Government extends programme that could save families £800 a year

• The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which provides free meals and activities for children from low-income families during school holidays, is being extended for three more years.
• The Department for Education is investing £600 million into the HAF programme, which supports children eligible for free school meals from Reception to Year 11.
• The extension aims to help working families on free school meals save over £800 annually, and generally helps parents save more than £300 a year.
• This announcement coincides with the full rollout of 30 hours a week of funded childcare for children older than nine months in England, starting next week.
• Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has urged eligible parents to utilise the funded childcare offer, while charities have welcomed the HAF programme's extension.

IN FULL

£600 million injected to extend support for poorer children during school holidays