Holiday Activity Clubs

This holiday provision is for children who receive benefits-related free school meals. It will of course be optional for eligible children to attend this provision if they wish.

Local authorities have been asked to ensure that the offer of free holiday club provision is available for all children eligible for benefit related free school meals in the Reading Borough Council area. There are approximately 4800 children eligible for benefit related free school meals attending school in Reading. We would not expect all eligible children to participate. The Company encourages service providers to make the holiday clubs available to any children or young person not eligible for benefit related free school meals, who can pay to attend.

Aims The aim of the programme is to make free places available to children and young people eligible for benefit related free school meals for the equivalent of at least 4 hours a day for 4 days over four weeks during the summer holidays, and to provide four hours a day for four days at Easter and Christmas. Service Providers will have flexibility about how they deliver this level of provision to best serve the needs of children and families in Reading. There will also be flexibility in how the programme can be delivered to older children. As a result of this, we want children and young people who attend this provision to: o eat more healthily over the school holidays; o be more active during the school holidays; o take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment; o be safe and not to be socially isolated; o have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition; o be more engaged with school and other local services.

It should be noted that this contract opportunity does not guarantee placements, as payment is based on the number of children and young people who are placed on the Scheme. This opportunity will be awarded to multiple providers to make sure there is a wide selection of choice for parents/guardians.