Eligibility Criteria for the Lincolnshire Holiday Activities and Food

Please provide copies of the following recorded information relating to the changes made to the discretionary eligibility criteria for the Lincolnshire Holiday Activities and Food

(HAF) programme for Summer 2026.

1.  All guidance, briefing notes, policy documents and communications issued to schools regarding the revised discretionary HAF eligibility

criteria.

2.  Any reports, presentations, briefing papers, decision records, minutes or notes of meetings relating to the decision to change the discretionary eligibility criteria.

3. The date on which the revised discretionary eligibility criteria were approved and the job title of the individual, officer or committee responsible for approving the changes.

4.  Any Equality Impact Assessment, Equality Analysis or other assessment undertaken in relation to the revised discretionary eligibility criteria.

5.  Any correspondence between Lincolnshire County Council and the Department for Education relating to the revised discretionary HAF eligibility criteria for the 2026 programme.

6. Any internal emails, briefing notes or recorded communications discussing the reasons for changing the discretionary eligibility criteria from previous years.

7.  Any documents explaining the rationale for restricting discretionary HAF places to children with attendance below 85% or those considered at risk of low attendance.

8.  Any documents explaining the operation of the 'School Recommendation' and 'Professional Recommendation' eligibility routes within the EEQU HAF booking system, including:

a) which eligibility routes are used by Lincolnshire County Council;

b) who is authorised to issue recommendation codes;

c) the criteria for issuing recommendation codes; and

d) the process by which recommendation codes are allocated.

9. Any guidance issued to schools or professionals explaining how children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who are not eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals may be considered for discretionary HAF places.

1. School News 27/02/2026 , schools would have previously received communication from Holiday activities booking site. • School News 12/06/2026 • June HAF presented at Headteachers Leadership briefing across Lincolnshire • Email sent to schools 16/06/26 • School News 10/07/2026

2. The Local Authority does not hold any minutes or notes of meetings specifically relating to the decision to amend the discretionary eligibility criteria. The Department for Education's HAF guidance makes clear that the use of discretionary criteria is the local authorities decision, allowing them to determine whether discretionary arrangements are used and to take account of local priorities. In considering changes to the discretionary eligibility criteria, the LA reviewed local demand and funding pressures. Particular consideration was given to: • The significant increase in the number of requests received under the discretionary criteria, which had resulted in expenditure reaching the limits of the available funding allocation. • An increase in the number of children eligible under the national criteria for families in receipt of benefit related Free School Meals (FSM). • The need to ensure available funding could be targeted towards nationally prescribed eligibility groups. • Alignment with local strategic priorities, including the objectives and priorities set out within the Best Start in Life Strategy.

3. HAF Budget & Decisions Fri 30/01/2026 13:00 - 14:00 TEAMS meeting Head of Service, Early Years and Childcare Support Sustainability and Development Manager Senior Project Officer , Early Years and Childcare Support Commissioning Manager - Children's Services

4. No formal HAF Equality Impact Assessment was completed as part of the review process. Although consideration was given to the potential impact of the changes through existing evidence and assessments, including the Council's annual Equality Report and data within the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme Annual Reports. These reports inform understanding of the needs of children and families across protected and disadvantaged groups, local levels of deprivation, and patterns of demand for support. Consideration was also given to the increasing demand for discretionary places, available funding, statutory eligibility requirements, and the Local Authority's strategic priorities. Whilst no separate Equality Impact Assessment was produced specifically in relation to the revised discretionary eligibility criteria, equality considerations formed part of the wider review through reference to existing corporate and service level reporting. Equality, diversity and inclusion annual report 2024 to 2025 – Services - Lincolnshire County Council Holiday Activities and Food Programme – HAF Annual Report 2025 - 2026 - Lincolnshire County Council

5. This is not a requirement and DfE do not require LA’s to offer discretionary places. HAF guidance 2026 states: Discretionary use of HAF funding: supporting additional children The core purpose of the programme is to support disadvantaged children and young people from low-income families who are eligible for free school meals. Local authorities have discretion to use some of their funding (we expect up to 15%) to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for school-age children who do not meet the eligibility criteria but who the local authority believe could benefit from HAF. It is the local authority’s decision whether to use any or all of the 15% flexible funding in this way, and what criteria they place on it, in line with the core purpose of the programme targeted at the most in need. Local authorities are not required to seek written approval from DfE for the use of this flexibility. In deciding which school-age children should benefit from the 15% flexible funding, local authorities should ensure that these places are aligned to their local priorities. Local authorities are expected to continue to monitor and report on this element of their expenditure and ensure it remains within the limit.

6. 10/02/26 HAF post delivery Team meeting and review • 07/04/2026 Email sent to internal Social Care, Family Help and SEND Teams

7. HAF discretionary places are not restricted to children and young people with low attendance , this is the primary focus; however professional referrals are still accepted.

8.Benefit related FSM Children and Young people are automaticallt accepted through the booking site Professional recommendations via email to HAF team Schools offer 10% discretionary allocation

b) The LA HAF Team issue code based on schools and professional recommendation within the 10% discretionary limit.

c) Professional recommendations Schools 10% discretionary allocation

d) Schools are emailed directly with their allocated codes, which they can then share with families they have identified as meeting the discretionary criteria. Professional recommendations process:

9. Please see attached documents.

Should you require the attachments mentioned above please contact customerinformationservice@lincolnshire.gov.uk with the below reference number and this can be provided.