Why holiday camps are so invaluable for families

As a parent or carer of a primary-aged child or children, it’s highly likely that every September, as well as preparing uniform, PE kit and school shoes, you’re also thinking ahead to those all-too-common school holidays!

Children need a break from the routine of learning, so it’s only fair that every half term they have some time to relax, play, and indulge in their own interests. But as busy parents or carers, these holidays can pose a childcare issue. Your annual leave allowance only stretches so far, so how can you keep your kids busy during school holidays?

School holiday camps are ideal for keeping kids active and entertained, providing you with the childcare you need while at work. Run by sports or activity organisations like us here at Premier Education, these camps are held in locations all over the UK, either on school premises or at local leisure facilities, and centre around providing kids of all ages with a wide variety of activities.

The benefits of holiday camps

Whether you need your kids to attend summer camps over the long summer holidays, Easter camps or half term camps, there’s something out there for every need and interest. And, the great thing about these school holiday activities is that they bring a number of benefits to your children, not just a quality childcare facility for working parents.

Social benefits

Not only will your child be in safe hands for their school holidays, but they will have the chance to develop and enhance important social skills. Camps get young people away from screens! They are great for building confidence, teaching kids how to make friends with children of different ages and from different backgrounds. Children will also need to learn how to work as a team while also working on leadership skills.

Educational benefits

While children who attend camp will find it nothing like school, that’s not to say these environments aren’t learning opportunities. The structured activities mean children have the familiarity of a ‘school day’ but have the opportunity to learn new skills in activities and sports not usually covered at school.

For example, board games or even simple building blocks are great to get children to develop problem solving skills. Equally, trying a new sport such as fencing or archery can help build resilience, accuracy and independence.

Choosing the right holiday camp

So, you’re looking at holiday camps for your kids, but what should you choose? There are a range of activity camp options meaning you have plenty of choice, whether you have younger children or older children.

Multi activity camps

Multi activity camps are great for kids of all ages as they offer a whole host of activities for participants to experience. Children attending these types of camp can expect new activities or unusual sports, crafting, board games, team games, experiments and even circus skills.

Specific interest camps

You may have a football-mad little one, or a child who dreams of being the next Broadway star. If this is the case, a specific interest camp is ideal. From football-only camps to performing arts, there are plenty of holiday clubs out there designed to get your young people getting active, learning new skills and developing even more confidence within their area of interest.

Is the camp Ofsted registered?

Holiday clubs must be registered with Ofsted if they care for children under eight years old for more than two hours a day. However there are exceptions, for example, if a club runs for 14 days or less across a whole year, they do not have to register.

Many providers voluntarily choose to register with Ofsted to demonstrate credibility and hold themselves to high standards.

Ofsted registration provides you as parents and carers with the confidence that the provision is safe, welcoming, age-appropriate, with qualified staff members.

How do I know my child is safe at camp?

Of course, safeguarding is a priority for you. No matter where your child is and however fun the provision is, you want to know that their safety is paramount. It’s not good enough just to pay lip service to safeguarding, camps and clubs should be rigorous in making sure they are fully up-to-date with their safeguarding processes.

At the very least, all camp staff should have DBS checks, there should be a clear, designated safeguarding lead who has undertaken training, and a safeguarding policy should be in place with a set procedure in place.

More information can be found here.

Preparing your young person

Activity camps are hopefully seen as an adventure by your little one. A chance to make new friends, try new activities and overall have a fantastic time! However, it’s understandable that they might be a bit nervous, especially if it’s their first time.

So what can they expect? Unlike some camps over in the USA, the camps we are talking about are daytime only. Most camps have their days structured similarly to school days, with activities in the morning, with time for break and a snack, a different activity before lunch, then a choice of activities in the afternoon.

All the staff are highly trained in working with children and are there to encourage participation and fun, but if a child isn’t keen on a particular activity, then there’s always an alternative option.

Camps might be traditionally thought of as summer holiday activities, but here at Premier Education, we run them all year round, making sure parents aren’t stuck for ways to keep their young people busy, no matter what time of year. Read more about our exciting winter camps to find out what goes on during our October half term and Christmas camps!

In the weeks leading up to camp, talk about it with your little one, let them know what sort of things they can expect to do and reassure them that there will be plenty of other first-time holiday campers there too! By talking about it with them in an excited way, you’ll help to instill confidence in your child. Find out more about preparing your child for a Premier Education camp and they will love the thought of making new friends.

Plan ahead

It’s worth seeing what sort of holiday camps are available in your area as soon as your little one starts school. Providers – such as ourselves – often have early-bird discounts available if you book ahead of time, so this can be a great way to save some money as well as getting your holiday childcare sorted!

Making the final choice

Choosing the right holiday camp to keep your kids entertained can feel like a big decision. You want your child to be engaged and active throughout the holidays and you want to know they are at a high quality provision with an excellent standard of care.

We’d recommend doing your homework. Research the clubs available in your area and check out the reviews. We’re proud to have over 20,000 TrustPilot reviews, the majority of which have an ‘Excellent rating’, providing reassurance that our provisions offer the best possible experience.

Ultimately, you know your child better than anyone and you know what sort of school holiday camp would suit them and their needs. Don’t be afraid to approach providers and ask questions, also look for word-of-mouth recommendations.

Every child deserves to have a great time outside of school, even if their parents and carers have to work. Here at Premier Education, we exist to provide exciting activities all throughout the holiday periods to enable children to grow in confidence, learn new skills and make new friends.

If you’re looking to bring fun and energy to the holidays, why not find out where your nearest Premier Education camp is today?