Summer Childcare in Dorset

Updated: 1/5/2015

Sorted for Summer

The impending six weeks of the school summer holiday can pose quite a challenge for many families who need to juggle childcare with work with time off. So at this time of year some forward planning for July and August won’t go amiss. It will pay to book that family trip or ensure your child is signed up on his or her favourite course or summer camp before being pipped to the post by other eager parents. Luckily, there are plenty of tempting options and we’ve taken a closer look at some of them here…

A good starting point is to decide where your child will be happiest. Worthy though it may sound, there is no point picking an adventure residential camp, if you think he or she will hate every minute of it. The results and effect could be totally counterproductive. So, consider the interests of your child. How is he or she likely to fit in with a group of other ‘unknown’ children? Rather than throwing a young one in at the deep end, a good way to encourage this social interaction is by selecting day camps, holiday play schemes or multi-activity courses to start with. This is where you simply drop your child off in the morning and collect at the end of the day. For working parents, this is a highly desirable option. Not only does it look after the childcare side of things; it also means their child will gain new skills, or will enjoy a mini adventure each day in the company of peers. Many adventure companies offer this type of package where children can gain recognised awards in sailing or kayaking, for example.

Book early

Due to the popularity of many forms of childcare, spaces fill up extremely quickly, so always book early to avoid any disappointment for your child. Also, it’s worth checking to see if your holiday club or play scheme is Ofsted registered as child carers. If they are, and you are working at the same time as your child attends the club, you may be able to get a proportion of the costs paid for by the Childcare element of Working Tax Credit. Go to www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits to find out if you are eligible.

Pavilion Dance South West Gets Ready For Summer

The Pavilion Dance South West Summer School kicks off at the end of July for a week dedicated to music and its many styles. Children aged 5–8 can indulge in a spot of Pop Music and Jazz Dance, whilst youngsters aged 9–13 will be able to enjoy Rock with a Contemporary Dance twist. Older siblings, aged 14–19 will be able to take a journey though Hip-Hop’s history. Classes run from Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August from 9.30am to 5pm daily at Pavilion Dance South West, Bournemouth. It will cost £50 for all five days plus two free tickets for the final performance at 6pm on Friday 2 August. For more information call 01202 203630 or visit www.paviliondance.org.uk

Book your place now for a Shaun the Sheep Model-Making Workshop!

Dorset County Museum is offering children a truly unique experience and the opportunity to learn from expert Aardman model makers on how to make world famous Aardman characters. These clay-building workshops provide a creative and hands-on activity for children aged 6-16. Participants will also get a rare chance to ask questions about Aardman Studios and hear about the animation process involved in the making of their award-winning films.

Two workshops will take place at the Museum on Wednesday 1 August 2013. Numbers are limited to ensure the best experience for everyone and tickets are expected to sell fast. To book your place phone the Museum on 01305 756832 or email learning@dorsetcountymuseum.org. Tickets cost £15 per child.

The workshops form part of the exciting Animate! exhibition running from 13 July to 19 October 2013. The exhibition traces the story of animation from the earliest times to Walt Disney and the latest CGI innovations, and is suitable for everyone.

Affordable summer childcare at Osprey Leisure Centre

This school summer holiday Osprey Leisure Centre has scheduled in the usual variety of popular activities for kids aged 5 -14 years and now parents have the option to enrol their children for a whole week for just £55 for 5 full days. This is certainly a benefit for working mums and dads who may be looking for childcare during the school holiday.

Also this year sandwich boxes for the children can be ordered for only £2.50 extra per day, so parents don’t have to worry about a packed lunch before sending them off for the day!

Amongst the usual mix of activity days Osprey is now offering an indoor football academy on Tuesdays and Thursdays which when added to the half day multi activity sessions on the same day gives 2 extra full days from 9am – 4pm which have not been available before.

There is also a competitive swim camp operating throughout the school holiday and a programme of intensive swim lessons for children wishing to improve their swimming skills. Children wishing to collect achievement badges can do so every Wednesday morning at 9.30. For any further information feel free to contact the centre on 01305 824378 or visit www.ospreyleisure.co.uk

Learn something new this summer with Rockley Watersports

Rockley Watersports has the perfect recipe of activities to keep your children amused and entertained throughout the school holiday. Rockley’s exclusive holiday camps at the beautiful Poole Park Lake location are aimed at children aged 8 to 15 years. These camps give youngsters the opportunity to try something new on the water, and offer a fun and exciting introduction to watersports such as sailing, windsurfing and kayaking.

