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Permalink Reply by Claire Vale on March 8, 2014 at 21:11

Hi. ... Would def be interested if it comes about. I have 2 kids at Tottenhall and it's always a headache getting holiday cover as our school doesn't offer it. I'm sure there are other working parents at our school who'd welcome a locally available holiday club too....

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Permalink Reply by Shona Rose on March 8, 2014 at 22:00

Hi.  I have a son at Bounds Green school, where there is no holiday provision.  I definitely know of several local parents who don't have a solution in place for the Summer and would be interested in something like this.  (Have to say, for those who commute, Bounds Green school would be a much more convenient venue, as its so close to tube and overground stations)!

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Permalink Reply by Hester Smith on March 9, 2014 at 9:32

Hi Claire, Shona & Susie, this is most encouraging, I have to say that I was pretty shocked when I learned that there we were the only school in this area that provided holiday care.  But we are suffering from the if you don't use it you lose it and hence the situation we are now in.  I think we would need to prove a need for at least 20-30 children over the summer period (at the moment I believe the Walkers club does 2 weeks over the summer, and also does other holidays) but if we get a high demand who knows we may get more cover.  As I say this is still up in the air, but the more interest we can generate the higher our chances (sorry to keep on repeating myself).

Of course because many of us are working we don't get the 'schoolgate' network information  and it is hard to know how many people really need this help, I always assumed it would be a large number of parents, but maybe I am wrong.  Please ask around it would be great if we can get something in place for summer with a view to other holiday cover.

Susie, I have to say that as I have no family available to help me the holiday club was vital in getting me back to work after all who get 10 weeks holiday  a year (apart from teachers and school administrators, although I know teachers are also working during 'holidays', before they get upset with me!) I wonder how many people cannot go back to work for this reason?

Hester

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Permalink Reply by Hester Smith on March 12, 2014 at 19:53

Hello all,  I think it is so important to have something locally, I for one do not drive and it is so hard to get around without transport.  It is good to know that parents from other schools need and would use a holiday club at Bowes.  I am hoping greater numbers it will further our cause.  So far I would say that at the moment there are an extra 10 children who would use the club so far, which added to Bowes children takes it up to around 20.  I am sure there must be so many more parents out there any ideas on how to canvass more people?  Hester

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Permalink Reply by Kerstin Sailer on March 10, 2014 at 13:56

Hi, we will definitely be in the same boat very soon! Our eldest will start school in September 2015 and we would for sure need some sort of holiday cover. So at the moment we wouldn't be part of the directly affected parents, but we'd be highly interested in the future. Thanks for the initiative Hester, this would be such a great resource to have. Good luck with it!

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Permalink Reply by Lucy Whitehead on March 12, 2014 at 17:32

I would be interested. My son is at Garfield. The only one we've tried is Forty Hall which is lovely, and only £18 for a whole day, but a bit far to travel..

Please keep us posted.

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Permalink Reply by Laura Lorente-Cronin on March 14, 2014 at 12:05

Hiya, I currently run a drama club at Bowes called Dramatise. A while back I was speaking to Di about running Dramatise in the holidays - full days, full time. I spoke to the council about hiring out a hall at the school but it was pretty expensive. I'm a Parent and I want  to be able to offer affordable performing arts classes to children. My idea was to run Dramatise for two full weeks, working towards putting on a performance for Parents. I also have a friend who is a puppet maker who was keen to run this with me. Maybe we can put our heads together and come up with something that works???

Laura 

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