Holiday playcentres 

Do you have children aged three to 13 years who get bored during the school holidays? Why not send them to a local playcentre?

• Open from 9am to 5.15pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays, see below for charges), or 8am to 6pm as 'extended services' (additional charge);
• All children are welcome and we may be able to provide extra support to children who have a disability and/or special needs;
• Children can participate in lots of exciting activities such as arts and crafts, games and sports;
• They will make new friends and sometimes they go on trips (with your permission);
• We have experienced staff and many have Playwork qualifications;
• Playcentres are run during all the school holidays except for Christmas.

You will need to provide your child with a packed lunch and 30p perday (£1.50 per week) for healthy snacks and fruit. 

For more information contact Matt Hutt, Development Officer on (020) 8871 8820 or email mhutt@wandsworth.gov.uk

Please note: if we have to close a centre at short notice, we will offer you an alternative or a refund.

How to book

It is important that you book in advance as places do go quickly and we are unable to take bookings at the centres.

All bookings for children with special needs in the integrated services must be made two weeks in advance of each holiday and four weeks in advance for the summer holidays. 

We take bookings all year round for holiday playcentres.

The booking office is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 2pm, You can book in person during opening times at the town hall and pay either by cash, credit/debit card or by cheque.

You can also book over the phone if you have a debit/credit card by calling 020 8871 6348 during opening hours or alternetivly you can download a booking form and return it with a cheque or postal order for the correct amount to:

Playcentre bookings
Town Hall Prefab No 1,
Wandsworth High Street
London SW18 2PU 

 Download a booking form

Each child
5 to 13yrs: £46 Under 5: £70

Each child (Income Support - evidence needs to be provided, please see below for more information)
5 to 13yrs: £23 Under 5: £28

For the Extended Service please add an additional £23.50 per child to the relevant weekly rate.

Late collection of your child is charged at £32 per hour and any booking alterations will be charged at £13.50.

Cheques should be made payable to 'Wandsworth Borough Council'

Income Support - parents and carers
You must provide original evidence that you are in receipt of Income Support, e.g. a letter. Up to date letters proving that you are still in receipt of income support can be obtained from Job Centre plus. The evidence you supply must be dated within a six-month period being either one of the following: 1 April-31 August or 1 September-31 March of the current year, and cover the holiday period for which you are booking. Only original evidence can be accepted, no photocopies.

Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit offer financial support to families with children and working people on low incomes. You can claim Child Tax Credit if you are responsible for at least one child or young person and are using a registered childcare provision.

If you think you might be able to claim Child Tax Credit you can:

Go online at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits
Telehone: 0845 300 3900
Textphone: 0845 300 3909
Visit any Inland Revenue Enquiry Centre

The helplines are open between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday.

Vouchers
We accept childcare vouchers from accredited voucher schemes. If we are not currently registered with your employer's voucher scheme, we will make arrangements to process the registration. Processing can take several weeks and if your place is dependent on the voucher, please allow us time before you require your child to register. Or, if you wish to sign up to use the service before your vouchers are established, you will need to pay in advance as per our terms and conditions.  

Terms and conditions - cancellations and refunds
If you wish to cancel your child's place, refunds can only be given based on the following scale and an administration fee of £13.50 will then be deducted from the refundable amount. 
Please note that families receiving Income Support do not receive a refund if less than 3 weeks notice is given:

• At least 4 weeks notice before the start of the Playcentre 100% refund;
• 3 weeks notice 80% refund;
• 2 weeks notice 50% refund excluding Income Support rate;
• 1 weeks notice no refund.

Alternatively, you may transfer your child's place to a future holiday, once your booking has been processed, a £13.50 administration fee will be charged to transfer your child to a different Playcentre or to transfer your booking to another holiday.  Once you have transferred your place a refund cannot be issued.

Holiday Playcentres are registered and inspected by the Office for Standards in Education (OfSTED).  The Ofsted inspection aims to focus on the outcomes for the child and are graded against the 14 National Standards for children under eight/out of school care.  For more information visit www.ofsted.gov.uk.