Summer holiday camps are, of course, a great source of revenue for childcare companies, but they also represent a time where planning and communication are key. So much preparation goes into summer camps and clubs, from timetables, staffing, venue organisation, resources gathering, to menu selections- there’s so much to be checked, double checked and then approved! You may find yourself asking, why choose a summer camp? So what are the alternatives, and how do they compare?
- Grandma’s house. Some individuals are lucky enough to have retired parents/grandparents who don’t mind helping out by having the kids. But this can still be a very tiring, and potentially strenuous emotional situation for both child and grandparent, even if it is a cost-effective situation for parents. Unless the relative can drive/use public transport, opportunities to get out and about may be limited, social interaction time with children of similar ages could be limited too, and in a post-Covid world, we all realise how important socialisation is for everyone.
- At an hourly rate per child that is on average in the East Midlands set at £6.09 (remarkably the cheapest of regions in England for childcare- information found here: The UK’s most expensive hourly rates for childcare | This is Money) childminders may not necessarily be considered to be the most financially viable option. However, childminders can offer the chance of socialisation for children, and often they do trips out and about to local museums, galleries etc. But childminders don’t always offer the flexibility that parents may need- last minute bookings, for example, are exceedingly unlikely to be something that childminder’s can offer as their services are usually booked terms in advance!
- Similarly, to childminder’s, employing a Nanny/Au Pair may be an option that some adults consider. Aside from being potentially very expensive, this system of childcare requires quite a bit of time to organise, engaging a Nanny and allowing time for the relationship to build between child and professional is something that may need to be done before the holidays. Yet, these trained individuals can bring a lot of fun and spontaneity to the holidays- with a set budget they can whirl your children away for a day of fun!
- Parents taking time off. Time with kids is great! Quality time in the sun together, exploring the local area, or even going on holiday is something that everyone looks forwards to. However, it is not always possible. And even if they are, there could be financial ramifications to time off, as well as the added expenditure of holidays!
So what do our summer camps offer that makes them worthwhile when seen in comparison to these options? Our camps offer:
- DBS checked, Paediatric First Aid trained deliverers. Our staff know how to keep children safe, how to attend to medical emergencies. They are trained in sports, in childcare, and have experience delivering lessons, clubs and wraparound services within primary school settings.
- A variety of activities to try something new! Our football camps may be dedicated to football, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t new things to try! We let children explore and expand their skills; likewise, our Kids+ camps have so much choice and variety for children- NERF, laser tag, arts and crafts, there’s something that everyone will love!
- Our services are made more cost effective as the price is shared equally by those who attend, we can offer sibling discounts too.
- There is a huge scope for socialisation! When our camps are busy we split into KS1 and KS2 groups for specific sessions, but for breaktime and lunchtime all the children can mix and play together, forming lasting memories, making new friends and learning new skills!
- There is a degree of flexibility to our services. If you’re running late, or if you need to drop off your children early, then we can manage that! We have ‘standard hours’ at 9am-3pm and ‘extended hours’ 8am-4:30pm, so never fear! We can help with your childcare needs!
We hope this blog outlines some of the ways that our services and camps differ to other types of childcare.
If you have any queries, you can email us at: info@fiestasportscoaching.co.uk
We hope to see many familiar (and new!) faces at our camps this summer!