Your Ultimate Guide to Summer Holiday Childcare

What is a Holiday Club?

Holiday clubs, sometimes referred to as summer holiday clubs or school holiday childcare programs, are structured childcare options that run during school breaks. These clubs offer a safe, fun, and educational environment for children, especially helpful for working parents needing reliable care during the summer holidays.

Typical Features:

• Age-appropriate activities (usually from ages 0–11, with early years-specific options)
• Full-day or half-day sessions
• Play-based learning themes
• Social interaction, outdoor play, and educational enrichment

For families with younger children (ages 0–5), early years holiday clubs, like those offered at Hatching Dragons, provide an ideal blend of fun, care, and learning continuity during the break.

Why Summer Holiday Childcare Matters

Long summer holidays can disrupt a young child’s routine and lead to boredom, regression in learning, or separation anxiety when returning to school. Summer childcare plays a key role in supporting emotional wellbeing, development, and school readiness.

Benefits of Holiday Clubs for Young Children:

• Consistent routine helps reduce anxiety after term ends
• Continued language learning, especially important for bilingual children
• Socialisation with peers maintains emotional development
• Active play and exploration to support cognitive and physical growth

Parents often tell us how helpful it is that their child can stay in a familiar setting with trusted educators over the summer.

What to Look for in a Holiday Club

Choosing the right summer childcare option can feel overwhelming. To help, here’s a quick checklist of what to look for in a high-quality holiday club:

Checklist for Choosing a Holiday Club:

• Ofsted-registered, qualified staff
• Structured daily schedule with age-appropriate themes
• Flexibility in timing (full-day, part-day, or specific weeks)
• Indoor and outdoor activities
• Opportunities for creative play and cultural exploration
• Clear communication with parents
• Enrichment opportunities (e.g. languages, arts, nature)

Looking for Mandarin-English activities for your preschooler? Explore Hatching Dragons’ Summer Holiday Club 

How Hatching Dragons Makes Summer Childcare Unique

At Hatching Dragons, our Summer Holiday Club is more than childcare, it's an immersive learning experience wrapped in play.

Multilingual Learning, Even in Summer

We continue our Mandarin-English immersion approach throughout the summer to help children retain and develop their bilingual skills in a fun, informal way. Activities are carefully designed to weave both languages into everyday experiences, whether it’s cooking, singing, storytelling or outdoor adventures.

Themed Weeks for Cultural and Creative Exploration

Each week has a different theme tied to cultural traditions or global stories, such as:

• Chinese Kite Festival Week
• World Explorers Week
• Nature & Eco Week
• Little Chefs: International Flavours
• Water & Sensory Play Week

Real-Time Parent Updates

Our parent app keeps families in the loop with photos, progress notes, and language milestones, so you stay connected even while you’re working.

Using 30 Hours Free Childcare During Summer

Many parents wonder whether their 30 hours of free childcare can be used during the summer holidays, and the short answer is: yes, but with conditions.

How It Works:

• You must reconfirm eligibility every 3 months via your Government Childcare Account.
• The 30 hours typically apply only during term time (38 weeks/year), but you can "stretch" them across the year to cover holidays.
• When stretched, you receive around 22 hours per week over 51 weeks instead of 30 hours for 38 weeks.

At Hatching Dragons, we help parents understand how to make the most of their hours year-round, including in our summer programs. If you’re unsure how this applies to your situation, feel free to get in touch.

Top Activities in Summer Holiday Clubs

We believe learning should be joyful, and our holiday clubs are packed with fun, themed activities that promote curiosity, creativity, and confidence.

Here’s a look at what a week in our Summer Holiday Club might include:

More Fun Summer Holiday Club Activities:

• Music and rhythm games in English & Mandarin
• Puppet theatre and cultural storytelling
• Sand and water sensory stations
• Arts and crafts inspired by global cultures
• Interactive group games to build friendships

All our activities are designed with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in mind and adapted to support bilingual learning.

FAQs

Can my 2-year-old join a summer holiday club?

Yes! Our holiday camps are open to children aged 3 to 8 years. For younger children (under 3), we offer full-time nursery care with age-appropriate activities.

Is food included in the holiday program?

Yes, our in-house chef prepares nutritious, culturally rich meals daily. We cater to all dietary needs and allergies, ensuring every child enjoys healthy, balanced food.

How far in advance should I book?

Spaces fill up quickly, especially during July and August. We recommend booking at least 4–6 weeks in advance to secure your preferred dates. Register early to avoid missing out.

What should I pack for my child?

• A change of clothes

• Weather-appropriate gear (hat & sunscreen or raincoat & wellies)

• Reusable water bottle

• Any comfort item (e.g., blanket or soft toy)

Ready to Book Your Summer Spot?

Let your child learn, play, and grow this summer, all while immersed in a rich, multilingual environment.