Parent Guide
First and foremost it's worth mentioning our staff as they are the ones that are directly looking after your children. Most of our staff are either qualified, nearly qualified or aspiring teachers with the remaining being coaches or studying childcare courses.
We are always looking for our staff to demonstrate fun, engaging personalities with clear boundaries and a focus on safety. To this end we have comprehensive staff training in place as well as requiring all of our staff to hold a current DBS check, safeguarding certificate and complete a number of courses including fire training, food handling, PREVENT training, infection control and some staff will also have pediatric first aid qualifications.
Childcare Vouchers
Both of our preferred venues are registered with Ofsted giving you that extra reassurance that we have signed up to comply with the very best childcare regulations. It also means that we are able to accept Childcare vouchers; something that any parent earning between the national minimum wage (16 hours) and £100,000pa can apply for. For more information on how you can save £2 for every £10 spent please visit: GOV.UK
All Stars at St Paul's - setting number 2519743 - HR1 1UX
All Stars at Holmer - setting number 2598085 - HR4 9RX
You can pay your full balance using childcare vouchers and this is an option on the booking form. We ask that payments are processed and complete a week prior to the start of the school holidays (which normally means processing the payment your end about two weeks prior).
Below are some of the more frequently used childcare scheme providers with our unique reference. If the setting postcode does not register please try HR! 3LD which is our office address.
Sodexo details: 844074
Computershare details: 0023236016
Edenred details: P21040144
Apple Childcare details: CA00011818
Fideliti details:
Government scheme details: Search for All Stars @ St Pauls (there is not a specific Holmer one)
About our Holiday Camps
General Information
What hours do you operate?
The main camp runs from 9am to 4pm with the option to book early drop off from 8.10am and book late pick up until 5pm.
What do we need to bring?
Each day your child will need to have active wear; this means clothes that they can freely run around in, including sturdy footwear such as trainers.
Cancellation and sickness
We will always refund at least 50% of booking fee if given 48 hours notice; meaning a change in circumstances or long term illness is protected. Due to limited spaces, staff and equipment costs any notice under 48 hours will be unlikely to be refunded unless their are exceptional circumstances.
Drop off and collection
Please read the specific camp information documents which will be sent to you via email prior to the camp. This will let you know where drop off and collection is.
Lunch and breaks
Each day will usually include two breaks (one 15 minute and one 10 minute) as well as a 30 minute lunch break. We suggest packing snacks for both breaks as well as a well balanced lunch.
My child has a SEND, can they attend?
We endeavour to be inclusive and have experience with plenty of children that have required a little more assistnace to maximise their day. If you are concerned please get in touch with us and we can talk through how a day at camp might work. The only two aspects we struggle to offer is when your child may need consistent one on one support or specialist assistance.
Does my child need to do every activity?
We don't force children to participate but it's worth reinforcing with them that they'll enjoy their day much more if they do. Our sessions change every 50 minutes and we often give choice to overcome a child feeling this way. We check on children and keep a specific eye out for children that don't seem engaged so that we can support them. If you are concerned about your child's participation, please let us know.
Policies
Behaviour Management
The camp runs much more smoothly when all participants maintain an acceptable level of discipline. We try and encourage positive behaviour through our reward system. We also consider the reasons behind undesirable behaviour, such as attention seeking or the activity being too easy, and adapt to meet the needs of each individual while maintaining high standards. If bad or dangerous behaviour persists the Camp Manager will be informed and you may be contacted to discuss an action plan.
Allergy Management
If your child has an allergy we will ask you to complete an Allergy management plan. This forms enables us to manage your child's condition, understand the severity and have strict processes in place should we need to action them.
Complaints Procedure
We have a full documneted complaints procedure which is both available electronically and at our camp venues. At both venues we also have a complaints book.
I need more information
If you would like to take a look at any of our policies we would be more than happy to send you an electronic copy, or alternatively you can browse through them during drop off or colleciton.
Activities
What sports do you offer?
Each sport is lead by a coach with experience in that sport and therefore enables them to give coaching points throughout the sessions.
Football, Archery*, Rugby, Netball, Unihoc, Tennis*, Softball, Amercian Football, Basketball*, Rounders, Lacrosse, Tchouckball, Table Tennis*, Handball, Volleyball, Cricket and Gymnastics*
*Depending on equipment availability
What craft sessions do you do?
