Developing Derbyshire’s Remote Holiday Offer
Background
Since 2022, the Derbyshire Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme has provided a remote holiday offer to support families during school holidays. Delivered through the It’s About Me team, the offer includes Primary-age and Secondary-age Activity Packs, which have proved incredibly popular with families since their introduction.
Recognising the importance of continually developing the offer to meet families’ changing needs and interests, the team sought feedback from its network of families in early 2026.
Understanding Family Needs
The team surveyed families to understand what they valued most about the Activity Packs, which activities they wanted to see included and the factors influencing their choices.
The findings provided valuable insight into how families use the packs and highlighted opportunities to make the offer more inclusive and engaging.
Key findings included:
- Repeat engagement: Most families reported ordering Activity Packs repeatedly, demonstrating sustained interest in the offer.
- Complementary provision: 53% of surveyed families also attended a HAF club, highlighting how the remote offer can complement in-person holiday activities.
- Accessibility and inclusion: Among families who did not attend a HAF club, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) requirements were frequently identified as a contributing factor.
- Extended engagement: Children often used their Activity Packs over multiple days, demonstrating their value as an ongoing holiday resource.
- Popular interests: Arts and crafts and music emerged as the most requested themes, helping the team understand which activities families were most keen to access.
Developing the Offer
The feedback highlighted the need to broaden the range of Activity Packs available, ensuring that children could access activities suited to their interests, ages and individual needs.
In response, the It’s About Me team expanded its offer in 2026, introducing four additional packs:
- STEM Secondary – activities focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics for secondary-age children.
- STEM Primary – engaging STEM activities designed for primary-age children.
- SEND Secondary – a pack developed to better support the needs of secondary-age children with special educational needs and disabilities.
- SEND Primary – a pack designed to better support the needs of primary-age children with special educational needs and disabilities.
This expansion builds on the success of the original Activity Packs while providing families with a wider choice of resources tailored to different age groups and needs.
Impact and Learning
The survey demonstrated the value of listening directly to families when developing holiday provision. By gathering feedback on how the packs were used, which activities children enjoyed and what barriers families experienced, the team was able to identify practical opportunities to strengthen the remote HAF offer.
The introduction of dedicated STEM and SEND packs represents an important step towards providing a more varied and inclusive offer. It also reinforces the role of remote provision in complementing face-to-face HAF activities and supporting families who may face barriers to attending clubs.
Looking Ahead
The continued development of the Activity Packs reflects the It’s About Me team’s commitment to responding to family feedback and improving access to engaging holiday activities.
Building on the findings from the 2026 survey, the team can continue to review family preferences, explore opportunities to incorporate popular themes such as arts and crafts and music, and ensure the packs remain relevant, accessible and enjoyable for children across Derbyshire.