What is 'ease INTO'?
Children across North Tyneside are invited to take advantage of a free programme of activities, created to help them be healthy and active while off school.
‘ease INTO’ is a programme that’s been created as part of the Holiday Activities and Food programme backed by the Department for Education.
More than 7,000 children who are eligible for income based free school meals can access the wide range of activities, all of which include a meal.
There are different programmes for the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays with activities such as trampolining, swimming, cooking classes and sport.
It’s the perfect opportunity for children to try new activities and find new hobbies and interests, as well as explore new flavours and foods with healthy meals and snacks; so parents can buy with confidence in future knowing the smaller members of the family are on board!
'ease INTO' supports families during the school holidays when keeping children and young people entertained, getting them moving, and planning three meals a day can bring added pressure, financially and otherwise.
The activities will engage, entertain, and enrich young people’s lives during their time off school, encouraging them to develop a lasting interest in new sports and activities, and supporting a nutritionally balanced diet.
If you have any queries or questions on ‘ease INTO’, email easeinto@northtyneside.gov.uk
Why are activities only free for children on income based free school meals?
Activities included in the 'ease INTO' schedule are funded by the Holiday Activity and Food programme, via the Department of Education, specifically to bridge the gap in physical activity and nutrition provision for children on income-based free school meals during the school holidays.
This funding is ring-fenced to secure spaces for children on income-based free school meals on the various activities available. Children not in receipt of income-based free school meals can attend activities where paid for places are available.
In the online booking system, you may notice there are a small number of free spaces available on the majority of activities for children who don’t receive income-based free school meals. Local Authorities are allowed to use up to 15% of the funding to provide free places for children who are not in receipt of income-based free school meals but who could benefit from the programme.
We rely on the providers we fund to tell us which children and young people are eligible for a funded space under the 15% funding criteria. We can also offer these spaces to children with special educational needs and disabilities. If this applies to you, you can email easeinto@northtyneside.gov.uk and let us know. Please be aware that due to the limited nature of this funding, there are fewer spaces available on activities under this criteria.