Reading Time: 2 mins Summer Aid. On 27 October 2021 the government announced a further investment of over £200 million per year over the next 3 financial years for the holiday activities and food programme (HAF). This builds on research showing that the school holidays can be pressure points for some families. For some children this can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from low-income households less likely to access organised out-of-school activities, more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health, and finally more likely to experience social isolation. This holiday provision is for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals: these are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, and have a claim verified by their school or local authority. Local authorities are asked to ensure that the offer of free h...