The Department for Education (DfE) have provided every local authority in England funding to coordinate free holiday provision, including healthy food and enriching activities for children eligible for benefits related free school meals (FSM). Referred to as the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) the funding provided is for the Easter, summer and Christmas Holidays; the County Council has an allocation of up to £1,746,440 for the 2022 HAF programme.
Expressions of Interest (EOI) have been received from a range of organisations in West Sussex to provide activities and food during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. Following an evaluation of these EOI a range of organisations were awarded funding for one week of the Easter holidays; this resulted in the expenditure of £291,172.
As the provision for the summer holidays will be for a 4-week period this will result in expenditure of over £500k, requiring an officer key decision. This report seeks approval to distribute the funding to organisations whose offer has met the required criteria and outlines the proposed arrangements for the remainder of the funding allocation the County Council will receive.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Divisions affected: (All Divisions);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 09/02/2022
Decision due: Between 10 March 2022 and 30 December 2022 by Assistant Director (Education and Skills) (Paul Wagstaff)
Lead member: Assistant Director (Education and Skills) (Paul Wagstaff)
Lead director: Paul Wagstaff
Contact: Rachel Conway, Project Manager - Education and Skills Email: rachel.conway@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 27209.
Consultation process
Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Assistant Director (Education & Skills), via the officer contact.
Consultees
Holiday Providers including schools, colleges, sports clubs and childcare providers.
Democratic Services Contact: Wendy Saunders Tel: 033 022 22553