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This year marks a huge milestone for Kids Club HQ — we’re 10! What began in 2015 as a simple idea inspired by a holiday club founder Martin Judd’s daughter attended, has grown into a trusted booking and admin platform used by hundreds of breakfast, after-school, and holiday clubs across the UK.

Expand your business with the skills and unique selling points you already have.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article does not constitute advice and is not a comprehensive statement of GDPR obligations or ICO requirements on organisations. Any decisions you make must be based on the GDPR and guidance given by the ICO.

You already run a helpful and valuable business – and everyone loves you for it. But how to stand out from the competition and keep growing?

In today’s fast-paced world, mental health is becoming an increasingly important topic, especially in environments where children and staff spend significant time together, such as childcare settings. Fostering mental well-being is crucial for creating a supportive and positive atmosphere where everyone can thrive.

Maintaining a healthy and clean environment is a crucial part of safeguarding for those working in childcare settings. When you’re responsible for the well-being of children, implementing effective health protocols can make all the difference in preventing the spread of illness and ensuring that everyone stays healthy. In this article, we’ll explore practical strategies for conducting health checks and promoting good hygiene practices in your club.

For those running or working in out of school and holiday clubs, ensuring the physical safety of the children in your care is essential. Whether you’re managing a bustling after school club or organising a summer holiday camp, creating a secure environment allows children to play, learn, and explore confidently.

While digital marketing is a great way to connect with your audience, forming partnerships with local businesses and organisations can significantly enhance your marketing efforts and boost enrolment for your out of school club.

Parent testimonials and case studies are incredibly powerful tools for marketing your out of school club. They provide real-world evidence of the value and impact of your programs, helping to build trust and credibility with prospective parents. In a nutshell, they are proof that your club is an enriching and safe environment for young ones.

In today’s digital age, social media is a powerful tool for marketing your out of school club. Engaging with prospective parents through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can significantly boost your club’s visibility and attract new members. However, simply having a presence on these platforms is not enough. You need a strategic approach to make the most of your social media efforts.

You run an after school club and a holiday club in your area. It’s going great but you are struggling to reach new audiences. Attracting new customers as well as retaining the existing ones is the key to a successful business.

Managing an out of school club involves many moving parts – from keeping track of attendance and bookings to ensuring accurate billing and maintaining communication with parents.

Managing attendance at your out of school club is a fundamental responsibility as it ensures the well-being and safety of the children in your care. It is crucial to any out of school club to be able to know where the children are at all times.

Managing daily registers and attendance records at your out of school club is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in your care. In the UK, Ofsted requirements make maintaining accurate and up-to-date records essential. After talking to multiple club owners and some of our customers, we have realised what a troublemaker keeping records can be.

Conflicts among kids are bound to happen, especially as they begin to share spaces with other children. Instead of trying to dodge these squabbles, teaching children to resolve them on their own and safely will help them build important life skills like empathy, communication, and problem-solving.

Conflicts cannot cease to exist, they are an integral part of what makes us human and dealing with conflicts is an important part of our emotional and moral growth. However, these tensions can disrupt the smooth functioning of your club and negatively impact the children’s experiences. Addressing them effectively can help to maintain a positive and co-operative atmosphere.

Tension & Conflict are common in any workplace, so conflicts can arise from time to time at your club. These conflicts, however minor, can disrupt the harmony and morale of the team. Therefore addressing them promptly and effectively is essential to maintaining a positive environment for both staff and children.

As guardians of children in your care, the primary goal is always their safety and well-being. When running an Out of School Club emergencies or accidents (although rare) are events to be prepared for.

What does ‘conflict’ at your club mean?

As early years providers, one of our most crucial roles is guiding children toward self-regulation of their behaviour. This foundational skill not only supports their personal, social, and emotional development but also sets the stage for a successful transition to school life.

Outdoor learning is a key part of early education, moving beyond the classroom or school hall to embrace the natural world. It’s about combining play, physical activity, and hands-on discovery to support every part of a child’s growth. This method enriches learning by connecting children to their environment, encouraging active exploration, and fostering a sense of wonder.

