SFDC family breaks
If you live in England, and you are thinking of requesting a grant for a family break, it is important that you read this information.
Most of the grants we award in England are made through the Support for Families with Disabled Children grant (SFDC) programme, which is funded by the Department for Education.
The SFDC programme helps more than 60,000 families each year by providing many types of grant items, including family breaks (such as days out, or longer holidays).
It is the law that school-aged children must attend school regularly. This means that breaks awarded through the SFDC programme must be taken at a time when your child is not required to be at school. An unauthorised absence, such as taking your child on holiday during term-time, can lead to a fine or even legal action.
On Wednesday 1 October 2025, Family Fund will put arrangements in place to remind families who are awarded a family break from the SFDC programme about only taking breaks during school holidays. We will:
- Add a note on the SFDC information page on our website
- Put a note on the online application form, which you will see if you live in England and apply for a family break as your first-choice item
- Remind you of the rule for booking family breaks in your grant letter
When you book your break, the holiday company will ask you to confirm that none of the children going on the break will be missing school. If you cannot confirm this, you will not be able to make the booking.
We know that some families prefer to take breaks at quieter times, so we encourage families to check with their school for INSET days and any holiday periods which may be different from other areas or schools.
Q&A
How do I know if my break has been funded through the SFDC programme?
If your break has been funded through the SFDC programme, it will say this on your grant award letter in the section called Information About How To Use Your Grant.
I have already booked my break for a date in term time, will I have to change it?
If you made your booking before 1 October 2025 you do not need to change it even if you haven’t taken your break by then. All new bookings of family breaks funded by the SFDC programme made on or after 1 October 2025 must be during school holidays. You have a legal responsibility to ensure that your child attends school regularly.
My grant letter says I have been awarded a family break through the SFDC programme so I can’t book a break in term-time. However, my child’s head teacher has given permission to take my child out of school. Can I go ahead and book in term-time?
No. The rules of the SFDC grant programme are that you cannot use your grant to pay for a break that will mean your child misses school. This rule applies even if you have permission to take your child out of school.
My child is home schooled, does this apply to me?
If your child is on a school’s roll but receives teaching in your home, then this rule will still apply to you. However, if your child is “home educated” (formally known as ‘elective home education’ outside of the formal school system (for example, if you educate your child yourself) then it does not apply.
I want to use my SFDC grant for a day out at the weekend during term-time. Can I do that?
Yes. You can book days at weekends or other days when your child is not required to be at school (for example INSET days).
My child is pre-school. Do I still have to book a break outside of term-time?
No. This only applies to children of school age who would normally be in school.
Does this rule apply to all of my children, or just my child with a disability?
It applies to all your school-aged children. You cannot use your SFDC grant to take any child out of school during term-time.
I have been granted a break through the SFDC programme, but I haven’t booked it yet. Can I change my mind and ask Family Fund for something else?
If you can’t take your break during school holidays, then you can ask us to change your grant item to something else within 30 days of receiving your grant letter. Visit the Change My Grant Request page for information on how to do this.
Will you be changing this rule in the future?
No. This rule will apply to family breaks funded through the SFDC grant programme on a permanent basis.
I have been awarded a family break, but I don’t live in England. Does this rule apply to me?
At this time, the rule only applies to families living in England, who have been awarded a grant through the SFDC programme. Family Fund have other funding streams outside of England which may have different rules. If you are unsure, please email our support team on [email protected] or call us on 01904 550055.
What happens if I do take my child out of school to go on a break funded by the SFDC programme?
The holiday companies we work with provide us with the dates of all breaks booked through them. If you do not follow the rules of the programme, your future grant applications may be affected. You have a legal responsibility to ensure that your child attends school regularly., If you fail to do this, you may be committing an offence.
My child has just finished exams. Can they now go on a break?
The guidance we have from the Department of Education is that on the last Friday in June of the school year in which your child reaches age 16, they are no longer of compulsory school age, so a family break awarded through the SFDC programme can be taken after this date.
If you are unclear about whether or not the rule applies to you, please email our support team on [email protected] or call us on 01904 550055.