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WHO ARE CHURCHILL SUMMER CAMPS?  back »

Family run business

This is the 23rd year of the running of the summer camps and we have now had over 11,000 children attending since we started in 1989, some families have been coming for several years. The company was set up and run by Brian and Sue Churchill who dealt with all the enquiries and bookings personally. For 17 years I  worked as camp manager and in 2009 was delighted to take over, with my wife Judith, the running of the camps from Brian and Sue. Our 4 children all attended the camps and have worked for the camps for the last few years.  Many of our staff return to work for us year after year and we interview every new member of staff as a matter of policy prior to offering them a post. They are recruited both locally and from teacher training colleges further a field. We like to have a mix of qualified sports coaches, teachers, playgroup workers and teacher training graduates. 

Ring Us!  Now that you know a bit about us, we would like to thank you for taking the time to contact us. We are always pleased to talk to parents about their children and it is not unusual to hear from some parents 2/3 times before deciding to book a holiday. That is fine by us, we feel the same way about our children! 
With this pack, we have tried to give you an honest picture of how we run our camps -the information covers both the Easter and Summer camps. We want you to be confident about sending your child on holiday with us and we have tried to give you information on the most commonly 'asked about' topics. However, we also know that it cannot possibly cover everyone's questions and therefore if this pack simply makes you want to ask a few more questions or just have a chat with either of us, then we will consider it a success and look forward to hearing from you.

We usually man our phone between 3pm and 9pm but have an answerphone to help us out with unavoidable absences and for the more unsociable hours. Do not be put off by the answerphone, we deal with EVERY phone message we get and promptly. Just be prepared to leave your name and number (don't forget your STD code though), that is all we need in order to get back to you. 

CAMP ORGANISATION  back »

How will the day be organised?  back »

A timetable is drawn up by our camp manager showing the activities that are planned for the week and this is put up in the camp reception office each Monday morning. There is a different timetable of activities for each age range but we endeavour to give all children the opportunity to 'have a go' at everything we have advertised in our brochure, regardless of age. We have drawn up a sample timetable of a typical day's activities for children in 3 broad age spans, in reality the only thing that would be different is that the children are normally grouped in 1 year age bands (see Sample Timetable: appendix 1).

Squash, water and biscuits are supplied by the camp during the breaks and a full packed lunch is provided at Stamford. This includes a ham/cheese/tuna roll etc, fresh fruit, biscuits/cake, crisps and juice. PLEASE NOTE: lunch is not provided at Peterborough.  During the long lunch break, all the children are encouraged to choose an activity that either they have not yet been able to do or repeat something that they really enjoyed earlier in the week. This is also another way of meeting children from different age groups.

How will the groups be organised? back »

If you have asked us by way of the booking form to keep brothers/ sisters/friends together or even apart, then we shall do our best to arrange it! If you find out at the last minute that his/her best friend is going and you want them to be together then just give us a ring as soon as you know. Please don't leave it until the Monday morning of your arrival. It can be a bit hectic on the first morning and it is much easier to organise this in advance because it often involves restructuring the groups. Normally we recommend that the children be grouped according to age, usually this is in 1 year age bands e.g. there will be a group of 4/5 year olds, a group of 5/6 year olds etc. A timetable is then designed to suit each group.

If a child cannot or does not wish to take part in a particular activity, then there is no problem with them joining another group doing something different. Normally the children stay in the same group throughout the whole week, that way they get the best opportunity to make good friends and get to know their instructor. Lunchtime is an ideal time to meet all the other children and older/younger members of their family.

• Average staff to child ratio of 1:5 with 4/5 year olds and 1:10 with the older children

What to wear!  back »

We will send you a full clothing list in the 'Parents Guide'. This is usually sent out upon receipt of your balance or 3 weeks before the camp starts whichever is closer to the camp start date. So if you have booked and paid in full very early on in the year to take advantage of our early booking offer, we would hold back the 'Parents Guide' until much nearer the start of the camp to avoid it being lost. Very briefly as a guide, designer clothing is out, the children want to be dressed in clothes that they feel comfortable in and are not afraid to get a bit messy.

How do we plan things for the younger ones?  back »

By younger ones, we mean children generally between the ages of 4 and 5 years. The younger ones have their own 'Junior Base' . The following is a list of just some of the activities available to them at any time of the day for when they tire of doing a particular timetabled main activity:

Ball pond Playdough Dressing up Sand pit Lego Snooze corner Cartoons

Story telling Claymodelling Reading Stickle bricks Puzzles Extra painting Colouring

Wipeboarding Cutting out Board games Popoids Face painting Nursery rhymes Wendy House play

We know that the little ones don't want to be left out especially if they have got older brothers and sisters on the camp doing all the 'exciting' activities. Some of our equipment has been bought especially with the Juniors in mind like the ball pond etc. We simply make sure that there are plenty of staff to help them out, then we modify the activity to allow for their age and let them have a go. So if it is golf, we give them plastic clubs and balls, archery - crossbows and sucker darts which are much easier to fire. 

