How much is reasonable to pay for soft play? And where did all the SN sessions go?

[elliejjtiny]

Not sure if I've just got used to not spending money on trips out because of lockdowns or if companies are increasing prices to try and recoup lockdown losses.

I was going to book soft play for the dc (aged 7, 8, 10, 13 and 15). Local soft play has just been taken over by a different company and now charges nearly £10 per child, doesn't allow any children older than 12 and doesn't seem any better than it was under the previous company apart from a new baby sensory area that my younger 2 would love but aren't allowed in because they are over 2. Little ones are allowed in the older children's area when it's quiet but not the other way round.

Found another soft play in our town but the upper age limit is 9 so only my younger 2 can go.

Pre covid most soft plays had SN sessions where teenagers could go in and older dc could go in the baby areas which was ideal but none of them are running now.

The only way I can take my teens to soft play at the moment is to either hire the whole place of our local one or take them to the localish (30 minutes drive away) theme park which has a soft play that lets teenagers in.

How much do you pay for soft play? I think I would be more inclined to take the dc to the £10 per child soft play if that's what other places are charging.

Hope you manage to find somewhere suitable and all have fun!

[quote elliejjtiny]@ThatsNotMyReindeer yes we are.

The trampoline park do SN sessions but they are run at the same time as other sessions and although they have slightly reduced numbers it's still heaving. We tend to go when it's a SN session and a school inset day at the same time as the numbers are about right then.

@Sirzy SN sessions are a lifeline for us. Before lockdown ds1 was a squeaky voiced 5ft tall 13 year old so a lot of this not being allowed to do children's things has come on suddenly with the end of lockdown.[/quote]
The soft play you mentioned is far better than the previous one (they got rid of the sticky carpet for one!) and they are actually clean, even before covid!

I messaged them and they are starting SN sessions in September.

I would imagine they have postponed the sessions for children with SN until after the holidays in order to maximise profit over the summer. Soft play centres were pretty badly hit financially by lockdowns & will need to claw back some money.

The best one near here has just cost me £30 for me and 2DC! £6 for me, £13.50 for children 4+, £10.50 for 1-3. They only allow over 12s if there are also younger children in the party. They do have some SEN sessions but I'm not sure how the number compares with pre-lockdown.

Sorry, do your older ones have special needs, from your post it sounds like you attend SN sessions not have SN child?

Bloody hell. My local is £4 per child. Adults are free as are under 2s.

@Ducksurprise

Sorry, do your older ones have special needs, from your post it sounds like you attend SN sessions not have SN child?

I was wondering this.

Between £8-10 here for an older child, plus £2-£5 per adult (peak, most places don’t charge for adults off peak or it’s 50p). I have chatted to the owner of one place that used to be much cheaper - he’s had to put prices up because he’s on the verge of financial ruin after covid. He wants to run SN sessions, but with lower numbers (not just capped but a fairly low demand) but similar staffing levels he makes a loss on them, and whereas he did it before as a community thing he can’t afford that anymore, especially in the summer holidays when he could be full. He’s trying to work with local SN groups to put something on but on a “the group private hires the whole place and then recoups money from their members” basis.

@ThatsNotMyReindeer thankyou, sounds like it's worth giving it a try then, so pleased they've got rid of that awful sticky carpet too.

@Ducksurprise and @Biancadelrioisback yes they do have SN. Although I do know someone who takes their non SN child to the SN sessions at the trampoline park because it's £2 cheaper and they (the parent) prefer it without the loud music on.

We pay about £6-£7. I think the one near me does SN sessions but only in term time so probably not that much use for older children.

@elliejjtiny

Not sure if I've just got used to not spending money on trips out because of lockdowns or if companies are increasing prices to try and recoup lockdown losses.

I was going to book soft play for the dc (aged 7, 8, 10, 13 and 15). Local soft play has just been taken over by a different company and now charges nearly £10 per child, doesn't allow any children older than 12 and doesn't seem any better than it was under the previous company apart from a new baby sensory area that my younger 2 would love but aren't allowed in because they are over 2. Little ones are allowed in the older children's area when it's quiet but not the other way round.

Found another soft play in our town but the upper age limit is 9 so only my younger 2 can go.

Pre covid most soft plays had SN sessions where teenagers could go in and older dc could go in the baby areas which was ideal but none of them are running now.

The only way I can take my teens to soft play at the moment is to either hire the whole place of our local one or take them to the localish (30 minutes drive away) theme park which has a soft play that lets teenagers in.

How much do you pay for soft play? I think I would be more inclined to take the dc to the £10 per child soft play if that's what other places are charging.

I dont know, but its shit isnt it, there was a special needs sensory, soft play centre near me specifically for children with disabilities, which allowed younger children in on other occasions, its been taken over as just another soft play now Are there any charities for children with disabilities that organise special needs evenings at these facilities near you?

[quote elliejjtiny]@ThatsNotMyReindeer thankyou, sounds like it's worth giving it a try then, so pleased they've got rid of that awful sticky carpet too.

@Ducksurprise and @Biancadelrioisback yes they do have SN. Although I do know someone who takes their non SN child to the SN sessions at the trampoline park because it's £2 cheaper and they (the parent) prefer it without the loud music on.[/quote]
It's the same company as Ocean Adventurers - take a look at the Facebook page for OA and the reviews speak for themselves.

They said they would announce SN sessions on their Facebook page

They said they would