Easter HAF ProgrammeThe HAF programme welcomed over 1,700 children into clubs this Easter. Across West Sussex, children took part in a wide variety of different activities including Kayaking, basketball, skateboarding and farm school. A massive 6,048 sessions were booked in total! We are proud to offer a wide variety of experiences for children eligible for benefit related free school meals whilst meeting the aims of the HAF programme which are:
After Easter, our HAF feedback survey was sent out to all families that are registered for the HAF booking system. Over 97% of respondents said their child had a good time and over 76% said their child tried something new. Here are some of the comments we received: "(HAF)Allowed me to get my children into activities they might not be able to otherwise. Free cost, convenience location and safe environment. Allows me a break as a full-time mother single parent with no support network.” "(HAF) made her friends for life and proof she can trust teachers. As a solo parent to a SEN child, both need that break, she is happy and has a good day, which improves our mental health” We look forward to welcoming even more children onto the HAF programme this summer and have another exciting range of activities planned. Details of how to book and when are at the end of the page. Keeping your family healthy - a message from Public HealthThe West Sussex Public Health team is pleased to share a range of information, resources, and practical advice to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family. The information "Padlet" contains links to a wide range of services including online safety, oral health, how to keep busy over half term and NHS Healthy eating recipes for children. Please click the "more information" button below to find out more. Community HubsBest Start Family Hubs are local hubs where families can access a range of services all in one place. Whether it's free classes, events and activities, help with your children before they start school or finance and housing advice - the hubs will either provide these services directly or connect you to the right local support. In West Sussex, all our hubs now offer free stay and play sessions. Stay and play sessions are for children aged 0-5 and their families and offer fun, structured activities to support early learning. At your local hub you will find a warm, safe space to play and meet other families. Click the link below to find your local hub. NHS Healthy StartIf you are pregnant or have a child under the age of four, you may be entitled to extra help to buy milk, fruit, vegetables or infant formula. If you are eligible, you will be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in your local supermarket. You can also get vitamins to support you through pregnancy and vitamin drops for babies and young children. To learn more about Healthy Start and check if you are eligible, please click the link below. Best Start in Life HubsBest Start Family Hubs are local hubs where families can access a range of services all in one place. Whether it's free classes, events and activities, help with your children before they start school or finance and housing advice - the hubs will either provide these services directly or connect you to the right local support. In West Sussex, all our hubs now offer free stay and play sessions. Stay and play sessions are for children aged 0-5 and their families and offer fun, structured activities to support early learning. At your local hub you will find a warm, safe space to play and meet other families. Click the link below to find your local hub. Thinking of Becoming a Childminder?Becoming a childminder is more than a job — it’s a chance to make a lasting difference in children’s lives, giving them the confidence, care and support they need to thrive from the very start. Childminding offers a unique opportunity to nurture children from birth upwards, helping them learn, grow and discover the world around them. Every day brings new moments to inspire young minds and support their development. It’s also a career that can fit around your life. With the flexibility to work from your own home or alongside others in a local setting, you can build a working day that suits you — even while caring for your own children. Alongside this comes the exciting opportunity to run your own business, grow your skills and create something truly your own. The West Sussex Children Young People and Learning team are hosting an online event, "Thinking of Becoming a Childminder". It is designed for West Sussex residents who are curious about this rewarding path and want to explore what it could mean for them. Click the link to find out more and register for the event. Summer HAF ProgrammePlaces on the Summer HAF programme will be available to book using the online booking system from 9am on the 8th of June. We have allocated over £1.1 Million for HAF activities over the Summer holidays and are excited to offer eligible children a wide range of activities to keep them active and entertained! Each eligible child can access up to 16 free sessions, each session will include a free nutritious meal. As always, places are available on a first come, first serve basis so please be sure to book your place as soon as possible! If your child requires additional support whilst attending a HAF club, please be sure to discuss this with your chosen provider as soon as you book. This gives the best chance of the provider being able to put the support in place for your child. Please also ensure that your booking system account is kept up to date so that when you make a booking, the provider gets as much information as possible to be able to support your child. Every holiday period, a large amount of HAF funding is wasted on sessions that are booked but not attended. We understand that sometimes this is unavoidable but where possible, please always let the provider know so that they can offer the space to someone else. If you are unable to contact the provider directly, you can also email the HAF team. If you have any questions or require support making your booking, please contact the HAF team on HAF@westsussex.gov.uk |