Childcare during the School Holidays

[Earl Aelfheah]

What do other working parents do over the summer holidays? This is our first year of having to cover 6 and a half weeks in terms of childcare. We've booked two weeks annual leave, but still have 4 and a half to cover and not sure what to do. Do others hire a temporary nanny, or take unpaid parental leave? Would be interested to hear how you have managed it. Thanks.

[lightweight]

There are loads of holiday clubs locally varying in price from about ?19ish a day to ?40 - try and find someone in your child's class doing a holiday club and negotiate one parent to do drop offs and one to do pickups if that helps fit in with your work schedule.

[Renata Hamvas]

Several Southwark primary schools run clubs during the holidays. I would check your child's primary and and other local or conveniently located ones. I know Heber and Ivydale usually have holiday clubs.

Renata

[njc97]

Holiday club at local school, time with grandparents, staggered holidays, nanny (we have an after school nanny and going to get her to do a full time week), playdates, maybe an odd day of working at home. Son's school has 7.5 weeks off this summer, and daughter's nursery is shit for 2 weeks at awkward time, so this year is particularly challenging.

[Vik]

As long as it's good for the other 50 weeks of the year, that's what matters njc97... :-D

[Coach Beth]

Me and my partner are both self-employed and have more flexibility to be around during school holidays. Although, we always used several of the holiday clubs when the boy was younger for two or three days a week as it was difficult to get any work done at home with a younger active child! Most of the clubs allow you to book anything from 1 day to a full 5 days so it's very flexible.

JAGS sports clubs were very popular with him - first the multi-sport when he was in reception and year 1 and then he got into the soccer school. He has also done the Nimble Arts clubs which are very high quality - they do filmmaking, animation, theatre, rock school, etc.

Now he is nearly 10, he is not so keen on organised holiday clubs but prefers to chillax around home and we organise reciprocal playdates (i.e. we have one of his mates for a day and then his parents mates reciprocate). This works very well for older children I find.

[BeccaL]

Grandparents and holiday clubs. AVP is good but quite pricey relative to others, but daughter loves it! Also Holiday Drop off, the velodrome in Herne Hill (short days, but good if your kids like cycling), JAGS, Nimble arts. Worth noting that you might need to factor in paying extra for extended days if you have a commute as well, as usually the "main day" runs 9am-4pm, which doesn't help if you have to get to and from work! Also juggling one parent dropping off and the other collecting so you can start/finish early as necessary might help.

Worth asking other working parents at school what they are planning - IME children much more receptive to these things if they know other kids who are going, especially on the first day or so.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Thanks for the suggestions. We have looked at some holiday clubs, but many of them seem to finish early, so still means having to find cover. Currently thinking it may have to be a combination of nanny, unpaid leave, annual leave and help from relatives.

[loveED86]

My daughter goes to gumboots at the community centre, Darrell road in the summer holidays, JAM will be providing a holiday club on red post hill, herne hill this feb half term, Dulwich hamlet sports club (next to sainsburys) have a holiday club most holidays.

I also normally end up taking leave, mother and aunt also help out.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Thanks, will look into the holiday clubs a bit more.

[BeccaL]

Holiday clubs do tend to finish a bit early - can you go to work earlier and finish earlier so you can pick up and your partner take them to club then work a bit later to make up the time? it's really hard - hope you sort something out...

[hazelnunhead]

Nimble Arts usually offers some wrap around care for the workshops which makes it easier for drop off and pick up.

Others have already mentioned the schools and other holiday clubs that are around. Lightweight has a good idea if you can get other children/friends on the same workshop then you can also take turns at pick up and drop offs which also makes it easier.

Are you friends with other parents in your child's class .... perhaps you could swop one of the weeks that you have taken off to look after their children with yours, and then get them to reciprocate?

If you look at the What's on Section in EDF there will be loads of activities on.

[DulwichCollegeEvents]

A bit of information taken from the Holiday Drop Off newsletter.

February HDO Sports Camp: The HDO Camp is back in force in 2015'

We are pleased to announce that the Holiday Drop Off February Camp is now bookable online. We will be running from 16th - 20th Feb 2015.

Bumper Zorb Balls

After a huge level of excitement using the KickZorb bumper balls during our Xmas camp, we thought it was imperative to have them back for the February HDO Camp!

We are also now taking bookings for KickZorb parties and hourly KickZorb bookings.

HDO Activities

The maintenence on the swimming pool is now fully complete. HDO will be running an extended daily swimming session during the February HDO camp. As usual the swimming session is packed with pool games, an abundance of floats and, the very popular, Pool Zorb water ball.

Both olympic sized trampolines will be operational and we are pleased to have a few new trampoline coaches on the HDO staff list.

HDO will continue to have the vast list of activities on offer during the February camp. (Archery, football, dodgeball, cricket, table tennis, dance, drawing and colouring and parachute games to name just a few) so everyone will have lots of options throughout the day.

February is normally one of our busiest camps so we advise all those hoping to attend, to make sure bookings are made well in advance to guarantee places. Last year unfortunately we had to turn people away as we were fully subscribed.

Great News:

Website revamp - Whilst our camp has grown year on year, unfortauntely our website hasnt. Therefore a new website is currently being made and should be online in a few months time

ABOUT HDO: Holiday Drop Off is a great way for children to learn new sports in a fun and exciting environment. HDO believe that sport should be enjoyed by all and have created a sports camp for children between the ages of Rising 5 -14 years old..

HDO is a sports camp which is taught by coaches of various sporting backgrounds, helping develop sporting techniques or simply introducing children to sports they are yet to learn.

Places are limited so its best to book in advance. Although you can turn up on the day (depending on availability) HDO have great discounts when booking online.

To book your space click the Book now button and reserve your space

To book online you can go to www.holidaydropoff.com

[Jellybeanz]

Nimble Arts at Heber, Artastic and Dulwich Kids at Hamlets are all excellent and affordable - esp the latter!

[shelly2012]

Registered childminder , I can do emergency childcare is ant one needs a childminder .