Happy Healthy Holidays

Booking is now open for our winter activities, taking place on the 2nd-5th January.

Visit the booking page to see what’s available and book on to activities.

Wakefield Council (coordinate.cloud)

You can view our list of winter providers here.

WF Happy Healthy Holidays aims to keep children and young people active during the School Holidays by providing free activities and healthy food. WF Happy Healthy Holidays is for school age children (Reception to year 11) who receive income-related free school meals.

The sessions are fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE). Please visit the government website for more information on the national programme.

Applications to become a Happy Healthy Holidays provider in 2024 are now open. You can find everything you need to apply here: WF Happy Healthy Holidays 2024 (nova-wd.org.uk)

The programme only covers the main school holidays: 8 days over Easter; 16 days over the Summer and 4 days during Christmas.

The aim of the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme is for eligible children, young people, and families to:

• be more active during the school holidays

• eat more healthy over the school holidays and try new foods

• take part in engaging and enriching activities that support the development of mental and physical wellbeing

• be safe and not socially isolated

• have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition

• be more engaged with schools and other local services and be signposted towards other information and support

• develop their understanding of nutrition and food budgeting

Our Happy Healthy Holiday activities offer places to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. We have several providers who offer support for SEND children, and also providers who support children in a mainstream setting.

If your child requires extra support due to SEND or any other needs, please have a conversation with the provider in the first instance to ensure that they are able to support your child’s needs at the session. Contact details are on the PDF provider list on this webpage

To ensure a smooth transition on your child’s first day of attendance, please ensure all relevant information about their needs is provided in advance to the activity provider so they can work with you to ensure their individual requirements are met. Please note that spaces are not guaranteed but are subject to availability when you book.

Your child is eligible to attend if:

• they are school age (in reception to year 11)

and

• they are in receipt of income-based free school meals

Please be aware that Income-Based Free School meals are different to Universal Infant Free School Meals – that all children receive from Reception to year 2.

For information on free school meals and how to claim if you think you may be eligible, visit the webpage here.

If you have booked a place and can no longer attend, please cancel your place through your account on the Coordinate booking system. You can also contact the provider direct so that your place can be offered to someone else. Contact details can be found on the provider list above. Failure to attend activities, without first cancelling your booking or letting the activity provider know, can affect your ability to book on to any activities in the future.

Some providers may be offering paid places in addition to the programme. These will be available at the providers discretion and the costs to attend these places may vary.

To find other events that might be happening in your area in the school holidays you can visit the links below:

Experience Wakefield

Community Wakefield

The Hepworth Wakefield

FREE days out in Wakefield (mumbler.co.uk)

Summer tips – Wakefield Council