CASA Camp Review: A Parent's Guide to This Dorset School Holiday Club

If you're looking for a school holiday club in Poole or Dorset that will actually have your children excited to go in the morning, CASA Camp is well worth knowing about. And I can say that as both a local parent and someone whose children genuinely go there.

My daughters are eight and six and have spent three days a week at CASA Camp during the summer holidays at Hamworthy Park Junior School. Finding childcare that works around the school holidays is one thing; finding somewhere they actively look forward to going is another – and that's probably the biggest recommendation I can give it.

What is CASA Camp?

CASA Camp runs Ofsted-registered school holiday camps for children aged 4–13 across several locations in and around Poole and Dorset.

It's predominantly an active, sports-based holiday club, but what I particularly like is that it doesn't feel like sending the children back to school during their holidays.

There are organised activities throughout the day, but there's plenty of fun, choice and downtime too.

The children are there to enjoy themselves. There are different themed activities throughout the school holidays, one of the things my girls love most is that the days aren't all the same.

CASA Camp runs different themed days and activities across the school holidays, so if your children attend regularly – as mine do – there's still something different to look forward to.

Depending on the holiday programme, activities can include:

• NERF
• Laser tag
• Bouncy castles
• Water fights
• Glow-in-the-dark activities
• Cheerleading
• Football
• Cricket
• Dodgeball
• Crafts
• Games and challenges

Some activities naturally depend on the weather and circumstances – water activities, for example, can be affected by restrictions such as hosepipe bans – but there's always plenty going on.

CASA also changes its themed-day programme, so it's worth checking what's planned when booking for each school holiday.

Lots of time outside

This is a big plus for me.

I really like knowing they're spending a good proportion of their day being active and outdoors - I could technically have them with me when I'm working from home but I know they'd end up bored, having too much screen time and the house would look an absolute tip by 10am!

We use the CASA Camp at Hamworthy Park Junior School in Poole, which has loads of space.

There's a large field for outdoor games and activities as well as a big indoor sports hall, so they're not completely reliant on the Dorset weather either!

The children are encouraged to be active, try different sports and get involved, without it feeling overly competitive or serious.

But children don't have to join in with everything. This is another thing I think parents should know.

CASA Camp isn't about forcing children to participate in activity after activity all day. My girls love getting stuck into lots of the games, but children can also have some quieter time if they need it.

That's important when they're spending a full day there – particularly for younger children or those who simply need a bit of downtime.

There are activities available and the coaches encourage the children to get involved, but ultimately it's their school holiday – it's not school! I really like that balance.

What are the staff like at CASA Camp?

This is obviously one of the biggest considerations when you're choosing holiday childcare.

We've found the CASA Camp team at Hamworthy to be really lovely, approachable and friendly.

The coaches get involved with the children and there's a relaxed, fun atmosphere, while as a parent I still have the reassurance of knowing CASA Camp is Ofsted registered and its coaches are DBS checked and first-aid trained.

Most importantly from my point of view, my children are happy going in.

There's no dragging them through the door or counting down until pick-up – they genuinely enjoy being there.

Is CASA Camp suitable for siblings of different ages?

In our experience, yes.

One of the reasons it works particularly well for us is that my daughters are eight and six, but they can both go to the same holiday club and find activities they enjoy.

CASA Camp is designed for children aged 4–13, although four-year-olds can only attend half days due to Ofsted requirements.

With such a broad mix of sports, games, themed activities and free time, it can be a really useful option for families with primary-school-aged siblings who don't necessarily have exactly the same interests.

CASA Camp locations

CASA Camp currently operates holiday camps at:

• Hamworthy Park Junior School
• Baden Powell & St Peter's CE Junior School
• Ocean Academy
• Ringwood Junior School

We use the Hamworthy Park Junior School CASA Camp, so that's the location this review is based on personally.
Facilities vary between venues, so it's worth checking the information for your nearest camp when booking.

What hours does CASA Camp run?

CASA Camp offers different session lengths, which is particularly useful if you're trying to juggle work and childcare during the school holidays.

Options include half days, standard days and, depending on the venue, extended days with collection as late as 5.30pm.

CASA Camp also accepts childcare vouchers, with booking information and individual venue details available on its website.

When does CASA Camp run?

CASA Camp operates during the school holidays, making it an option for families looking for holiday childcare in Dorset during periods including:

• February half term
• Easter holidays
• May half term
• Summer holidays
• October half term
• Other advertised school holiday dates

The exact dates, venues and themed activities can change from one holiday to the next, so we'd recommend checking the latest programme before booking.

Our CASA Camp verdict

After having both of my children attend CASA Camp regularly, the biggest compliment I can give it is a very simple one: they want to go.

For me, that's exactly what I want from a school holiday club.

I need somewhere safe and reliable that enables me to work during the school holidays, but I don't want my children to feel as though they're simply being put into childcare while I'm working.

At CASA, they're seeing other children, spending plenty of time outside, being active, trying different things and – most importantly – having fun.

Having used the Hamworthy camp three days a week over the summer holidays with my own eight and six-year-old daughters, it's become a genuinely useful part of how we manage the school holidays.

And the fact that they're happy when I drop them off – and usually have plenty to tell me about when I collect them – makes life considerably easier!

Find out more about CASA Camp

You can find the latest school holiday dates, themed days, locations, availability and booking information directly through the CASA Camp website.

Planning the next school holidays? It's worth checking the programme early so you can choose the themed days your children will particularly enjoy.

About the Author

Liz is the Founder and Managing Director of Total Guide to and an experienced reviewer of family-friendly attractions, activities and days out. As a local parent of two daughters, she shares honest, first-hand recommendations to help other families find enjoyable and practical things to do across Dorset. This review is based on her children’s regular experience of attending CASA Camp in Hamworthy.