Parents to save thousands in government cost of living support with HAF

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme has been extended with the government, through the Department for Education, set to invest £600 million over three years. 

A week out from the start of the new school term, the government has delivered a boost for families by investing more to cover the cost of childcare fees in term time and school holidays.  

Parents using the 30 hours can save up to £7,500 a year, which can be better spent on quality family time and comes as a massive salve for parents who have been struggling with the cost-of-living pressure that we inherited.   

But ministers are urging families to apply within the next three days, or risk losing out on this generational offer from this September. 

The scheme – which covers children from 9 months until reception – will support more children to be ‘school-ready’ and set them up to achieve better results in school. That delivers a key priority in the Plan for Change – to give children the best start in life.  

This comes as £600 million is also being invested to extend the Holiday Activities and Food programme for another three years. This supports children from lower-income families by providing free meals and enriching activities during school holidays. It helps close the development gap, boosts confidence and social skills, and has already reached over half a million children in the past year.  

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme helps parents to make savings of over £300 a year.