Details of the 2026 Summer Programme were communicated to all schools on the 6th May 2026. All schools have been offered the opportunity to run a school-based programme for children with the most complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage. Where a school does not intend to run a school-based programme or there is no place on the programme for an eligible child, schools were invited to make an application for the home-based programme.
Schools were informed, via email, a letter to the school principal and through the Terms and conditions of the School-based and Home-based Summer Programme, that the Home-based application portal would be open in parallel with the School-based Application portal.
On Thursday, 14th May, a further email issued reminding schools of the closing date for the receipt of applications. We have received a significant number of applications from schools in relation to both the school-based and home-based programmes. It is not proposed that the home-based Summer Programme portal will be re-opened at this time.