Disabled children missing out on free holiday activities
2 mins read
Thursday 23 July 2026
Disabled children from low-income families are missing out on free government holiday activities, the Children’s Commissioner in England is warning.
A report published this week finds that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are a third less likely to access the government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme than other children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Disabled children are missing out due to activities being too far away, inaccessible or lacking the support these children need.
The Commissioner calls on the government to provide a fully-inclusive HAF programme, accessible transport and extra support for disabled children.
The HAF programme provides free holiday clubs, healthy meals and activities for children receiving free school meals. Local authorities administer the programme in their area.
Contact has previously called for better provision of holiday activities for disabled children. Our Head of Policy Una Summerson says:
“Too often we hear from families with disabled children who are dreading the summer holidays. They know it means increased isolation and lack of social contact as their children are left out of activities with their peers. We support the Children’s Commissioners calls for funding to ensure the HAF programme is fully-inclusive. And we would like to see a percentage of activities prioritised for disabled children, and training for providers on SEND and reasonable adjustments.”
We know that getting a day out as a family that’s safe and welcoming is a rarity. These trips can lead to lasting friendships and new experiences for families. Our teams in Ealing and Lambeth has received some HAF funding for day trips for families with disabled children in the borough.