For those children who really want to get to grips with sailing then the 3 or 5 day residential or non-residential RYA sailing course is the perfect choice while the multi activity course allows children to experience as much as they possibly can on the water. Rockley is a family-run business established in 1976 and has watersports centres in Poole and Southwest France. For further information contact 01202 677272 or email watersports@rockley.org or visit: www.rockleywatersports.com

Go on an adventure with WOEC and Paddlesports Academy

Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre and Paddlesports Academy provides adventurous activities on the Jurassic coast. Established in the 1960’s, the centre works with all ages and abilities from young children to adults. Its highly qualified and experienced team of staff use a range of challenges to develop confidence, cooperation and personal skills. The teaching style encourages children to step out of their comfort zone and take pride in their achievements.

Onsite activities include an indoor traverse wall, a 7m Portland stone climbing tower, orienteering, a team challenge, archery and caving experience. Off site children can sail on the Olympic waters, kayak, canoe or coasteer on the World Heritage site or climb, abseil or scramble on Portland, the sport climbing capital of Europe. For details go to www.dorsetforyou.com/woec or call 01305 784927

Sweetlands Riding School’s summer season

In the ten years of Sweetlands’ riding school history, many children have been able to indulge in their passion for horses. Children are introduced to the pony world with a light ‘meet and greet’ session which includes a gentle ride on their new found friend. Then, children are given the opportunity on ‘Pony Days’ to learn how to groom, tack up and feed their four legged friend as well as muck out a stable and keep a field tidy.

At Sweetlands’ pony partys children are introduced to the world of ponies, learn new skills and are given a rosette to help them remember their experience.

Plus, mums are not forgotten either! With summer finally on the way, mums can also enjoy a morning on horseback! Sweetlands’ full schedule gives everyone the opportunity to take a little time to enjoy a new skill or rekindle old passions in a safe friendly and social environment. To find out more go to www.sweetlandsridingschool.co.uk or call 01202 630180

Stagecoach announces its Summer Holiday Workshops

Stagecoach Theatre Arts Schools operate nationwide and are perfect for building confidence and performing skills. Students aged 6 – 16 years can train for three hours at weekends in dance, drama and singing with professional performers. Younger children aged from 4 – 6 can train for 1 ½ hours in an ‘Early Stages’ class. Classes are ideal for budding stars and children seeking to build self esteem and presentation skills in an environment of mutual support. The Stagecoach Agency provides professional opportunities and currently has children appearing in the West End, TV dramas, commercials and films. Summer Holiday Workshops are open to non Stagecoach students and include five days packed with musical theatre, culminating in a show on the final evening. For more details go to www.stagecoach.co.uk

BH Live launches Summer School at Bournemouth Pavilion!

New for this summer, BH Live is inviting young aspiring performers to take part in a weeklong series of drama and performance workshops at the Bournemouth Pavilion aimed at inspiring and encouraging youth musical theatre skills.

Delivered by Enchanted Entertainment, producer of family shows and stage productions, daily workshops aimed at young people aged between 9 – 16 years old will focus on singing, acting, performance techniques and general stage craft concluding with two staged performances in front of a live audience in the Bournemouth Pavilion Ballroom. 

Paul Griffiths, General Manager at the Bournemouth Pavilion said: “The Summer School at the Bournemouth Pavilion is all about inspiring young people to get involved in community drama and performance whatever their experience or ability. Working with Enchanted Entertainment, BH Live aims to give young people an energetic, fun-filled week, learning songs and routines from West End and Broadway musicals and performing in a show at the end of the week.” The Summer School at the Bournemouth Pavilion starts on 11 August and concludes with performances on Saturday 17 August. Spaces are now available and full details can be found on www.bhlivetickets.co.uk

Sporty Summer camp fun at the West Hants Club, Bournemouth

The family friendly West Hants Club in Talbot Woods offer multi-activity summer camps for girls and boys.  Aimed at children aged 7 – 12, sessions are from 9.30am-4pm and include football, hockey, cricket and mini netball. After a healthy lunch the afternoon activities focus on tennis drills and related fun games. Children then enjoy a cool down in the pool. For little ones aged 4-7, ‘Mini Camps’ are ideal.  Running from 9.30am-12.30pm, these sessions offer fun, healthy exercise allowing children to improve co-ordination and ball skills.  Summer camps run between 5-30 August. For more information call Steve Newman on 01202 519455 or visit www.westhants.co.uk