04/09/2025
Why Parents Choose Our School Holiday Camps
Choosing the right school holiday camp matters. You want somewhere safe, fun, and reliable, where your child will come home happy and full of stories at the end of each day. That’s exactly what we’ve been delivering for over 30 years.
This summer, our commitment to creating the best possible holiday camp experiences has once again been recognised — with excellent Ofsted ratings and glowing independent reviews on Trustpilot from parents just like you.
Rated Highly by Ofsted
We’re proud that all of our camps are Ofsted-registered, which means they’re independently inspected for quality and safety.
What do Ofsted ratings mean for holiday camps?
Ofsted inspections for school holiday and after-school care providers work a little differently from schools. Instead of the full scale of “Outstanding” to “Inadequate,” camps are given either a ‘Met’ or ‘Not Met’ judgement.
Several of our camps were visited by Ofsted this summer and we're thrilled to have been given their official approval. Here's the low-down:
Cambridge St Faith's camp (Met):
"The club is extremely well organised. The provider ensures all staff receive appropriate training at the start of each season and supplies detailed policies and procedures that underpin the club's activities. Parents are positive about the club. They say that their children enjoy attending and that they believe their children are safe. Parents say that they receive information about the activities on offer and know where to check for more details."
Chelmsford camp (Met):
"Children are excited as they arrive, keen and eager to start their day. They happily leave their parents and are warmly greeted by an enthusiastic team of staff who help them organise their personal belongings in their base room. Children settle quickly and engage in activities provided as they wait for their friends to arrive. The club is very well organised and is designed to offer children a broad range of exciting, fun experiences and sporting opportunities, such as archery and swimming sessions."
Ely camp (Met):
"Children enjoy their time at the camp. Staff enthusiastically guide children during a wide variety of sporting and craft activities. Children make choices about the activities they join in. Children make new friends at the camp. This helps to strengthen their social and personal skills and build on their confidence. Interactions between staff and children are positive. Staff take time to listen to children and take their views into considerations."
Maidenhead camp (Met):
"Children are greeted by friendly staff at this welcoming setting. They separate confidently from the parents as staff take them to their relevant groups. Staff are good role models and children behave well. Staff plan activities that encourage children to learn teambuilding skills. This supports children to build and make new friendships."
Romford camp (Met):
"Leaders and managers run the holiday camp with care and compassion to create a place where staff welcome and support all children and their families. Children are happy and feel safe here because staff place a strong emphasis on their well-being and happiness. They are positively engaged in meaningful play from the moment they arrive."
Sevenoaks camp (Met):
"Children thoroughly enjoy themselves at this exceptionally well-managed camp. Any child who is new, or less confident than others, is closely supported. Children say they feel safe at camp and know that staff will help them if they need it. The carefully planned timetable of activities enables children to try things they may have done before. Staff gently build children’s confidence. They praise children highly and celebrate their achievements."
Twickenham St Catherine's camp (Met):
"Barracudas (Twickenham) is a vibrant and welcoming camp that offers children a safe and engaging environment in which to play, learn and grow. The atmosphere is lively and full of energy, with staff consistently showing genuine enthusiasm and warmth towards the children. Children are encouraged to take part, share ideas and support one another, which promotes teamwork and builds confidence."
Upminster camp (Met):
"Children arrive happy and ready for their day at Barracudas activity camp. They have a wealth of exciting and fun activities on offer throughout the day. These include swimming, drama, play sessions and sports activities. Staff are enthusiastic and fun. Children state that they love coming to the camp. Children are very engaged in play and demonstrate that they feel happy, safe and secure."
These ratings and comments are an important reassurance for parents, but for us, they’re also a reminder to keep raising the bar and delivering the very best experiences for children.
See your camp page to access the full Ofsted report.
Loved by Parents on Trustpilot
It’s not just inspectors who think we’re doing a great job — parents agree. On Trustpilot, families share their honest experiences of our holiday camps, and we couldn’t be prouder of the feedback. With almost 1.8k reviews and an excellent rating, we're really proud of what parents have to say about their experience:
"Great holiday club. I cannot rate this club enough and my son absolutely loves it. The staff are all so friendly and the amount of activities that they have to offer, keeps him entertained all day. Being working parents, the early drop offs and late pick up option is great for us." Emma
"Brilliant Summer Camp – Caring and Supportive Staff. My 7-year-old daughter had a fantastic time at Barracudas Summer Camp. Every day she came home excited to tell me about the fun activities, the friends she made, and all the new things she got to try... I’m so grateful to the whole team for creating such a fun, safe, and nurturing environment. My daughter is already asking when she can go back, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Barracudas to other parents." Antoni
"Barracudas is a place of great fun, which is what kids need when on their holidays! The range of activities is excellent and the staff fantastic. My child has been going to a number of years and even at the age of now 13 has a superb time. I highly recommend it!" Susan
"Don't pick me up early mummy! From the initial booking to the days my son spent at Barracuda Winchester I could not be happier. My son has been to many holiday camps and this is by far the best. Great organisation, staff, safety and security, customer service, website, sons experience. Every day he was so happy to go and even happier when we picked him up. "Mummy don't come any earlier than 5.30 as I don't want to miss anything" What more can I say." Sarah
"Super-flexible and fun holiday camp! My kids are 5 years apart, but it has been great being able to send them both to Barracudas as they both absolutely love it. They especially like the range of fun activities on offer, the fact that for every slot they can choose and activity of out of a choice of 2 and the fun and friendly instructors. So easy to book as well with flexibility to change later on if you need to. Hour great with flexibility in as well!" TS
These reviews reflect what we hear every day from parents: that their children come home excited, happy, and already asking when they can go back.
See all our parent reviews on Barracudas Trustpilot page.
Summer Holiday Camps That Create Memories
Our summer holiday camps aren’t just about filling time. They’re about making memories, building confidence, and helping children discover new skills in a safe, encouraging environment. Whether it’s through sport, creative projects, or outdoor adventures, every day is designed to inspire and engage.
More fun at October half-term
The fun doesn’t end with summer! This October half term, we’ll be running 20 holiday camps, each with our seasonal “Awesome Autumn” theme.
Children can look forward to:
- Autumn-inspired activities and games
- Creative projects and challenges
- Outdoor adventures in the fresh air
- Plenty of opportunities to make new friends
October camps are always popular, and spaces go quickly. Booking early means you can relax knowing your child’s half-term plans are sorted.
*Please note specialist activities (archery, fencing, motor sports) are not available at half term.
Why Parents Trust Us for School Holiday Childcare
- Over 30 years of experience running holiday camps.
- Strong Ofsted ratings to reassure you on safety and quality.
- Hundreds of independent 5-star reviews on Trustpilot.
- Exciting weekly themes that keep children coming back.
- A proven track record as one of the UK’s leading providers of school holiday childcare.
If you’re searching for school holiday camps near you, we’d love to welcome your child this October. With trusted Ofsted ratings, glowing parent reviews, and over three decades of experience, you can feel confident they’ll be safe, happy, and having the time of their lives.
With our lowest Early Booking rates available until 15th September, now's the time to get ahead and sort your half term activities and childcare!