Bromley’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme annual report

The focus for Easter 2025 was to further enhance the quality of provision by increasing the variety of activities and opportunities available, with the aim of improving both bookings and attendance. This was achieved through the development of new partnerships with local organisations and by working closely with existing providers to incorporate engaging, low-cost trips into their programmes. Children and young people were able to access a diverse range of activities, including yoga and wellbeing sessions, survival skills workshops, and young engineering classes, alongside trips to destinations such as farms, beaches, and cinemas. Participation levels were strong, with a total of 1,085 unique children attending the Easter 2025 programme.

Summer 2025 saw the highest level of participation across the year, with 1,630 unique children attending provision. This included 1,200 primary school-aged children and 430 secondary school-aged children, demonstrating strong engagement across both age groups and reflecting the continued popularity and reach of the programme.

Participation remained high during Winter 2025, with 874 unique children attending provision. Of these, 606 were primary school-aged children and 268 were secondary school-aged children, highlighting the continued demand for holiday support and enriching activities during the winter holiday period.

Across all holiday periods in 2025, a total of 3,589 unique children participated in the HAF programme. This included 2,532 primary school-aged children and 1,057 secondary school-aged children. Summer provision accounted for the largest proportion of attendance, followed by Easter and Winter delivery. Overall, primary school-aged children represented approximately 71 per cent of all participants, demonstrating the programme's continued success in engaging younger children while maintaining strong participation among secondary-aged young people.

The increase in participation across all holiday periods reflects the continued demand for high-quality holiday provision and highlights the positive impact of broadening the programme offer through new partnerships, enhanced activities, and targeted promotion across the borough.

Overall, the data demonstrates sustained engagement throughout the year, with participation levels remaining strong across all holiday periods. While primary school-aged children continue to form the largest proportion of attendees, engagement among secondary-aged young people remains significant and continues to show positive growth. This consistent level of participation highlights the ongoing need for, and value of, the HAF programme in supporting children, young people, and families across Bromley. The continued increase in attendance also reflects the success of the programme in providing accessible, high-quality holiday provision that responds to local need and delivers meaningful outcomes for participants.

Number of unique children accessing holiday provision in 2025

Summary of key points

• Total unique children across all holiday periods: 3,589.
• Primary school children: 2,532 (70.5 per cent of all participants)
• Secondary school children: 1,057 (29.5 per cent of all participants)

By holiday period

• Summer 2025 had the highest participation with 1,630 children (45.4 per cent of the annual total).
• Easter 2025 reached 1,085 children (30.2 per cent).
• Winter 2025 reached 874 children (24.4 per cent).

Children with SEND or Additional Needs

The HAF programme provides a comprehensive and inclusive offer for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), ensuring that provision is accessible, supportive, and responsive to a wide range of requirements. This includes the delivery of specialist provision, such as dedicated sessions with enhanced staffing ratios, including 1:1 support where required. In addition, many mainstream settings are designed to be inclusive, enabling children with SEND to participate alongside their peers in a supportive environment. Activities are carefully adapted, and targeted support is put in place to ensure that all children are able to engage meaningfully and benefit fully from the programme. The SEND Holiday Provision programme supported 664 children across the Easter, Summer and Winter holiday periods in 2025. Of these, 468 were primary school-aged children and 196 were secondary school-aged children, meaning primary-aged children represented 70.5 per cent of all SEND participants, while secondary-aged children accounted for 29.5 per cent.

The data clearly demonstrates a growing demand for both SEND-inclusive and specialist provision. As awareness of the programme increases and more families seek appropriate support, there is a corresponding need to expand capacity and enhance access to suitable services. Meeting this demand will remain a key priority for the future development of the programme, ensuring that all children, regardless of need, can benefit from high-quality, inclusive provision. Continued progress in this area will be dependent on the availability of funding, alongside ongoing partnership working to strengthen and diversify the SEND offer.

2025 SEND holiday provision participation by holiday period and school phase