Councils are concerned that the most vulnerable families are missing out on benefits of their holiday activity and food (HAF) schemes for low-income families.
Those running the Government-funded funded HAF programme, which offers activities and meals outside of term time, blamed transport problems, digital exclusion and lack of awareness, as well as stigma around taking part.
The Local Government Association (LGA) warned that ‘data-sharing limitations between local authorities, schools, and central government were restricting the ability of councils to identify all eligible families in their area'.
LGA health and wellbeing committee chair, Wendy Taylor, said: ‘As we enter another three years of the HAF programme, it is vital that we tackle the barriers to access and efficiency.'
