17/07/2023
Making holiday childcare easy
The summer holidays can be a long stretch of free time, unstructured time for kids to enjoy the freedom, exploring with their friends, going on adventures, activity camps and making wonderful memories. Sounds great, doesn’t it? But for working parents this can seem like a bit of a logistical nightmare.
As parents you’re already trying to manage the juggle. Throw in 6 – 8 weeks of no school, no term time clubs and children that need looking after and entertaining and you have a stressed parent that needs to make plans fast!
How many days holiday can you actually take? Are there grandparents to help for a few days? Can you share the childcare with friends? What activities and camps are available that suit you and your family?
Let’s break it down, what are we really looking for in a childcare provider?
Reliable childcare
A good childcare provider should be dependable and consistent. They operate on time, follow through with commitments, and provide a safe and secure environment for your child.
Engaging and fun activities
A good childcare provider should offer a variety of activities that are not only educational but also enjoyable for children. They should promote learning through play, provide age-appropriate activities, and engage children in stimulating activities. Barracudas offers over 80 different activities for children to choose from. Crafting, sports, games, water fun and specialist activities, you name it, we do it!
Flexibility
The flexibility of a childcare provider is important, especially for working parents. It's helpful to find a provider who offers flexible hours or can accommodate your schedule changes when needed. You can choose any days/weeks that suit you at Barracudas. We have the added extra of Early & Late Clubs, to give you a bit more breathing space at both ends of the day and you can also choose our Flex booking option to protect your booking against cancellations.
Licensing and accreditation
It's important to choose a childcare provider that is registered and licensed by the appropriate authorities. Barracudas holiday camps are Ofsted registered, which ensures that we as the provider meet certain standards of safety, quality, and care.
Experience and qualifications
Our team of seasonal staff here at barracudas are all required to have enhanced DBS checks, and over 70% of our staff are nearly or fully qualified teaching professionals or specialist instructors.
Our camps and bookers are also supported by our area team and professional Head Office staff.
Knowing that the provider has knowledge and expertise in childcare can give you peace of mind.
Communication
Effective communication is key when it comes to childcare. A good provider should keep you informed about your child's daily activities, and any concerns or issues that may arise. We’re here at check in and pick up ready to chat if you have any questions or concerns.
Safety and security
The safety and well-being of your child should be a top priority for any childcare provider, including fully trained staff in first aid.
Positive references and reviews
Seek recommendations from other parents or check online reviews to get insights into the experiences other families have had with the childcare provider. Positive feedback and recommendations can give you more confidence in your choice.
We’ve been lucky enough to receive over 1,200 Trustpilot reviews, from parents, and even rated excellent!
Personal choice
Every family has unique needs and preferences, so it's important to consider what matters most to you and your child when selecting a childcare provider.
Finding great childcare certainly is difficult, finding great childcare that fits with you as a family can be difficult. But guess what, that’s where we come in. Barracudas has over 30 years of experience of providing excellent childcare, that’s flexible, trusted and fun and of course, making wonderful memories for your children.