Have you ever thought about how the tools we use to learn and play are changing? Just like how everyone chats about smartphones and computers, there’s a new topic on the block: Artificial Intelligence (AI). It’s a big deal in the tech world, and now, it’s starting to make its way into education and learning. This article aims to give you a brief introduction to AI and how you can use it in your classroom or childcare business.

Embarking on the adventure of starting an out of school club can be a rewarding journey. It’s not just about giving kids exciting activities to dive into after the school bell rings; it’s about creating a vibrant community hub that brings a sense of togetherness and joy. If you’re passionate about making a difference but are working with a tight budget, don’t worry! Here are a few tips to help you kickstart your club, proving that big hearts—and not big budgets—make all the difference in crafting a space where children can thrive, explore, and belong.

Out-of-school clubs are vital in providing a safe and engaging environment for children to learn, grow, and socialise outside of regular school hours. However, running these clubs can be a challenge for you, particularly when it comes to handling the often-complicated invoicing processes.

Being a parent is a full-time job, but not all parents have the luxury of spending all day with their kids. They may have work to do, an appointment, or simply wish for some time to relax. In these cases, it’s common to find a childcare provider, who can take care of your children for you.

Get your thinking caps on! We here at Kids Club HQ have the ultimate General Knowledge (GK) questions for kids (with answers).

After-school activities can provide enriching new experiences for children and give them something to look forward to during the week. There are many options to keep children busy with activities that teach them new skills and help them explore their interests.

After-school childcare is both a rewarding and lucrative business avenue for those who love working with kids.

So you’re in the process of planning your after school club or school holiday program and you’ve decided the best way to foster creativity, independence and tenacity is through child initiated learning. But, what next? How do you get started implementing it, and how can you set up your educators for success?

Everyone knows that play is central to children’s learning. Play comes in a variety of forms including but not limited to physical, constructive, social and imaginative. Heuristic play is a type of physical play that babies and toddlers can enjoy daily. It is an investigative model of playing for young children, and is both enjoyable and meaningful.

The school breakfast club regulations can be a little ambiguous. Nevertheless, if you are running a kids’ club, you need to ensure you do your research to ensure you are operating within the law and under the Ofsted rules.

For young children, play isn’t just a fun activity, it’s a critical learning experience! With 80% of brain development completed at three years old and up to 90% at five, play is the foundation of this development.

One of the less exciting parts about running a childcare business is organising after a school club insurance. Although this isn’t as fun as playing with the kids or ordering new play equipment, out of school clubs need insurance should anything go belly up.

The best after school clubs give their kids a chance to explore new things, meet new children and gain confidence. As an after school program doesn’t have to meet certain learning criteria that are required during regular school hours, you can be creative when finding ways to enhance their development and inspire them in new ways.

Child engagement and good mental well-being are paramount to good childcare. And knowing what tools to use to improve these factors is the key to understanding where to focus your efforts to gain the best outcome for the children.

Although there are many fundraising ideas you can do exclusively for the parents and local residents, choosing kid-friendly events to involve the children can help you bond with their families. Some of these fundraising ideas are great for any time of year, and some are fun stall ideas for fetes or local gatherings in your home town.

You don’t get much more British than an Afternoon Tea! And why ask the kids to wait till they are adults to enjoy this fun activity. Organising an afternoon tea at your after school club or daycare is a great activity to get them excited about coming to your club.

Seeking funding for after school clubs can seem like an overwhelming task unless you know where to look.

Wraparound childcare or wraparound care is a flexible way to support families with children of primary-school age, by offering childcare before and after school time. This can include breakfast or before-school clubs and after-school programs and activity clubs. Attending wraparound childcare can provide young children with more chances to develop their knowledge and social skills.

Finding out the legalities surrounding opening up an after school club can be challenging (or just downright boring!).

The school holidays are here, and the children have arrived. How do you keep them entertained? Let’s explore different types of activities that you can offer and how they benefit children attending holiday clubs.

When kids are in their early years, it can be an incredibly rewarding time to aid their development as they get ready for ‘big school’ through a rich array of preschool activity ideas.

After-school clubs are fun and can help children pick up important life skills, boost their confidence, or get them moving! These activities can also build positive habits that last a lifetime, like better discipline, time management, and teamwork.