Agenda item

Cllr John Howson, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, Kate Reynolds, Deputy Director of Education, and Jessie Dobson, Partnership Youth Development Manager, have been invited to present the Annual Report on Holiday Activities and Food Programme.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

Cllr John Howson, Cabinet Member for Children, Education, and Young People’s Services, Kate Reynolds, Deputy Director of Education, and Jessie Dobson, Partnership Youth Development Manager, who joined online, were invited to present the Annual Report on Holiday Activities and Food Programme. Stephen Chandler, Executive Director (People), also attended to support officers and answer Member questions.

The Cabinet Member reported on the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF), a national grant-funded initiative since 2022, which aided children eligible for free school meals during holidays. Challenges included improving booking systems, ensuring attendance, addressing special needs, and better school-to-parent communication. The Deputy Director of Education highlighted the programme's support during the cost-of-living crisis and urged registration for means-tested free school meals.

Members enquired about the promotion of the HAF programme outside of schools to increase awareness. They questioned whether social media was being utilised effectively to reach adolescents.

Efforts to raise awareness included collaborating with district colleagues to inform local teams and workers who have relationships with young people. Information was shared in food banks, GP surgeries, and youth clubs. The targeted youth support service connected with young people in their communities. Detached youth work directly engaged with young people on the streets. The programme involved young people by partnering with schools to create a HAF ambassador programme, offering leadership opportunities and improving participation. The youth service conducted local outreach to understand desired activities from young people.

Additionally, digital channels such as the OxMe website and various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, were used to engage with young people directly.

Members discussed the 114 young people who attended HAF activities over Easter, each participating in four sessions. A detailed demographic breakdown was to be provided later following the meeting. Councillors were encouraged to promote the programme in their communities to boost awareness and participation.

To ensure access, especially in rural areas, minibus shuttles, workers picking up children individually, and potential use of school sites were all being considered. Other settings like village halls were also seen as a potential setting to offer a welcoming environment for children, including those with SEND. Fuel vouchers were also being explored to assist families with transportation costs. It was hoped that these measures would reduce the number of cancellations as well as boosting uptake of the HAF.

A targeted programme was starting the following week to improve uptake among vulnerable groups, including SEND children and those on child protection plans. This involved working with internal teams and social workers to identify and support eligible children. Social workers were notified of specific children to engage families and increase programme participation.

Feedback from parents of SEND children highlighted unpredictability in provision days as a barrier. Efforts were underway to enhance specialist provision and make all offers more inclusive. The programme aimed to offer various options for SEND children to choose activities that suited their needs and preferences.

The Committee AGREED on the following action:

• The Partnership Youth Development Officer would share with Members a breakdown of the data showing the users and providers of the service, and the schools which took part in the scheme. The officer would also provide the data for the sessions being missed.

The Committee made no formal recommendation to the Cabinet and NOTED the report.