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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

School holiday club having a trip every week

19 replies

username10382 · 05/07/2023 14:50

Possibly I am being unreasonable but DS school holiday club have decided that every Wednesday they will do a trip out for the day. Between me and DH we only have to book DS in holiday club for half a day each day. It's £20 half day £35 full day. However with the announcement of this trip they are only allowing full days on a Wednesday. Then there is also the cost of each trip which is ranging between £10 -£20. So basically where would we normally pay £20 it's potentially £55.

I'm not sure how many other parents put their DC in for half day or how they feel about it. I'm sure the club are trying to think of ways to entertain the kids but AIBU to think this is just abit thoughtless in terms of the cost of living crisis? I have already told them DS will not be attending each Wednesday so they probably already know I'm not happy. I'm now trying to sort out care/book more annual leave between me and DH.

OP posts:

Plumbear2 · 05/07/2023 15:17

If it's not providing the service you want look for somewhere else

JMSA · 05/07/2023 15:23

Why don't you ask for a trip schedule and send your son to the cheapest ones? Surely it's worth the extra £10 rather than juggling everything else. If you can afford it, of course ...
I don't think a weekly trip is over the top, and it gives the kids who are there daily something to look forward to. That said, they could balance it out with free trips to the park and museum (location dependent, of course).
I'm on the fence with this one, I must admit. But probably verging towards YABU.

underneaththeash · 05/07/2023 15:33

I suspect they’re just catering to what some parents want.
that would have appealed to me as a parent.

Clementineorsatsuma · 05/07/2023 15:55

I try ink that you need to look at this differently? I'm saying this as a working single mother to 4 children over the years!
Your child is going to have a great day out, once a week. Make memories. Have fun.

I'm afraid the school holidays always cost more. Try to cover the additional costs elsewhere if you can, or ask for grandparent donations (I'd happily help for my grandkids).

Then relax.

ShinyBeans · 05/07/2023 15:56

I don't understand why the trips need to be so expensive. At ours, they go to the park or beach and there's no extra cost. A member of staff stays back with the children who are being picked up in the middle of the day.

BamBamBambi · 05/07/2023 15:59

I’d be pleased if mine did a trip once a week. That would appeal to me and I’d happily pay.

If you don’t like the service they provide then move him.

£10-£20 isn’t much for a trip when you factor in getting there and back.

CornishTiger · 05/07/2023 16:02

It isn’t uncommon for holiday club providers to d this however I can see how it makes your need for half day very expensive.

Cant you switch him to a full day on other days so you use leave for the Wednesday?

Wendysfriend · 05/07/2023 16:11

I think it's a lot. You were expecting to pay 20 quid for one half day and now you'll pay up to 55 for one day. That's on top of the other days you're paying for.

Not sure what you can do, is it possible not to send him the Wednesday?

I hate the way people think everyone is made of money, you have allowed for a certain amount for this club but it's actually working out more expensive. Yes it's great to do a nice day trip, but not if money is tight.

FloweryName · 05/07/2023 16:14

No, they are not being unreasonable. They are catering for the children that are spending most of their summer holidays with them because obviously they are a higher priority than the children who only come for half a day a week and get to spend the rest of the time being entertained by their families.

If I had to use holiday clubs for more than three days a week I’d be very grateful that the club was talking children out and that they would have to stay in the same facility all summer.

FloweryName · 05/07/2023 16:16

Sorry, I misread that you meant half a day every day, but I still think a trip out once a week is better for the children who are there full time.

Jules912 · 05/07/2023 16:17

Ours the trips are optional ( and massively over subscribed so people obviously want them!). I need a full day anyway but generally only sign DC up for the local cheap ones as I prefer to take them to museums etc myself but they offer a good range.

yogasaurus · 05/07/2023 16:18

I can see why they do it; DC’s nursery take a trip out of the nursery every Friday. It breaks the week up for those who are there full-time and the staff, I imagine.

It’s a shame if the cost is off putting, but for every person it puts off, I can see how it would look attractive to others. It would make my DC happier to go to holiday clubs

gogomoto · 05/07/2023 16:21

It's not unreasonable, many kids are there full days and their parents want the trips. Mine loved holiday club trips

chesterelly1 · 05/07/2023 16:22

I used our school holiday club for DD1 when I was heavily pregnant. I booked 2 days per week, including the one where trips were planned. The way I looked at it DD was getting to go somewhere fun with friends and it was cheaper than if I was taking her, having to pay entry fees for both of us, probably getting stung for ice cream etc as well. That's if I could've even summoned the energy in the first place.

GregoryFluff · 05/07/2023 16:32

I think it's just a difference of expectations
You want the club for the cheapest possible childcare you can find
They want to provide the club to give the children varied, enriching experiences over the break. Particularly children who spend a vast majority of their summers there, I imagine. There's only so many trips to the park or beach that children past a certain age can really get much out of
Absolutely worth suggesting the outing isn't on a fixed day though, so could cater to more families, or asking if there is back up plan for kids only doing half a day

listsandbudgets · 05/07/2023 16:34

As someone who's had to use holiday club a lot for my DCs in the past I'd have been over the moon if they'd offered this DD especially spent a lot of time in clubs and sometimes it did get a bit monotonous for her. If I'd taken her out myself on trips it would probably have cost what you've been quoted and more. Also as I don't drive organising it could be very difficult anyway.

I'm glad they're prioritising the needs of the DCs who need to be there full time for whatever reasons though I can understand you not being happy that it's slightly undermining your own arrangements.

Teeheehee1579 · 05/07/2023 16:35

A business tends to know their target market much more than you who are just looking at your own situation. We run holiday clubs for kids. They are in a forest and we do not do days out (nor do we accept half days though) and the activities are really varied but for the children who come for many days it does get a bit much so I absolutely see the benefit in getting them out to do something else. Obviously not everyone can afford it but businesses are there to make money.

Gymmum82 · 05/07/2023 16:43

I book holiday clubs based on cost and if it was £55 x 2 children that’s more than I earn in a day so it wouldn’t work for me at all.
I book the cheapest club that exists which is £20 including all meals I couldn’t really afford to pay more and it be worthwhile going to work

JMSA · 05/07/2023 18:00

chesterelly1 · 05/07/2023 16:22

That's a very good point about adult entry costs and ice-creams. It all adds up!

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