British not local standards for holiday kids clubs
By Darren Cronian on Sunday, December 21st, 2008

Last week I received an email from a concerned holidaymaker who had just returned from Malaga with his family. During the holiday, they decided to put their eight-year-old child into the holiday kids club organised by the tour operator.

British not local standards for holiday kids clubs

Unsupervised children

On arrival at they found that the equipment was dirty and unsafe, only two members of staff were present, despite their being more than fifteen children in the room. They made the decision not send their child to the kids club over fears of the lack of supervision.

Adhere to British standards

The fact that most tour operators are British then surely there are set standards or guidelines that these kids clubs need to meet because two members of staff to fifteen children does not sound enough to me.

Tour operators seem to use the local standards argument when cases are brought to their attention, but in my opinion it should not matter if the kids club is located in London or Malaga, the same standards should be applied.

Inspect the venue

Maybe someone representing a tour operator could confirm if there are set guidelines that the clubs have to meet. If you are a consumer and are thinking about sending your child to a holiday kids club then make sure you take some time to inspect the venue, chat with the staff, and go with your gut instincts.

I am interested to hear from anyone who has had a bad experience with a holiday kids club.


Related posts

Please enter your email address to receive my free newsletter

 



8 responses to “British not local standards for holiday kids clubs”

Nick | 22 December, 2008 at 9:32 am

It depends which way you look at it Darren. I can not comment on individual cases but generally. We trust our children to school trips at ratios of up to 20:1. British tour operators recruit and British trained staff. Most children’s clubs are ages 5-12

A purposed guideline for nursery (age 3-5) with trained staff is 13:1. Also in addition to this guidelines for day care for children aged 3-7 is 8:1 and 8-12 is 15:1 (keep in mind children’s clubs are 5-12). So 15:2 is above these proposals.

Report this comment

Simon | 22 December, 2008 at 9:40 am

I’m not in any way excusing the operator in this instance, but it is a very difficult area for operators. Having seen it from the opertor’s side, they do have guidelines, but I would be reluctant to put my kids in a holiday club.

Even the operators with the very highest standards will operate with a ratio of one member of staff to 7 or 8 children in the age range you mention, so I am surprised that you highlight two members of staff to fifteen children as a problem.

Part of the problem is that it is impossible to follow Ofsted guidelines fully because they do not translate well to a holiday setting. You can use common sense and say you will apply the ones that you can, but then this is open to interpretation. The bottom line is that will never get the same level of safety in a children’s club abroad as you will get from a nursery at home. You have young inexperienced (and in many cases unqualified) staff who are on seasonal contracts running them, so the standards will never match up.

Report this comment

Barrie Lie-Birchall | 22 December, 2008 at 11:08 am

I can well remember being in a Butlin’s holiday camp somewhere in Wales when I was a kid and hated it.

Report this comment

AS | 22 December, 2008 at 2:35 pm

dirty is not good but a 2:15 ratio doesn’t seem that bad. dirty and unsafe is sufficient to take a hike though

Report this comment

Julia | 22 December, 2008 at 9:52 pm

I have heard stories of ski clubs for kids not coming up to scratch. The truth is if my children are on holiday they are my responsibility and if I were to use a club I would go along and see it for myself or use a friends recommendation to make my choice of family resort. On the whole I personally don’t understand the idea of a family holiday and then not sharing it with your children. What is worse is some hotel’s baby sitting service is nothing more than a maid or member of the hotel staff, doing some extra hours. I kid you not.

Report this comment

Darren Cronian | 22 December, 2008 at 10:02 pm

@ Barrie

It wasn’t Pwllheli in Wales was it? I went there as a kid. I’m not a fan of Butlins myself, but they have improved their image in recent years.

@ AS, Simon, Nick

A room full of 15 kids sounds like a handful to me, so 2 staff doesn’t sound enough but I take your points about the ratio. I think it’s important that consumers use their gut instincts though

@ Julie

I completely agree – 100%. Why would you go on holiday and put your kids in to a club. It’s all about sharing the experiences. Good point about getting friends recommendations as well.

Report this comment

Barrie Lie-Birchall | 23 December, 2008 at 2:23 am

Darren,

That was the place! I reflect back on those days and shudder. I like to call them ‘plastic holidays’

Report this comment

Kay | 27 December, 2008 at 3:24 pm

Ahh Butlins Pwhellheli, lovely place..not. went there once with my sons when they were little, never again, budget accommodation anf customer service worse than anything I have cime across in ANY country since.

Report this comment