We know that the smallest thing can upset a child like forgetting where he/she is supposed to be or losing their swimming things and that is what their group leader is there for. That person has been chosen because they understand and enjoy working with little ones and most important have lots of patience. 

We also understand that there will be times when they are happier just watching and maybe holding a helper's hand, there are lots of other activities where they will be first in the queue. Very often they are persuaded to have a go just because they can see all their friends enjoying themselves.

• younger children have their own junior base and specialised activities
• there is always a 1:5 staff to children ratio

What about safety? back »

With most of our staff being teachers, sports coaches or teacher training students, safety in the use of equipment and during activities is second nature to them. All references, qualifications and police checks are followed up by us. Furthermore all the staff receive First Aid training and are familiar with the camp's own Health and Safety policies and accident procedures. The average staff to child ratio on the camp is 1:8 and our group sizes do not usually exceed 10 children. For any water based activity there will always be at least 2 members of staff supervising and RLSS/Pool Bronze qualified lifeguards on duty. Staff numbers will also be higher for the more strenuous sports e.g. rifle shooting, archery, quad biking and of course with the smaller children.

We welcome any medical/behavioural details you can share with us. It helps us to care for your child in the best way possible.  We ask that all the medical information about your child is given to the office in advance of the start of the camp so that we can brief the camp manager accurately on your behalf. The same applies to any medications your child is taking at the start of the camp. In the case of children with 'individual' behaviour, very often parents underestimate how helpful it can be to know a little bit more about your child before they come on camp. Little details about what makes them hyperactive, easily upset etc. all help us to provide them with a well-balanced holiday.

• all medical/'individual' details to be sent in advance or written out ready for the camp reception 
• a medications form must be completed at camp registration

Camp Policies and OFSTED Registration  back »

We are registered  by OFSTED to provide a holiday service for children from the age of 4 upwards and are regularly inspected at both sites.  Our registration certificate is held at the office out of season and is on display at both our sites when the camps are running.  If you need our registration number so that you can claim the Working Families Tax Credit, please contact us on 01780 753461.

We also keep a portfolio of evidence that includes our procedures and camp policies to help demonstrate how we comply with the standards that are inspected by OFSTED. These polices can be requested by  parents at any time.  By way of reassurance to parents, we have written policies and procedures on Child Behaviour, Child Protection, First Aid (sent out with each booking), Health and Safety, Fire Evacuation, Equal Opportunities, Discipline, Lost/Left Children, Excursions Off Site, Sick Children, and Parental Complaints and many more !  All staff receive a full set of these policies as part of their induction and training programme, we are most concerned with their ability to implement them practically on a daily basis as part of looking after the children in their care. 

• To claim the Working Families Tax Credit, ring for our registration number
• All policies and procedures available on request

NOTES ON SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES  back »

Swimming  back »

All sessions will take place in a privately booked indoor heated swimming pool.  For the Peterborough camps , it is necessary to travel by bus for the pool sessions.  All the children are given a swimming test the first time they go swimming in the pool so that their ability and safety in the water can be assessed. Quality armbands are provided for all age ranges and there are always two members of staff on duty in the pool and at least one will always be an RLSS/Pool Bronze qualified lifeguard. We have quite a high success rate with children in the pool, we haven't turned out any Olympic swimmers yet but we often get them to do something they were previously afraid of. These swimming sessions are based on games using rafts, trix stix, hoops, diving bricks, rings, balls etc and these often take their mind off the fact that they are in the water at all!

• everyone has a swimming test
• we provide quality armbands for all ages
• RLSS qualified lifeguards, always min. 2 staff on duty 

Quads  back »

These are 4 wheeled 50cc petrol driven bikes. They are not raced for reasons of safety but all the children are taught how to control their machine around circuits that get increasingly more technical towards the end of the week. Crash helmets are worn at all times. Being 4 wheeled, these bikes are very stable and easy to steer, and vehicle speed can be regulated for each age group/child. These bikes are far and away the most popular activity for the majority of children and we try to programme them as often as possible for every child. 

There are some restrictions, namely the weather and the younger children. The very smallest children can be quite apprehensive about the quads and are often accompanied by a member of staff for the first few sessions. We try wherever we can to teach them to use and enjoy the quad bikes on their own before the week is out. These quads can only be operated out of doors, and therefore we are affected a lot more by the weather. If we have had a lot of rain, then the ground is too soft to make it safe for the children to ride on them so there is less chance of them being used on a regular basis at Easter.

