22/06/2023

Ofsted and Trust Pilot Reviews 2023

All of Barracudas holiday camps are registered with Ofsted. Being registered with Ofsted means that you as parents not only have the ability to pay for childcare using Tax-Free childcare and Childcare Vouchers but even more importantly you can rest assure that your children are in safe hands.

All our summer camps are regularly reviewed and rated and in the past Barracudas Activity Day Camps have received the “Outstanding” rating from Ofsted multiple times, more frequently than our comparable competitors. We received some wonderful feedback that we would love to share with you.

What Ofsted say about our camps

Barnet holiday camp

"Staff promote children's physical development and skills effectively. There is a strong focus on physical activities and children have daily opportunities to enjoy different sports, such as swimming, golf, obstacle races and skipping."

Bedford holiday camp

"Children recognise that staff are genuinely interested in them and value their contributions. This creates a constructive environment where children develop the confidence to try new activities and have positive attitudes to play and learning."

Bishops Stortford holiday camp

"Enthusiastic staff use superb teaching skills to motivate and inspire children's learning. Children are incredibly keen learners and maintain high levels of engagement in activities."

Brighton holiday camp

"The management team is inspirational in its pursuit of providing the highest-quality care for children. The efficient deployment of staff in the camp is key to making sure that they meet every child's needs exceptionally well."

Cambridge Long Road holiday camp

"Children eagerly enter the camp and are greeted by an incredibly warm and friendly staff team. Children happily wave goodbye to their parents. They feel safe and secure as they excitedly chat to staff and new friends about the day ahead."

Cambridge St Faiths holiday camp

"Staff provide an extremely welcoming environment where children feel safe and secure. Children are very keen to attend and thoroughly enjoy their time in the setting. Staff are highly effective in supporting children to develop a positive sense of themselves."

Chelmsford holiday camp

"Children are extremely excited as they enter the activity camp and are exceedingly eager to join in. Staff offer a vast range of activities that children find inspiring, challenging and absorbing."

Chichester holiday camp

"Staff are well qualified, experienced and enthusiastic about their role. They form strong bonds with children and create a fun and positive atmosphere."

Chigwell holiday camp

"Parents say they feel reassured leaving their children at the club. They say they appreciate the information provided on the club's online app and website. Parents comment that the staff are very caring and that their children have a 'great time' and that they feel fully informed about their child's day."

Chislehurst holiday camp

"Children are happy and eager to participate in all the available activities. Children receive a warm welcome from staff."

Cobham holiday camp

"Children are happy and eager to participate in all the available activities. Children receive a warm welcome from staff."

Croydon holiday camp

"Children settle exceptionally well in the setting. They confidently share ideas and suggestions with other children and staff as they build and develop friendship groups."

Farnham holiday camp

"Children arrive happily at the holiday club and are greeted by enthusiastic staff. They show great confidence as they leave their parents and rush to join their friends in their base room. Children swiftly engage themselves in a variety of activities and experiences."

Godalming holiday camp

"Parents' drop-off times in the morning are seamless, showing fully embedded registration. Children arrive happy and ready for the exciting day ahead. They are kind and considerate towards each other and demonstrate a real sense of belonging."

Harlow holiday camp

"Children are closely supervised through the manager's good deployment of staff. Children show that they feel happy, safe and secure. For example, as they move from one activity to another they enthusiastically sing familiar songs with staff."

Hayes holiday camp

"Staff plan a wide range of interesting and enjoyable activities, both indoors and outdoors. There is a strong focus on physical activities, and children have daily opportunities to undertake a wide range of activities."

Hemel Hempstead holiday camp

"Children demonstrate that they enjoy their time at the club. They are greeted by welcoming staff on their arrival. Management and staff demonstrate a secure understanding of the procedures to keep children safe."

High Wycombe holiday camp

"Children are exceptionally well engaged. They speak confidently and appreciatively about the club and its staff. For example, they state they enjoy 'everything' that the camp offers. They eagerly recall previous activities and discuss these with their friends."

Huntingdon holiday camp

"Staff are aware of children's needs and interests and plan activities and routines to suit each group. This means, children settle quickly and are happy to separate from parents. Children who regularly attend the camp build relationships with staff and settle in very well. They learn and develop over time, increasing their confidence and independence and learning new skills."

Hutton holiday camp

"Children at this setting show that they feel emotionally secure. For example, they happily move from one activity to another and enjoy spending time holding a wide range of conversations with staff and their friends."

Letchworth holiday camp

"Children are extremely happy, settled and confident. They have exceptional relationships with staff and each other, which significantly benefit their emotional wellbeing and sense of belonging."

Maidstone holiday camp

"Children are extremely happy, settled and confident. They have exceptional relationships with staff and each other, which significantly benefit their emotional wellbeing and sense of belonging."

Norwich holiday camp

"Staff are enthusiastic and motivate children to take part in a wide range of physical play opportunities. Children are confident and have good levels of self-esteem. Staff praise children often."

Romford holiday camp

"Children settle in easily and are eager to come back the next day. They are confident and are encouraged to make their own choices about the activities they want to take part in."

Salisbury holiday camp

"Children arrive at the club excited to take part in the broad range of sports and creative activities that are on offer to them. A familiar member of staff is ready to welcome them at the registration desk. This helps children to feel safe and settle quickly."

Sevenoaks holiday camp

"Children are enthusiastic and enthralled during their time at the holiday camp. All staff build amazingly positive partnerships with parents and keep them exceptionally well informed in their children's time at the camp."

