General FAQ

All activities can be found on our website, you can search for an activity by distance from your home, area, activity and age.

Food vouchers to the value of £15 per week will be provided for children eligible for free school meals over the 2023/24 holidays, from Easter (2 weeks), Whitsun (1 week), Summer (6 weeks), October (1 week), Christmas (2 weeks) and February (1 week) holidays in 2024. Your child’s school will send out these vouchers, not the authority

Please note, this does not include children who receive a free meal under the Universal Free Meal Scheme that is available to all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

Visit the Website or call 0121 569 8186 or 8189 / email education_benefits@sandwell.gov.uk

If your child receives Benefit Related Free School Meals or has an EHCP, are Looked After or have No Recourse to Public Funding you will receive a HAF E-voucher with a unique code each holiday period via email or text (a bit like the FSM supermarket vouchers) you will need this code to book activities. Book activities through the Link within the email or text.

If your child does not receive Benefit Related Free School Meals then contact the provider directly.

All providers have to submit their safeguarding policies and DBS information. Caregivers and children can feel completely reassured that we continually work with all our provisions and make monitoring visits to ensure they are creating a safe environment for children in their care and are protected from any harm.

In some family activities, parents must stay with their children. Due to safeguarding, parents cannot stay with their kids in some activities. We will inform whether the family activity involves the participation of parents or not. If your child is hesitant, parents can talk with the providers to find ways to reassure the child to stay.

You know and understand your child’s needs and abilities best. The activity descriptions and essential information will help you to decide. If in doubt, contact the provider who will be able to discuss this with you.

Please contact the provider directly if your child is unable to attend any of the activities

Many families in Sandwell could get free school meals but don’t claim for them. Your child may be entitled to free school meals if:

• your annual income is less than £16,190; and
• you claim Child Tax Credit (*Not Including Working Tax Credit) only; and
• your child is attending a Sandwell School (if your child doesn’t attend a Sandwell School, you will need to apply to the Local Authority in which your child school is)

Please email education_benefits@sandwell.gov.uk

If you have any enquiries regarding free school meals or for more information visit: Sandwell Free School Meals

This will depend on the provider, the activity and your circumstances. The provider will be able to confirm this with you once your place has been confirmed.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 allow us to hold information about children and families as part of our duty to support families.

However, the law says we must:

• only hold information that we need for the delivery of the programme
• only use the information for that reason
• make sure the information we hold is accurate
• keep the information only for as long as it is needed
• make sure we only use the data lawfully and do not breach your rights as the owner of this information
• keep the data secure at all times.

Once registered, we will share your child’s personal information with providers who deliver the activity and holiday programme only for the delivery of the programme. Information about how the Council uses your data is available at Sandwell Privacy Notice

Our activities aim to include your child’s needs wherever and whenever possible. There are a couple of activities that are specific to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This is indicated on the booking site. Each activity describes the activity, and what your child can expect. This will help you to decide if this activity could meet your child’s needs.

Please book your child into activities that you feel will meet their interest and ability. The activity provider may be in touch with you to further understand your child’s need and discuss any additional support your child may need to engage in the activity they booked onto. If you wish to discuss your child’s needs with the provider then you can contact them directly.