From our own children's experience, they are capable of mastering quite a demanding circuit in a very short time and prizes/certificates will be awarded to all such driving wizards.

• quads fitted with governable speeds for all ages of child
• quads are timetabled as often as possible, everyone gets a go

What If It Rains?  back »

This is always a possibility! We choose our sites knowing that we must be able to run a comprehensive indoor timetable for more than just a couple of hours and with this in mind, we limit the number of children attending in any one week. We draw up a wet weather timetable for every new camp week so that we can switch over to it at the first drop of rain!

Both sites are well supplied with indoor facilities such as large sports halls, several large and well equipped art and craft rooms, drama and games rooms and most of our equipment can be used both indoors and out including our bouncy castles.

OTHER  back »

What Is There Extra To Pay For?  back »

We sell camp hoodies,T-shirts and caps which can be pre-ordered or bought during the week.

We also run a small tuck shop that sells chews, sweets and chocolate from as little as  5p as well as drinks. We only open the tuck shop during the morning and afternoon breaks. We recommend that a child comes with a maximum of £1 per day for older children and as little as 20p for the younger ones. This can be lodged with the staff at the beginning of the day / week.

• camp hoodies : £12 , camp T-shirts : £6, caps : £5
• pocket money for tuck shop : 20p - £1 max. per day

Friday Activities: Fancy Dress  back »

Every Friday at each camp we have a fancy dress day. If there's a camera handy, photos are taken and certificates/prizes are given out. This is not a compulsory activity but if your child enjoys dressing up (who doesn't), remember to pack them up with their favourite fancy dress outfit on the Friday morning. 

At Stamford, this is followed at lunchtime by a BBQ handsomely cooked by our camp manager, come rain or shine!  Vegetarians catered for. 

Day Camp Tasters - £73 back »

These run for two days, Mondays and Tuesdays, 9.30am - 4.30pm. They give your child an opportunity to spend just 2 days at one of the camps with all the other children. If they like it, then you can extend their stay to the full week for £84. These are ideal for young children and newcomers to the camps and anyone who isn't particularly adventurous.  We reserve a small number of tasters for each camp week and they sell out fast.  Tasters are only available to parents/children who have not previously used them before to ensure they are taken up by the family that most needs them.

 But be warned, since we have been offering this, we very rarely lose anybody!

• all tasters must be paid for in full at the time of booking

• there are a limited number of places available for each day camp week

• tasters are reserved for first timers only

Early and Late Care Service- back »
To cater for the increasing numbers of children who need to be cared for outside of our activity timetable, we have introduced an early and late service for parents wishing to have their children looked after between 08.00am to 09.00am and 4.45pm and 6.00pm, with a charge per child of £3 per session for Early care and £5 for Late Care.  Light refreshments will be available during these fully supervised sessions that will take place in a separate, dedicated area of the camp.  Parents are asked to book these in advance to help us staff accordingly.


1 Night Campover (available at Stamford only)- £28 back »

We are able to offer a one night stopover, camping in the grounds of Stamford school.  The cost will include a cooked evening meal / BBQ (weather dependant), a specially arranged timetable of evening activities, accommodation in 4 man tents and breakfast the next day. All that is needed is a sleeping bag, pillow, a change of clothes and a toothbrush!

• One night campover - £28

• min age 6yrs for campovers

This 1 night campout will be held on the Wednesday night of each of the weeks of the Stamford day camps. Simply add it to the booking form when arranging the day camp holiday. If there are any spare places during the camp week, they will be advertised. 

FINALLY  back »

Camp Date Reminders  back »ck

Parent Guides back »  Download  Peterborough Easter Camp Parent Guide here   Peterborough Summer Camp Parent Guide here.    Stamford Summer Camp Parent Guide here

The 'Parent Guide' contains a comprehensive clothing list, a last minute checklist, directions and map to each of our sites. This is normally sent out with a receipt when the balance is paid, or 3/4 weeks before the camp starts, to avoid it being lost.  These guides can also be found on this website and can be downloaded.  

If you have a query either before the start or during the camp, we ask that you contact CHURCHILL SUMMER CAMPS on 01780 753461, not the individual school.

Last minute queries  back »
FINALLY, we hope you find this pack useful and we look forward to hearing from you whether it is to ask a few more questions or to make a booking. Many thanks for reading all about our camps, please feel to contact us : John and Judith Jones on 01780 753461 or e-mail: info@churchillsummercamps.co.uk

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APPENDIX   back »

A Typical Day's Timetable

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