HAF Providers Application Information

Applications for Early Summer delivery are open until Thursday 8th May 2026. Applications received after this date will not be considered for Early Summer delivery but will instead be reviewed for Summer holiday delivery 2026. Applications for Summer holiday delivery will close on19^th June 2026.

Please click HAF Provider Application Form to complete an application.

This holiday provision is for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals.

Please ensure you have read and understood the Service Specification in full before completing the application form.

The Department of Education (DfE) have developed a framework of standards to provide a benchmark of what they expect from those delivering the holiday activities and food programme (HAF). This framework sets out the standards the DfE expect for all HAF Providers.

Non-attendance Policy

We appreciate that plans may change and there may be times where your child/ren can’t attend. If this happens, please cancel their place/s and give the holiday club provider as much notice as possible, preferably 48 hours. This allows another child/ren the opportunity to attend the club and benefit from the programme. More information on the non-attendance policy.