SOL - Holiday Activity Fund FCA (2024)

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is to establish a Flexible Contracting Agreement (FCA) covering Holiday Activity Fund Services which will be open for use by SMBC (linked to SOL - 14927). As a result of this programme, we want children who attend this provision to:

• eat healthily over the school holidays
• be active during the school holidays
• take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment
• be safe and not to be socially isolated
• have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
• be more engaged with school and other local services

Holiday provision is for school aged children from Reception to Year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals. Benefits-related free school meals (referred to as FSM) are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits and have a claim verified by their Local Authority. As of November 2023, there were 9665 children who attend a Solihull school, registered as FSM from Reception to Year 11.

Providers are asked to ensure that the offer of free holiday club provision is available for all children in receipt of FSM in their area, though this does not mean we expect all to attend as the provision is voluntary.

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England's state-funded schools receive a free meal under the Department for Education's universal infant free school mean (UIFSM) policy. Infant pupils who receive a free meal under UIFSM must also be eligible for benefits-related FSM to be able to access a place on the HAF programme.

This FCA broadly covers:

1. Activities

Enrichment activities

Holiday clubs must provide fun and enriching activities that provide children with opportunities to:

• develop new skills or knowledge
• consolidate existing skills and knowledge
• try out new experiences
• have fun and socialise

This could include but is not limited to:

• physical activities, for example, football, swimming, table tennis or cricket
• creative activities, for example, putting on a play, junk modelling or drumming workshops
• experiences, for example, a nature walk or visiting a city farm
• free play, for example, fun and freedom to relax and enjoy themselves

Physical activities

Holiday clubs must provide activities that meet the physical activity guidelines on a daily basis. In line with those guidelines, we expect:

• All children and young people participating in the HAF programme should engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for an average of at least 60 minutes per day. It should be noted that this does not have to be in the form of a structured activity session, but can include active travel, free play and sports.
• Children and young people participating in the HAF programme should engage in a variety of types and intensities of phy...

Additional information: To apply for this contract please register with CSW-JETS using the following link www.csw-jets.co.uk

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No