Solihull Council’s Easter HAF programme kicks off on 28 March, providing a wide range of fun and innovative sessions for children, right across the borough.
The HAF programme provides funded places for families eligible for benefits related free school meals. The programme consists of over 30 providers across more than 40 locations, offering a range of activities for children who need support over the holidays, including those with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).
The children’s activities for the Easter programme will run from Monday 30 March to Friday 10 April. Activities include arts & crafts, cooking, swimming, plus a wide range of sports from dodgeball to darts and tennis to football. New provision for Easter includes a forest school running at Mill Pool Woods, coding in north Solihull for the first time at Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst, and youth boxing sessions at Winnr Boxing Academy.
A range of family activities for children and parents/carers including swimming, badminton and table tennis are available on various days across the holidays at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre and North Solihull Sports Centre. Similarly, tennis and Active Antz soft play (under 8s) are additionally available at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre. Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens are also offering a family pass and ice skating sessions are available at Planet Ice. Participants in family activities will be provided with a free meal, excluding Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens.
All eligible and registered families should now have received an email with a unique code per child, this Solihull HAF code is required for bookings. If families are in receipt of benefits related free school meals with a child attending a school out of borough, this form should be completed to apply for a place.
Many of the same sessions can still be booked at great value prices for families not eligible for a free HAF place. As well as HAF, there are Easter activities and events during the holidays, across Solihull and beyond, both free and chargeable.
Cllr Karen Grinsell, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Deputy Leader of Solihull Council, said:
“Our Solihull HAF programme is running again this Easter holiday, providing places for children who are eligible for benefits related free school meals. I’m extremely pleased that our offer continues to grow, with new activities and venues coming online, meaning more choice for families. A range of activities from multi-sports to cooking, and coding to forest school – there really is something for everyone.”
“Family activities also feature, with sessions at our leisure centres, outdoor activities and ice skating – allowing parent’s and carers to join in activities with their children”.
Sam Halton, owner of Brightside Forest School, said:
“We are really pleased to be able to add our outdoor forest school sessions to the existing HAF programme. We are passionate about hands on exploration in the outdoors to encourage creativity, confidence, social skills and critical thinking. Fun activities that involve connections with nature are proven to reduce stress and anxiety, improving children’s emotional well-being.”
For information, questions or to book activities, visit the activities directory page.