activities and food to support eligible children during the school holidays. This will also help keep the children from becoming lazy and also to keep them active and on track for when schools can start regularly.
Mrs. Ford was joined by the Children’s Commissioner for England and Wales Dame Rachel Da Souza who has been leading work on schools’ post-pandemic recovery, and East Sussex MPs Sally Ann-Hart, Huw Merriman and Caroline Ansell.
Mrs. Ford was invited by Mrs. Ansell to see the work taking place in the town.
The ESCC leader Councilor Keith Glazier and the lead member for education, and inclusion, special educational needs and disability, Cllr Bob Standley also joined the visit.
The group visited water sport centre Buzz Active – an East Sussex County Council managed site providing a four-day course for children aged between 11 and 16.
Mrs. Ford said, “It has been absolutely fantastic to be here in East Sussex today to see children and young people having the best time at their Holiday Activities and Food clubs, all funded by our national programme. I have been able to see first-hand how our expanded programme, running every region across England is supporting thousands of pupils and ESCC’s work with their schools, holiday clubs and activity providers will be hugely beneficial to their children’s wellbeing and enrichment, especially those who need it the most.”
Mrs. Ansell said, “It is vitally important that children who suffer disadvantage are given the opportunities that build the confidence and life experiences that underpin future success. It is important that the government funds this sort of work and linking providing food with learning is a positive move and I am a big fan of this approach. From speaking to quite a few teenagers it was obvious these programmes have made a big difference to them and their families.”
