Easter Sports, Food and Activity, HAF Review
Passmores Venue, Harlow
Free Healthy, School Meals Provided: 642
The Easter HAF programme demonstrated strong leadership and effective workforce development, following a period of intentional team rebuilding. Staff and young leaders were well prepared, confident in their roles, and consistently delivered high‑quality sessions. Their professionalism and enthusiasm created a safe, inclusive, and positive environment in which children were well supported and motivated to participate.
Safeguarding arrangements were effective throughout the programme. Staff maintained clear supervision and strong relationships with children and families, ensuring children felt safe and supported. The involvement of young leaders provided positive role modelling and contributed to improved behaviour, confidence, and engagement. Adaptations to the physical environment, including the use of the school’s main hall and reception access, further strengthened safeguarding at arrival and collection times.
The quality of provision was consistently high, with a broad and well‑planned curriculum that included arts, sports, and enrichment activities. New activities such as indoor archery and skateboarding were introduced successfully, enabling children to develop new skills and sustain high levels of engagement. Sessions were inclusive and accessible, allowing all children to experience success and enjoyment.
Health and wellbeing were a clear priority. Nutritional education was effectively embedded into daily activities through interactive workshops and games, making healthy eating engaging and age‑appropriate. Evidence from staff observations showed increased willingness among children to choose fruit and healthier food options, indicating positive learning outcomes linked to the programme.
The programme responded effectively to local need. Demand exceeded anticipated capacity, highlighting the importance of the provision within the community. Additional funding enabled us to extend places to families otherwise unable to access support, increasing participation and strengthening peer interaction. Children benefited from extended opportunities for socialisation, teamwork, and positive play.
Operational challenges were minimal and managed well. A temporary change of venue and a single instance of site double‑booking were resolved promptly through effective communication and partnership working with the school. These issues did not disrupt delivery or negatively affect children’s experiences.
Overall, the Easter HAF programme was well led, safely managed, and effective in meeting the needs of children and families. The provision promoted positive behaviour, wellbeing, and engagement, and delivered clear benefits for participants through high‑quality activities, strong safeguarding, and responsive leadership.
