Holiday Play Schemes

During the summer holidays community groups, pre-school nurseries, church groups and mother and toddler groups may run Holiday Play Schemes for the children in your area.

We look at what these Holiday Play Schemes have to offer and whether or not they can be of benefit not only to your children but also to you as a parent.

What is a Holiday Play Scheme?

Holiday Play Schemes are usually morning-held playgroups for children of varying ages to play together and make new friends. These schemes - run primarily by volunteers - are designed to allow the parents of children who are on summer holiday to have some time to do whatever they need to do whilst allowing their children to play and learn in the presence of others in a safe and child-friendly environment.

These schemes are particularly beneficial to single mothers who - during the summer holiday period often find it difficult to engage in job hunting, part-time work and other activities which might not be conducive to having a child with you.

Who runs Holiday Play Schemes?

Churches, community groups, mother and toddler groups, pre-school nurseries and sometimes local charities can run these Holiday Play Schemes. Depending on the area in which you live in you should be able to find one of the aforementioned organisations who will run such a scheme during the summer months and it is best to try and secure a place early if you can as demand is usually high.

What Activities can my child take part in?

Again this varies from Play Scheme to Play Scheme but usually there are a mix of activities which would often include painting, story-telling, role playing games, outdoor activities such as football for the boys and rounders for the girls, and where possible day trips. Day trips can often take place but this is indicative as to whether or not the Play Scheme has access to a mini-bus or suitable transport and the volunteers and funds. Many of the activities undertaken at Holiday Play Schemes are activities which continue to encourage learning between school terms as well as to encourage interaction between different social groups.

Can I Volunteer at My Local Holiday Play Scheme?

More often than not these Play Schemes as well as other community groups are in need of volunteers as well as fundraisers to help them. You can certainly offer your services to your local Play Scheme and they may wish to take you up on your kind offer. However it must be said at this juncture that all persons working or involved in the care of children, the elderly or those considered being members of vulnerable groups, are required by law to undertake a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure.

This disclosure - either basis or enhanced on what the organisation asks for - is designed as a means of ensuring the safety of the children in your care. You may be asked to fund this disclosure yourself or - given the nature of the Play Scheme and it funds permit - the organisation may fund it themselves. You should be aware however that until such times as the disclosure has been received from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) you will not be able to undertake any work with children.

If you do feel you wish to offer your services for such a Play Scheme in the first instance you should contact the Scheme's manager or Leader and express your interest. Likewise you can contact your local Council who will have a list of Play Schemes and nurseries in your area who may benefit from your help as a volunteer.