As a working parent, you would be all too familiar with the struggle of juggling school holidays with your work. Unless you’re self-employed or you’ve got a very understanding boss, chances are you won’t be able to align your annual leave with the school holidays, let alone have enough leave to cover over ten weeks of school holidays each year.
But with that said, it can be a relief to know that many childcare providers continue to provide childcare during school holidays with the exceptions of some public holidays.
Childcare options during the school holidays
When it comes to finding childcare during school holidays, the good news is that there are a few different options to choose from. If your little one already attends a daycare centre or family day care, it’s more than likely that things will continue to operate as usual during the school holidays but it’s worth checking in with your provider to see if there are any closures.
If you’ve got a child in primary school, you might be on the hunt for different childcare providers over the school holidays. Here are some of the best options for keeping your little ones safe and entertained during the school holidays.
Vacation care
Vacation care services, also known as out of school hours care (OOSH), provide activity-based programs that have been developed by qualified educators. These services cater to children aged 5-12, making them a great choice for both childcare and primary school-aged children.
Most vacation care programs operate from 7:00am to 6:00pm during school holidays, but the operating hours might change depending on the individual service. They offer a range of different activities, including excursions, incursions and external activities. These activities are often organised in advance with many vacation care providers publishing a timetable of holiday activities for you to choose from and book.
Childcare centres
Childcare, or long day care centres, provide education and care services for children under school age. These services tend to operate for 10-12 hours each day, five days a week, 52 weeks a year, not including public holidays. Because of their extended operating hours throughout the year, childcare centres are a great option for working parents looking for childcare during the school holidays.
Some childcare centres even offer vacation care services for primary school-aged children too, so if your little one already attends a childcare centre it’s worth checking in to see whether their older sibling can join them during the school break.
Family day care
While many family day care operators offer education and care services for most of the year, these services are offered to much smaller groups of children in the homes of the educators themselves. These small group settings offer a more tailored, nurturing environment.
Most family day care operators offer standard hours of care during the week but some may also offer evening, overnight, weekend and school holiday care. Check in with the individual operator to find out more information about their school holiday care options.
Occasional, flexible or casual care
If you’re just after ad hoc childcare during school holidays, occasional, flexible or casual care provides care for as little as an hour to a full day. Occasional care services cater to children aged from birth to five years of age. You just have to pay for the time that your child is in care.
Nannies
Nannies provide live-in or live-out care for families. Nannies provide consistent care for children within their homes, so they can enjoy a familiar environment. While nannies are great for providing more one on one care for children and other domestic duties related to childcare, this type of service often comes at a higher price point.
Some nannies also offer nanny sharing services where they work across two families. They may take care of all the children at the same time or work part-time at each family home. This service works well for families who don’t need a full-time nanny and also allows them to split the cost with another family.
Babysitters
Babysitters provide regular or ad hoc childcare services. Babysitters often provide their services on a casual basis while they’re studying or working another job. While they may not be as experienced as other childcare providers, like nannies, it’s important for them to enjoy working with children.
Child swaps
Not all working families can afford to put their children into full-time childcare during school holidays, which is where child swapping can come in handy. If you have friends, family or neighbours who are in the same boat as you and are looking for affordable childcare during the school holidays, it can be worth coordinating your schedules so you can share childcare duties over the school holidays. Just make sure your kids get along before leaving them in each other’s company for the school break!
Tips for getting organised during the school holidays
Rather than scrambling to find childcare once the school holidays start, it pays to be organised and get in early. Start by finding the right childcare option for your little one during the school holidays and get them enrolled ASAP. Lots of popular vacation care and childcare providers book out quickly over the school break, so make sure you secure a spot before it’s too late.
Once you’ve settled on a childcare provider and enrolled your child, it’s worth checking to see if you can claim the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). The CCS is paid directly to your childcare provider, helping to reduce childcare fees. You can even use our child care subsidy calculator to work out how much CCS you could claim and estimate your out-of-pocket childcare cost.
Whether you’re looking for vacation care, a childcare centre or a babysitter, Care for Kids can help you find the right childcare option in your local area. Use our childcare search tool to find and compare the right childcare for your little one over the school holidays.