St Albans holiday camp

Streatham & Clapham holiday camp

"Children arrive happily at the setting and are excited for the day ahead. They experience a wide range of fun and challenging activities that are well organised. Children show that they are secure as the friendly and enthusiastic staff engage with them exceptionally well."

Tonbridge holiday camp

"The highly qualified and experienced management team has very high expectations of what children are able to achieve. Children's well-being is significantly enhanced. Staff follow extremely well-thought-out procedures and their practice is excellent."

Twickenham St Catherine's holiday camp

"The experienced and dedicated leadership team strives to provide top quality experiences for all children. The club manager leads the enthusiastic and skilled staff, who have an excellent understanding of their roles and responsibilities, effectively."

Twickenham Waldegrave holiday camp

"Children enjoy a range of exciting activities, available both indoors and outdoors. They are happy when they arrive and are welcomed by friendly staff. The adults are sensitive to the children and listen to them. They build strong bonds with the children, helping them to feel safe and secure."

Upminster holiday camp

"Children are happy and enjoy their experiences at the camp. Staff praise children's efforts and achievements. They successfully support them to encourage one another during team activities. This contributes to building children's self-esteem well. They have a positive attitude to learning and are motivated to explore new challenges."

Ware holiday camp

"Staff take great care in getting to know the children and understanding their personalities and needs. This sensitive attention means that children quickly become confident and enjoy the activities. They readily try new experiences, knowing that staff understand them and are there to support whenever needed. For example, young children beam with pride as they learn to steer and manoeuvre motorised go-karts. Opportunities such as these build children's selfesteem and help them gain confidence to try new experiences."

Woking holiday camp

"Children fully engage in all activities that are on offer. Staff interact with every child and show care and compassion to those that need a little more support to settle. They adapt areas within the holiday club to allow space for quiet and calm time."

Wokingham holiday camp

"Children enjoy their time at the club and have opportunities to participate in a good range of interesting activities. Staff are skilful in developing children's confidence."

Woodford holiday camp

"Staff carefully nurture children's independence skills. Children are encouraged to persevere. They develop resilience and gain pride from their achievements."

Ofsted ratings explained

As of the 1st September 2019, Out of School settings (including activity camps) were no longer rated Outstanding, Good, Adequate or Requires Improvement. We are now simply rated ‘Met’ or ‘Not Met’.

Providers are still required to ensure the welfare and safety of children is considered at a basic level, so that staff background checks, first aid, risk assessments and welfare policies are in place.

See how Ofsted rating procedures have changed. https://www.barracudas.co.uk/blog/new-ofsted-reporting-explained/

Independent Trustpilot parent reviews

Not only is Barracudas rated 5* on Trust Pilot, but we’ve received over 1200 Trust Pilot reviews from parents. Every bit of feedback is useful to us, it helps us grow and develop and reassures us that we are providing the top notch 5* service we promise.

Here are some of the parents reviews about our camps...

“My son attended the Romford Barracudas camp this Easter and came out beaming everyday! He couldn’t wait to go in each morning and didn’t want to leave each evening.
The staff are so friendly and welcoming and remember small details about the children which really makes them feel welcome and comfortable.”

“What a great experience my daughters 5 & 7) had. My youngest is very nervous so I was worried how she’d react at going to camp and being separated from her sister. I needn’t have worried, I had to take her for an appt 2 hours into day 1 and she was buzzing with excitement and telling me to rush back as she didn’t want to miss anything!
Both were so excited to go back the next day and are already planning the summer and taking about what activities they want to do!
The staff at Romford camp were great, I felt my children were safe and looked after. The check in process was easy, they checked in with me around health issues and had my child ready for collection for her appt even though they’d only just met us both.
I couldn’t ask for much more and the kids certainly didn’t, just to go back!!
Thanks Barracudas Romford!!”

“My son joined Barracudas Watford, he’s first experience of a summer camp. As parents we are thrilled by the experience he is gaining by interacting with other children. The range of activities is brilliant, and our 5 yr old really is enjoying the sessions. The staff aware helpful and approachable. I certainly would recommend and give the 5*”

Activities

"My son has just finished a week at the Sevenoaks camp and he’s absolutely loved it. Staff very welcoming, lots of different activities and choices for the kids. We travel to this camp as it has the full range of activities. Will definitely use again."

Staff

"After a flustered morning during half term, I was greeted by lovely staff at the camp who helped me to navigate the registration process for my 8 year old with my toddler in tow. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and kind and they made me feel at ease. I'll be back time and time again."

Can’t wait to come back...

"Our 2 children have been to Barracudas this week and loved it! They have gone in happy and left happier. The staff seem really friendly and helpful. The kids get to try lots of different activities and they are keen to go back in the summer."

Value for money

"My daughter spent this last week at the Chelmsford camp - she had an amazing time and loved going. I feel it was really good value for money- and was really well organised. Everyone I met was friendly professional and fun. Will be booking in the summer."

Older Children

Our commitment to you

Now that the Ofsted process has changed slightly, it means it’s a little harder to distinguish between a basic provider and an outstanding one. However, we promise that we will continue to strive for outstanding care for you and your child.

We are extremely happy that Barracudas to date has received such positive Ofsted reports and so many fantastic reviews from parents.

We’ll continue with the same staff training, the same child-centred and nurturing environment and go above and beyond what is required to ensure all children have such an amazing experience at our holiday camps they can’t wait to come back.

FIND YOUR HIGHLY RATED LOCAL SUMMER HOLIDAY CAMP

What Ofsted and parents say about Barracudas