Our October half term runs for two weeks, from Monday 19th to Friday 30th October, and the first week has been a busy one. Mrs Matthews’ Holiday Club, which welcomes children from two years old, has been running all week, and on Wednesday the Creating Fun art studio was taken over by a menagerie of “Spooky Animals“. There is still plenty to come before the girls are back in the classroom.
What has been happening this half term
- Mrs Matthews’ Holiday Club, Monday 19th to Friday 23rd October
- Creating Fun Holiday Art Club with Mrs Fairbairn on Wednesday 21st October, with a “Spooky Animals” theme for Forms I to VI
- Still to come: the Halloween Spooktacular Drama Workshop with Miss O’Hare on Friday 30th October
Why holiday clubs matter for children
Two weeks is a long stretch for a child used to the rhythm of a school day. A holiday club keeps a little of that structure in place, with a reason to get up, friends to see and something to make or do, while still feeling very different from term time. Children mix with others from different year groups, try activities they might not choose in a normal week, and come home pleasantly tired.
For working parents, it also takes the pressure off. Half term rarely lines up neatly with annual leave, and knowing your child is somewhere safe, busy and happy makes the whole holiday easier for everyone.
Familiar faces in familiar surroundings
Our holiday clubs are exclusively for children who attend St Hilda’s. They run on the school site, in rooms and outdoor spaces the girls already know, and are led by adults they recognise. That matters more than it might seem. A child who would be anxious walking into an unfamiliar sports hall full of strangers will usually settle within minutes somewhere she feels at home. Mrs Carey Matthews is the Safeguarding Lead for her club, so the same care and attention that runs through the school day carries into the holidays.
A chance to try something creative
Holiday workshops are a lovely way for children to spend a focused day on one thing, without the time pressure of a timetabled lesson. Art days with Mrs Fairbairn give girls the space to experiment with materials and finish a piece properly, while Miss O’Hare’s drama workshops build the same confidence, voice and teamwork that girls develop through drama and LAMDA during the year. The Creating Fun art days are charged separately, at £50 per day.
Holiday club dates for the rest of the year
If you like to plan ahead, Mrs Matthews’ Holiday Club runs on the following dates in 2026 to 2027:
- Christmas: Monday 14th to Friday 18th December, plus a Christmas Drama Workshop on Monday 14th December
- February half term: Monday 15th to Friday 19th February 2027
- Easter: Tuesday 30th March to Friday 9th April 2027
- May half term: Tuesday 1st to Friday 4th June 2027
- Summer: Monday 12th to Friday 23rd July 2027, with Club Excel also running on site for five weeks over the summer holidays
- How to book a place
For Mrs Matthews’ Holiday Club, download the 2026 to 2027 booking form from our Holiday Clubs page and return it by email to cmatthews@sthildasharpenden.co.uk. Details of the art and drama workshops are on the flyers on the same page, and Club Excel can be booked directly through its own website.
During term time, our wraparound care runs from 7.30am to 6pm, so families have support across the whole year, not just the school day. If you have any questions about holiday care for your daughter, do get in touch and we will be happy to help.
