Holiday clubs and playschemes
What is available in the UK?
Across the region there is a wide range of holiday clubs, activities and playschemes for children of all ages and from all backgrounds. Some operate all day, often from 8am – 6pm, mainly for working families who need childcare while they are at work. Some are sports-based, some are arts-based, and many offer a good mix of different activities during the day. Some offer lunch and snacks, some expect children to take their own.
Holiday provision is run by many different organisations. These can include:
• Employers (for example, Addenbrookes hospital runs playschemes for their staff to use)
• Schools
• Sports centres
• Churches and other faith organisations
How can I find out about holiday activities and playschemes in my area?
The best place to start is to ask your school. Most schools will either run a holiday playscheme, or will know about others in the local area.
Local authorities also try to bring together a list of holiday activities in their area, however these are not always fully comprehensive. The following web links will take you to the local authority list for your area:
If you cannot find what you are looking for, in most cases your local Council will have a Family Information Service you can call to ask any questions.
How much do holiday activities and playschemes cost?
The activities and playschemes are run by different organisations, and they all have different charges. In general you can expect to pay between £30-£50 per day for each child to attend. Sometimes you can book by the day, and sometimes you will need to book an entire week. Your child can also attend all through the summer if you choose.
Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) playschemes
Each local area will have some free playschemes for children who are in low income families. This includes people with BN(O) visas. If your family has an income of less than £22,700 for families with 1 child, or £26,300 for families with 2 or more children, then your child should be entitled to a place at these playschemes.
You will need a unique code to be able to book onto a free playscheme. This code should be given to you by your child’s school. If you think you may be entitled to free playscheme provision because of your family income, please do tell your child’s school and they will be able to help you.