What do you do in the school summer hols if you work?

[wordsmith]

DS1 has just started school. I only work 2 days a week from home, so it's not as though I have to do 8am to 6pm five days a week, but I'm beginning to panic a bit about what I am going to do in the summer holidays. This half term has been a real eye opener, luckily I have DH at home at the mo so he has taken DS1 out today so I can work, but it's only just starting to hit me that I'll have 6 weeks of this in the summer. I can't stop working for 6 weeks (am self employed) and I can't rely on family for more than the odd day here and there. DS2 is at nursery on Thurs and Fri so i want something for DS1 on those days too. I will need something official and organised for the summer - I can probably manage ad-hoc for easter. What are holiday clubs like? What do they do? How much do they cost? Can he do 2 days or will it have to be ful time? Do I need to put the child's name down at birth for one or are they fairly easy to get into? If anyone's got any advice I would be really greateful.... thanks.

I have checked out childminders etc. No one in village yet, had some advice woman out advising me on whats availible.

I do a mix of annual leave, piecemeal family care and playschemes. The holiday ones seem to be better than the after-school ones, ime. My boys had a lovely time last summer- their base was a centre attached to a local playground and they went on loads of great day trips. I can't remember what it cost but it certainly wasn't back breaking. I was really worried about leaving them because they seemed so little for that type of care but it worked very well.

But if they don't get a place this year I too will explore the cryogenic option. Good call, bluster.

I worked in an out of school club for a year and a half and i can honestly say they are a great form of childcare for the school holidays. They are generally very affordably (ours was approx £15 per day and open between 7.30am & 6pm) and they do lots of fun activities, probably far more than you would do if you were at home with your children. We used to do lots of day trips, go for walks to the local park, have people in to do music & drama stuff with them, make things apropriate for the holiday (xmas, easter etc..) and have things like tv & video and playstations for them so they could do the stuff they enjoy at home, but with the added bonus of having their friends there to do it with.
Ours was also available to book places right up until the day before hand, in fact if we had the space people already registered with us could turn up in the morning & see if we had room! Obviously new children were expected to come for a visit & forms had to be filled in first, but availability was rarely a problem. If there is a club like this in your area I would suggest u go for a look around, perhaps go for a visit over the easter hols & then book ds in for the half term week to see how he gets on before u book him in for summer. hth

i work in McDonalds (don't laugh!) but its great because if you can't work in the holidays you don't obviously you don't get paid but it takes away the pressure of finding someone to have your kids for you.
I know it wouldn't be everyones cup of tea, and i thought that originally but it's really fun and have met some great friends there.

Cross posting here from my query on "Other Subjects" - has anyone used/heard anything about Arty Party holiday play schemes? They are run in South London (Balham/Clapham). Any comments really welcome as we are trying to work out the summer holiday child care dilemma and they look okay?

I have childminder 3 days per week. DS happily goes there, so he has other children to play with, then I have the pleasure of being with him the other tw0 days, and we do things together. I don't think I'd stay sane if he was with me all week (and I definately wouldn't be able to get any work done.

Janinlondon - Arty Party are really brill. It was set up orginally by two art teachers (husband and wife) but they now have lots of helpers running it. I have used them a lot for my dd's and they love it. They run Christmas, Summer, Easter and Half Term holidays. They run from 9-3.30 and I think the cost is about £90 per week, although you can opt for a number of days (i.e. just two) if you want. I can't seem to unearth their number in my "filing" system but if you cant find them on the web let me know and I'll look it out.

Dizzydo - thank you SOOO much. I have already called them and asked for the brochures, but a real life recommendation is worth so much more!