Food and Nutrition guidance

Overview

All providers must provide at least 1 meal per day (breakfast, lunch or an evening meal) and all food provided at HAF clubs (including snacks) must meet the School Food Standards, which set out foods and drinks that must be provided, and foods that are restricted or prohibited.

Read the allergy guidance for schools for more information, resources and guidance. Though DfE announced its intent to revise the school food Standards in June 2025, the current Standards remain in place until further notice.

For some children, the opportunity to enjoy a hot meal at a HAF club is important and our aspiration is that providers should, where possible, try to offer hot meals to children attending HAF clubs. However, we recognise this is not always possible and alternatives may sometimes be more practical.

If a provider offers both HAF-funded and non-HAF-funded places, it is vital that all children attending receive the same food offer to ensure all children receive a high-quality, stigma-free experience.

If children in non-HAF-funded places bring a packed lunch, then it is important to ensure that HAF-funded children have a similar option. This could be fulfilled through the provider supplying packed lunches for HAF-funded children. All packed lunches must meet school food standards.

Alternatively, providers who cater on-site could consider making the same healthy food available to all children, but with an additional charge for those in non-HAF funded places.

All food provided as part of the HAF programme must:

• comply with regulations on food preparation
• consider allergies and dietary requirements and comply with food information regulations, read the allergy guidance for schools
• consider any religious or cultural requirements for food
• comply with the school food standards

There is flexibility with regard to food provision, which should be tailored to meet the dietary needs of children and families who attend HAF. Food should be appropriate for the nature of the session, such as cold packed lunches for parks or outdoor venues or day trips.

While there can be benefits to using central food services to provide meals to HAF clubs, providers should carefully consider whether they provide high quality, appealing and tailored meals for those attending HAF clubs. Preparing food on site may reduce waste, generate less packaging waste and reduce food-miles compared to centralised provision.

Preparing food on site can also create opportunities to engage children and families in food preparation and learning about nutrition. Evidence shows that when children are involved in designing menus and preparing food, they are more engaged and willing to try new and healthier foods. We encourage holiday club providers to prioritise approaches that involve children in the planning and preparation of food, as this can drive long-term improvements in nutrition and food engagement.