Holiday play schemes can improve the development of children with limited English, LGA finds
Joe Lepper
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
“Significant developmental value” for children with limited English language skills can be gained through their attendance of play-based holiday provision, research by the Local Government Association (LGA) suggests.
The findings have emerged in an analysis of holiday play schemes in Cambridgeshire funded through the government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) and attended by more than 140 Ukrainian families.
This looked in detail at the impact of the schemes on one Ukrainian girl, known as child D, who has “very limited English”.
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She attended for 64 hours through the HAF with additional hours funded by her mother’s employer to ensure she could continue working.
The child’s class teacher “noted significant transformation in her spoken English” during her first three months attending the play scheme, according to the LGA analysis.
Another benefit was that her mother has been “able to continue generating an income for the family, reducing their reliance on benefits”.
The child is continuing to attend the play schemes during school holidays due to its positive impact on her development and her family’s income.
According to the LGA “there can be significant developmental value to be gained by attending a play-based holiday provision for children who have limited English”.
It notes that the holiday play schemes run by Cambridgeshire County Council have seen HAF funding directed to support recently arrived refugee families.
“The impact on these families has been positive in terms of support with employment, friendship building and language development of children,” adds the LGA’s analysis.
Richmond council is among other local authorities looking to bolster support for Ukrainian children and their families.
It has issued a plea to residents to sponsor and house refugees through the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme. It says there is a particular need for volunteers with space for families with children. Hosts are offered £350 a month through the scheme to subsidise costs involved.
In June last year the government pledged £200m each year for HAF schemes, which is for children who are eligible for free school meals.
