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Summer childcare & camps
SUMMER CAMPS
Choosing summer childcare
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By Andrew Campbell
The long summer holiday break is a great opportunity for children to take part in organised activities, play schemes, workshops or day camps either within their local area on a daily or weekly basis or, increasingly, attend an American-style residential summer camp.
Here’s our guide to some of the options available. Don’t miss our July/August issue for our special summer holiday camps and activities directory to help you plan your childcare before the kids finish school.
Residential Camps These are independent holidays for unaccompanied children aged from 7 years and above. Children are supervised round the clock in a secure residential environment such as a boarding school. Group leaders usually take care of children’s pastoral and welfare needs whilst Instructors provide a programme of activities. Camps can offer specialist courses or a multi-activity programme.
Sports/Activity Courses or Workshops Specialising in a specific sport or activity such as performing arts or art and craft, these courses are usually for children of 7 years and above. They generally operate for 2 to 3 hours per day, running for just one day or as a progressive course over 4 to 5 days. Sports courses are often led by qualified instructors/coaches or by local authority sports/leisure centres. Performing arts workshops tend to be run by performing arts schools who also offer term time classes for children.
Multi-Activity Day Camps These are non-residential full-day camps running in your local area. They are for unaccompanied children from 3 years and above which usually run from Monday to Friday, offering a varied programme of sports or creative activities throughout the day. Generally, children can attend for as many days as they wish, with a price discount for a full week’s attendance.
Holiday Play Schemes These offer non-residential full or part-day supervised childcare for unaccompanied children from age 3 and above but are usually run by voluntary organisations or local authorities.
Activities at play schemes may involve sports, crafts, and possibly trips out to attractions.
In the main, they are provided for children living in the catchment area of the venue.
✸To advertise in the special summer activities for kids feature in our July/August issue, contact editor@familieswestkent.co.uk or call 07980118626. Booking deadline is June 1.
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Perform Wizard of Oz holiday courses run across July and August in Sevenoaks. Visit www.perform.org.uk/holidays for full details.
