Free school meals? Your kid could get fed, entertained, and maybe even meet an alpaca this summer

Free meals, fun activities and help with childcare if your child gets free school meals, but you need to apply. Here’s how it works.

If your child gets free school meals during term time, you could be missing out on something pretty brilliant in the school holidays!

They can get free food, free childcare, and free activities (including some stuff you’d never expect, like graffiti workshops or alpaca walking).

It’s all part of the government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF). And while it’s been around for a few years now, lots of families still don’t realise what they’re entitled to or that they need to apply each time.

Here’s what you need to know to make the most of it.

What exactly is it?

The HAF programme is funded by the government but run by local councils. It gives children from low-income households the chance to take part in fun, enriching activities during the big school holidays (Easter, summer and Christmas) and get at least one free meal a day while they’re there.

Think of it as a holiday club, but one that doesn’t empty your bank account.

Every council does it slightly differently, but they all have to provide:

• 4 days of activities over Easter
• 4 weeks in the summer (or 3 if the holiday is shorter)
• 4 days over Christmas

Some councils go above and beyond that, so your child might get even more.

What kind of activities am I talking about?

This isn’t just crayons and crackers in a school hall.

My local council offers a lot of standard activities like football, netball and tennis.

But, the council one over from us are offering junior lifeguard training, water polo, kayaking, graffiti workshops, and alpaca walking (yes, really)!

How cool does all that sound? And remember it’s all FREE!

So your child could come home full of food, worn out from the day, and with a brand new obsession with Peruvian livestock.

Who can get it?

If your child gets benefits-related free school meals, they should be eligible, even if they’re not old enough to eat them yet (like if they’re in reception or nursery, but you’ve already qualified).

It doesn’t include kids who only get universal infant free school meals. This is just for families on lower incomes.

Children need to be aged 4 and up, and you’ll need to apply for each holiday: it’s not automatic.

How do you apply?

Each council does things their own way. Some:

• Send you a special HAF code via school to book sessions
• Use an online booking system
• Run walk-in sessions
• Offer small grants you can use to book local activities

You’ll need to check your local council’s website or give them a ring. You can find them easily by searching “holiday food and activities [your area]” or use the gov.uk find your council tool.

Some areas also offer food vouchers

In some places, you might also get £15 a week in supermarket vouchers during the holidays, per child.

This comes from the Household Support Fund, and again, it’s up to your council whether they offer this, and whether you need to apply or not.

It’s a bit of a postcode lottery, but it’s definitely worth checking with your local council.

Don’t wait for them to tell you! Many families miss out just because they didn’t ask.

Read next: 100 budget-friendly summer activities for kids

What if you’re in Scotland?

Scotland doesn’t run the same HAF programme, but there is still help with holiday food.

If your child gets income-based free school meals, most councils will automatically send you money towards food during the school holidays, around £2.50 per child, per weekday.

Some councils pay more. In Midlothian, for example, families get:

• £4.20 a day for primary kids
• £4.80 a day for secondary pupils

The key thing is that you must have applied for income-based free school meals, not just be getting the universal meals given to kids in P1 to P5.

Final thought

Whether you need help with childcare, you’re dreading the cost of lunch every day, or your child just needs something to do that doesn’t involve staring at a screen, this support is there for you.

It’s free. It’s genuinely good. And it could make the summer holidays a bit easier for everyone.

So don’t miss out. Check what your council offers, get your application in, and let someone else worry about what’s for lunch.