GERMAN EXCHANGE..

A group of 25 year 10 students were in Frankfurt last week to visit our partner school and to try out their German for real. As well as spending time in a German secondary school, the students visited the medieval town of Gelnhausen and the ruined palace of the emperor Barbarossa.

In Frankfurt itself time was spent to visit the former Jewish quarter of the city and the Holocaust memorial. This is never N easy thing to do, but very important in helping students understand the past a little better. We also made trips to the old town and the cathedral.

It is hoped that a group of students from the German partner school will come to Ridgeway in November of this year.

Big thanks to Miss Bidder and Mrs Hill for giving up their time to come and help on the trip this year. All of the students got a lot out of it.

Mr J Robertson

Booking your Holiday Activity Space Easter Holiday Period (7th -17th April) 2025

You will shortly receive an email and/or text message from Holiday Activities containing details of a Holiday Activity Voucher to be used over the Easter holiday period.

The Holiday Activity Voucher is funded by Swindon Borough Council. It will allow your child free access to a variety of activities over the Easter holiday period, which includes a nutritious meal.

What is HAF?

The Holiday Activities and Food Programme is designed to enable eligible children and young people to access a number of fantastic activities, run by providers in the community. The aims of this programme are:

  • To try new activities
  • To meet new people
  • To make new friends
  • To maintain a school structure
  • To learn and develop new skills and understanding through activity

Some of the available activities we have to offer include: Football, Fencing, General Sports, Skate/scooter parks indoor and outdoor and there are more for you to find out about.

Feedback from Parents/Carers:

  • ‘The kids were able to go out and have more fun at a variety of places that we wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.’
  • ‘We find the HAF programme invaluable, it makes the holidays much more fun for the kids.’
  • ‘HAF helped keep routine and socialising for the children and I was able to study in peace.’
  • ‘I am so grateful to HAF as it allowed my son to take part in holiday activities and be with children of his own age rather than being stuck at home!’
  • ‘We are very grateful to be able to use the HAF programme. It benefits all in our little family. It’s good to know our child can meet others, experience new activities that wouldn't be possible for us to get for them.’

Booking a place on HAF:

Please note that each eligible child can book on for a maximum of 4 days delivery over the Easter holiday period. Bookings will go live on the 14th March.

The importance of cancelling if you cannot attend a HAF session:

As a council we understand that plans may change, and that different barriers to participation may affect an individual’s ability to attend a session(s).

If parents/carers know that their child/children is unable to attend a session that has been booked, please ensure that these sessions are cancelled at least 48 hours before the date of the activity.

This allows another young person on our waiting list to book your place and benefit from these activities that they wouldn’t be able to access (these children cannot access these activities unless sessions are cancelled). There are a number of children on waiting lists who would love to attend these incredibly valuable activities, who will be unable to if your session(s) is not cancelled.

If there is a repeated failure to cancel a session, this may affect your ability to book activity in the future.

How to cancel a session:

To cancel a booked session, please contact the HAF club provider by telephone or email or you can easily amend your booking on the ‘HolidayActivites’ platform. You can do this by following the step by step guide here, if you require any support from the council, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Click the link on the message to view the full list of activities available where you’ll be given the option to book a space for your child.

Please book soon to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited. This booking allocates a place at your chosen provider, it is important that you communicate with the provider around any further information they require or cancel the place if you no longer wish to take it up. Not cancelling your place denies others who may wish to attend.

If you have any further questions, please contact the relevant option below:

Question relating to an activity or booking

Swindon Borough Council Spring HAF Team - Email: HAF@swindon.gov.uk

Questions relating to your voucher

Evouchers - Email: support@holidayactivities.com