Our instructors have a huge range of craft materials and come up with new crafts every day based on the weeks theme. Craft activities include:
Collage, Mask masking, Candle Making, Modelling, Painting, Origami, Robot making, Noodle art, Pop up puppets, Textile design, Clay work
What games do you play?
Everyone in camp is able to get involved in our multitude of games which are designed to engage full involvement and teamwork.
Ice breakers, Dodgeball, Bib Tag, Playground games, Frisbee, Nerfball, 40-40 in, Orienteering, Parachute, Tag Kabaddi, Escape from Alcatraz, Keep up Challenges, Scatch, Mega Moves, as well as some slightly different 'games' such as Eating Competitions and the Gameshow!
What are highlight activities?
We normally squeeze this lot in once per week:
Lego and Lego Stop Motion Movie
A fantastically creative session where children get to play with thousands of bricks both in free play and competition building. The older children will also get to build movie sets and use our tablets to direct their own stop motion movie!
Cookery
Our sessions enable children to have their cake and eat it - after they've been guided through the process of course picking up on seizing, mixing, beating and measuring skills along the way. We always make sure the cookery sessions feed into out weekly theme too - especially exciting during Halloween.
Quad Bikes
Our new electric quad bikes have three speed settings allowing us to help participants master the basics before moving on to a full on thrill ride.
Hero Blast
Laser tag has just been stepped with these hero blast taggers that give participants the chance to choose between one of three heroes before entering battle.
Archery Tag
A new activity for 2017 sees the use of safe, foam tipped arrows in a dodgeball style match where teams try to eliminate their opposition through shooting them with bows and arrows.
Archery
Our qualified Archery instructors will be teaching participants how to use both recurve and compound bows with the aim of hitting gold by the end of the sessions.
Inflatables
We have a selection of inflatables including our bouncy castle, terror slide and new pirate ship inflatable.
Zorbs
Bumping and bashing fun; these bubbles can be used in team games such as bubble football or used to front flip or roll about.
Fortnite/Nerf
The online game that swept the nation in 2018 is coming offline with our Frotnite/Nerf activity. Children will run around an area looking for Nerf guns to defeat their opposition.
What's the Friday Fiesta?
Each Friday, during the last session of the day, we hold the Friday Fiesta. We invite all the children to dress in the style of the theme of the week and the coaches always dress up too. We have party games, dance, win loads of sweets (they've usually deserved it) and have a sample of our cookery. It's a fantastic way to round off a brilliant week.
You offer one night camping too?
During the warmer weeks we give the opportunity for those aged 8 and above to attend a one night camp at the All Star Activity Centre.
The centre provides tented accommodation with indoor dining and wash facilities.
The site has a 6 a-side football pitch, volleyball pitch, play frames, willow maze and obstacle course, as well as plenty of open space. We're also able to utilise our purpose built paintball pitch for an exclusive session playing paintball. Our low impact .50cal Paintball guns don't leave big bruises so after playing children can still enjoy a 'good nights sleep'.
We provide two course evening meal, 'late night' snacks and breakfast.
Transport to the Activity Centre is included in the overnight price of £30 per child (15% off for siblings). Collection is at 9am on Saturday morning from the Centre.
The camping option is one of our favourites as it affirms friendships made throughout the week, gives children a chance to let loose in a different, safe environment and of course gives parents the night off!
Coaches have a night rota and are able to be contacted throughout the night if required.
The Activity Centre is located off Wyatt Road, HR1 3BX, 5 miles North of Hereford.
Early drop off and late collection
During these times children have a little more autonomy in their activites. We have quieter activities such as colouring, Uno and board games as well as more physical activities such as ball games and skipping. Occasionally we break out activities such as remote control cars.
COVID-Secure
Coronavirus precautions
To reduce the risk of transmission at our camps we have adopted the following precautions:
Payment
How can you pay?
You are able to pay for your child's place at the time of booking or up to a week prior to the start of the camp (two weeks prior for the summer holidays)*.
Childcare vouchers
We accept most childcare vouchers including the government childcare scheme, Sodexo, Computershare, Caboodle, Edenred, Busy Bees.