What is Holiday Camp?

Holiday camps (also called holiday clubs or holiday programmes) are structured activity sessions run during school holiday periods, typically operating for full or half days. They serve a dual purpose: providing childcare for working parents and offering children intensive activity experiences that are not possible in a one-hour weekly class. Holiday camps represent a significant revenue opportunity for activity businesses, as parents are often willing to pay a premium for quality provision.

A key operational difference between holiday camps and regular classes is Ofsted registration. If you care for children under eight for more than two hours per day during school holidays, you will likely need to register with Ofsted (or a childminder agency). This brings additional requirements around staff qualifications, ratios, premises, policies, and inspections. However, registration also means parents can use tax-free childcare vouchers and Universal Credit childcare support to pay for your camps, significantly increasing affordability and demand.

Holiday camp planning starts months in advance: securing suitable venues, recruiting and training additional staff, creating varied and engaging programmes, setting pricing that covers the higher costs of all-day provision, and marketing to parents well before they make their holiday childcare arrangements. Many successful activity businesses find that holiday camps become their most profitable product line, generating 30-40% of annual revenue from just 13 weeks of holiday periods.