holiday playschemes

9 replies

redskyatnight · 25/02/2009 12:15

Can I ask for some advice from those who have used holiday playschemes?

DH and my original plan was to use our annual leave to cover all DS's school holidays.
However due to changes in they way we can book holiday in the company (we both work for the same company so it affects us both) we no longer have enough holiday to do this.

I've talked to a few of the working parents at school and they all seem to use either leave/grandparents or existing childminders to cover school holidays. Whereas it looks like our only option is a holiday playscheme. I'd hoped to send DS to the same scheme as some of his school mates but as I've not found any that are going down this option, I'm now a bit worried about how he will settle down.

We have 3 schemes locally - however 2 are run by the 2 companies that run after school clubs at 2 neighbouring schools, so I suspect that they may be mainly used by children from those schools and hence DS will be the odd one out. There is also a scheme at a local gym which is current favourite as I'm hoping that this will attract a wide range of children and DS might more easily make friends. However I'm not sure this is a scheme that is meant to be used for more than the odd day or 2, whereas the other schemes are more set up for taking children across the whole holiday.

I am probably being terribly pfb, but this is all new territory for me so would welcome any experience/pointers.

(DS is in Reception)

OP posts:

purepurple · 25/02/2009 14:23

it's a hard one, isn't it? covering all the school holidays.
I have used holiday clubs for my 2 children and I have also worked in holiday clubs so I can give you some insight from a different perspective, I hope. When I worked in holiday clubs we haad children that would only attend say a week and not know anyone else and settle in fine. we also had children taht attended every day and loved it too. Hopefully, the staff will realise that your DS will need a bit of settling in, most children are capable of making new friends and I am sure that there will be others there in the same position. My children both enjoyed going to hoilday clubs, the staff always made them feel involved and they loved the freedom of not going to school but doing fun activities and going on trips. I did make sure that I took a couple of weeks off with them too so they didn't have to go every day.

MollieO · 25/02/2009 19:27

At that age I wouldn't worry about sending your ds to a holiday scheme where he doesn't know anyone. I did the same last summer when my ds was 4 and he loved it. They make friends so easily at this age. This half term he was at the same holiday club as last summer but I assumed it would be different as he had started school there. Very few of his classmates attended and he played with other children from his school (whom he hadn't known previously). Had a fab week and was very happy to go everyday.

I would talk to both schemes and they will be able to give you an idea of who attends, how frequently etc.

ABetaDad · 25/02/2009 19:40

We use kids camps every holiday.

The firm we use most is Supercamps. They are mainly South East but are creeping up the country.

Supercamps

It is much much more than what a local authority play scheme would offer but comes at a price. Discounts are avalable for NHS workers I think and possibly other groups.

pointydog · 25/02/2009 19:40

tricky. You're proabbly best to concentrate on the staff and the activities since you don't know any other children attending. Can you visit the after school clubs to get a feel for the people who run them?

risingstar · 26/02/2009 20:59

i would heartily endorse supercamps if you have one within a reasonable drive. as these tend to be at independent schools you don't tend to get kids all from one school. they are also staffed by young very energetic staff and kids really love it.

whatever you decide, just make certain that they are there every monday to make friends with that week;s group. I made a critical error one year and booked every Monday off work. never again!

re expense, no more expensive than nursery and per hour is very reasonable

Squiffy · 27/02/2009 15:24

wow. This isn't even my thread and I am dribbling with gratitude. From having never heard of Supercamps 5 minutes ago I have now established that they have vacancies at the school nearest to me and it will be offering the two things my DS love smost - swimming and trampolining.

Happy happy day. Thanks, guys.

purepurple · 28/02/2009 08:23

Supercamps look great and I see that they offer places for over 11's too. I have been forced by lack of care for this age group to leave my 12 year old daughter at home for school holidays as I can't cover all the days she is off. She is very sensible but I still feel for her and a bit about leaving her

LoveMyGirls · 28/02/2009 08:31

Why not use a childminder? (I'm a childminder so I'm biased obviously ) That way he will mix with a smaller group of children and get to know them well plus he can go there on snow days, teacher training as well as holidays.

LoveMyGirls · 28/02/2009 08:33

(Pure, as a childminder I offer care for up to age 14, I think most other cm's do too, though I can see the advantages of a play scheme for older more confident children)

Flip