Government extends holiday free meals programme
2 mins read
Monday 1 September 2025
The Department for Education (DfE) is extending the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for another three years.
The HAF programme provides free meals and activities outside of term time to children who get free school meals for benefits reasons. It ensures those from lower-income households don’t go without during the school holidays.
The DfE estimates that over half a million children benefited in the past year, saving their parents over £300. It has committed £600 million to extending the programme.
The HAF programme helps children eligible for free school meals from households in receipt of income-related benefits. The DfE announced earlier this year that from September 2026, children from all households receiving Universal Credit will get free school meals. Currently, if you get Universal Credit, whether your child gets free school meals depends on your income.
If you think your child is eligible for free school meals and the HAF programme, talk to the school.
Many disabled children are entitled to free school meals, but struggle to access them because of their disability or medical condition. Schools have a legal duty to make “reasonable adjustments” to the way they deliver free school lunches.
Use our legal guide and these template letters to ask your school for a food voucher. This includes if your child is in receipt of an EOTAS package.
