What do you do in the summer holidays??

[Soulfly]

What do does everyone do through the summer holidays? this is a worry because if you don't have much family, and you can't take time off what would you do??

JUst wanted to add another bit, I am so fed up with dh, i seem to be the only one worrying about this, ccause there is a nursery but its £28 a day only 9 to 4. so that adds up over 5 days. My mums basically said she won't help. I feel like my head is gonna explode. I haven't got a job yet, but i am trying to think ahead. lol.

soulfly, I am trying to get back to work aswell and my husband doesnt seem bothered about childcare either because he has a 'career' pah! I have no practical advice though, although I think childminders can work out a bit cheaper

28 pound a day for a nursery is steep aswell, is that for 2 children? Is it in a major town btw? I used to live in a major town and they were that kind of price. Here for a full day (inc lunch) it is 12 pound I couldnt beleive it! Maybe it would be worth looking around at different nurseries/creches?

Yes thats for 2 kids and you bring your own lunch box etc etc. MY oldest is at school, so i would put her there, but my ds goes to that nursery through the terms but this is a summer playscheme, because if i get a job soon, i can't turn round and say, i want 6 weeks off. Dykwim

know exactly what you mean! Hopefully someone will be able to give you some GOOD advice soon

Thanks fio2.

Haven't got to that situation yet but I know that in my area the council leisure centres and some of the gyms run week-long activity things - think they call them "camps", though they're not, iyswim. Also our council has a specific department that provides information on all manner of childcare, including childminders, nurseries, summer camps, which is where I always start if I need anything. Another option is could you do some swaps with a school friend. ie you take some leave and have the friend each day and then the other parent reciprocates. Obviously that involves using some leave but one week's leave would give you two week's child care. Has the school got a notice board? You might even find a parent with a nanny who'd be willing to have yours for a bit of extra cash - you could bring the cost down for the parent and at the same time give the nanny a bit extra.

So how would i find one around here? Would you go to the council i suppose, stupid question really wasn't it, lol.
well i have just emailed my cv to a company because they wanted me to send it quick and she said do you have a fax machine i said no but i could email it to her so i have just done, its quite good hours and £5-6 a hour for 35 hour week. fingers crossed. lol.

Batters is there a website with details of the scheme? I fear I will be in need too come next Summer and I know from A's Mum that it was very good?

Thanks Batters!

my oldest son has gone to council run play schemes and definitely agree with batters, they are great value for money. Lots of fun things are planned for each day, including optional outings.The playworkers are fab on the whole. My son enjoys meeting children from different schools, too.

I am in Ashford in kent and i looked at the councils website but can't find anything>

Soulfly, our council don't do anything like this

The Stour centre & the Julie Rose both do holiday playschemes, but they've never been much use to us because the hours tend to be 9.30 (or 10) to 3 or 4 pm, & obviously working hours are considerably longer! Might be worth you checking with them though, because my kids are that much older that things may have changed.

They do these sorts of things over at Park Farm as well & I'm sure I read last year that one of the churches was running something... Not much help because I don't know how you find out. The library would probably have details.

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Depends on the age of your child(ren) - but we've recruited local, sensible older teenagers to help out, paying them around £20 a day. They're glad of the money, and dds love them. The kids also prefer to be in their own locality where they can play with friends rather than at a playscheme away from home - although we have also used some excellent playschemes.

Soulfly,

have you tried
this
or ask at local schools to see if they run anything although they might only take school age children.
Also what about trying to find a childcare student from a local college who might be willing to look after your children in the summer holidays or perhaps a childminder who normally 'minds' for a teacher might have places in the summer holidays or even one of the nursery nurses who works in your ds's nursery during term time who might be available during the summer holidays.

maybe another option might be that in the job you'll br doing you might be able to work the odd day and a couple of evenings a week. When I started my present job over 2 years ago, my boss was well aware of my family commitments a ds and dd, who need to be supervised as not old enough to be left on own...it now works with me doing one day a week, which dh has as holiday (can be a 12 hour day) and a couple of evenings...I don't know what sort of arrangement you will have but I do know that some jobs have a job share facility which means you don't have to work 9 to 5 and you might be able to change over the hols...have you any idea what sort of working environment you'd like to be in??

AT the moment anything,lol. I didn't get the job i'd wanted but i think thats because i haven't worked in so long, you find it hard to get back into the working life. And many places don't wanna take mums with kids, althought the ydon't state that of course. Just have to keep trying, I am in south ashford tallulah.