Work Programme: Big Norfolk Holiday Fun

From 2021 to Winter 2023, the programme has positively impacted around 13,200 children and young people, particularly those eligible for free school meals and from vulnerable backgrounds.

Parent surveys, conducted since 2022, have collected 1494 responses, providing a rich dataset. The 2023 surveys revealed that parents and carers identified four main benefits: positive social skills and experiences for their child (232/353), keeping the child occupied (194/353), family support (145/353), and specific SEND-related benefits (25/353). Parents appreciated that their children didn’t miss out during holidays due to financial constraints and were able to improve their social skills. Overall, the programme has had a significant positive impact on families, particularly those in need.

The programme has positively impacted children’s health and wellbeing. There has been an increase in physical activity after the holidays, with between 52% to 71% of children increasing their movement levels. The programme has also inspired children to try healthier foods, with 39% to 54% children reporting a shift in eating habits. A consistent percentage of children 42% to 46% have expressed a desire to be part of the cooking process at home.

Feedback from activity providers aligns with parents’ reports, indicating positive impacts on children’s behaviour and wellbeing. Providers noted that children enjoyed activities they wouldn’t normally do at home, such as sowing seeds or baking. They also recognised the need for children to have space to grow away from their families and home, and to mix with new children and experiences. This feedback underscores the value of the programme and the potential benefits of incorporating similar models into future childcare and holiday clubs.

The programme has seen a significant increase in the number of providers, from 75 in Easter 2022 to 130 in Summer 2023. These providers, ranging from large national entities like Premier Education to local grassroots providers like Twinkles, have received around £5.9m in funding. The programme has led to procedural improvements for nearly 60% of providers between 2021-2023, enabled over 67 providers to improve their safeguarding knowledge and skills through the Safer Programme, and facilitated the attainment of the National Food Hygiene Certificate for 50 staff members.

Provider drop-in sessions, initiated in September 2022, have been instrumental in updating providers on programme developments and providing additional training. Quality assurance visits have been beneficial in offering advice, resolving issues, and ensuring adherence to funding requirements.

The programme has allocated up to 15% of its funding to support vulnerable children who do not receive means-tested free school meals. These children, including refugees, looked after children, and those in homes with domestic abuse or mental health issues, can access free places via an Awarded Place. The number of children referred for a place rose to 994 in 2023, up from a combined total of 409 in the previous two years.

The reasons for requesting an awarded place varied, with the top reason being to support the family or carer. Referrals mainly came from providers who knew the families, followed by schools. However, there were limited referrals from other organisations like the Safer Schools Team, Family Outreach, Community Focus Officers, and the NHS.

The programme has made significant strides in improving holiday activity provision for children with SEND. The number of specialist SEND providers increased from 4 to 12 by Easter 2023, offering approximately 1702 places. The percentage of SEND children participating in the programme also increased from 17% in Summer 2022 to 25% by Winter 2023.

Additional support for children with SEND was provided, including the option for parents to disclose if their child was awaiting a SEND diagnosis or already diagnosed. This allowed providers to better manage staffing and needs. Funding was made available for families to access additional one-to-one support.

The programme has emphasised the importance of healthy eating and providing meals, preferably hot, to participating children. This inclusion posed a challenge to most providers who were not accustomed to this aspect of their offer. To address this, the programme required all providers to have a Level 2 Food Hygiene certification, with 75 individuals obtaining this qualification directly from the programme by Easter 2024. The proportion of providers offering hot food increased between Winters 2022 and 2023.

The programme saw an increase in the number of children wanting to try healthy foods and do more cooking at home. Complaints about the food provision fell quickly from 2022, and food boxes distributed to attendees were well received.