These summer childcare clubs

[Hideehi]

Has anyone had any good experiences with these, it looks affordable, i'm sure there's a catch.
Were/Are your children happy in them ?

I'm helping with one this Summer at a local children's centre. They call it a Summer Playscheme, not really sure what it all involves as yet.

So would love to read views of parents who have used Summer Clubs / Playschemes.

Do you mean playschemes that provide all day/half day care or the ones that run for 3 or 4 hours a day?

do you mean playschemes or clubs when you're on holiday?

Oh no the play schemes at schools/leisure centres where you drop them all day or half a day, I think mine would go 4 mornings a week.
TIA

My DS has gone to an all day playscheme in the school hols since he was 4. He thoroughly enjoys it. Round her they usually do full days 8-6 (I only need childcare for 9-3 but have to pay for full days) or half days 8-1 or 1-5. They provide breakfast/snack/water all day/light tea. I have to sent a packed lunch. In the summer hols there is often a few trips out - local park/soft play/cinema/zoo/museum. They offer various activies craft stuff/painting/playstations/cooking + loads of toys. I like ones with an outdoor area. The ones my DS has been to usually give the kids a choice of perhaps 2 or 3 activites and they can choose which one. Its sort of structured but the kids get to do what they like but not run wild IFSWIM.
I usually try to drop him off and pick him up at slightly different times to get a good "feel" for the place. He usually complains that I have come to collect him which is a really good sign! I have never had any complaints. HTH

That's brilliant TTT thank you

They all seem to differ ime. We have one at our gym from 9:30-4:30. The day seems to be split into hour long sessions and each session the children get the option of 2 or 3 different activities. All good fun, but may not suit every child - some 4yos will find it hard to be running around with 8yos all day. I use it occasionally and in co-rodination with a couple of other mums so that our kids are effectively enjoying a uspervised playdate, so will probably use it say 3 or 4 times during the summer hols (8 weeks for us!) when I have to have some kid-free time. Others use it daily. Staffwise there are a couple of nannies who effectively are there for under6s, and the rest of the workers are trained but not necessarily qualified (most looking to work in sports later on).

Hideehi - I didn't realise you were talking about the subsidised council ones. I was talking about ones run by nurserys etc at local schools etc. I pay £14-£17 per day. There are cheaper ones but they usually don't open long enough to cover the hours I need.

I have used local council playscheme for my 2 and they have loved it! They get to go on trips each week. They hang out with their friends, and so far it has been brilliant.

I have used local council playscheme for my 2 and they have loved it! They get to go on trips each week. They hang out with their friends, and so far it has been brilliant.

I wasn't talking about the council ones, this one is run by a local school (state school that is).
I guess we'll see how we go and have a plan B

The council run ones round here are run mostly from leisure centres and seem to be free or charge a low amount like 50p for 10am-4pm. Not suprisingly they have long waiting lists. I would send DS to one of these if I could but the waiting list is so long they told me he would probably be 11 before he got a place (he was 4.5 at the time!).
There are other council run sports schemes like football, swimming or mixed sports which run from approx 10-3 every day and charge around £40 a week.
The ones my DS goes to are run by/held at private nurserys (staff usually NNEB/NVQ trained) or at local schools but run by the staff who run the before/after school clubs during term time (seem to be mums who have done their NVQ). These ones are the more expensive ones. HTH