Sunninghill Prep Summer Holiday Club — Dorchester’s Favourite Day Camp
Summer holidays are wonderful — until they’re not. When parents are juggling work and wondering how to give their child something genuinely brilliant to do, the Sunninghill Prep Summer Holiday Club is the answer. Running from 20 July to 21 August 2026, our summer day camp in Dorchester offers five full weeks of safe, flexible, and engaging childcare — right here on the Sunninghill Prep School site in the heart of Dorset.
Known both as a holiday club and a day camp, our summer programme is one of the most trusted options for families across Dorchester, Dorset, and the surrounding DT1 area. Whether you need full-week childcare or a single day here and there, Sunninghill’s Summer Holiday Club fits around your family.
Open to children from Reception through to Year 8 — from Sunninghill Prep and local Dorset primary and prep schools alike — this is more than just holiday childcare. It is themed adventures, new friendships, real confidence, and the kind of summer your child will still be talking about in September.
Why Dorchester Parents Choose Us
There are many ways to cover the summer holidays. But parents across Dorchester and Dorset keep coming back to Sunninghill Prep’s holiday club day camp for one simple reason: it works. For the children, for the parents, and for the whole family.
What Makes Sunninghill’s Summer Day Camp Different
- Themed immersive days — every week brings a new adventure and a fresh set of activities.
- Sport, drama, crafts, and team games — varied every single day so children never know what to expect.
- Beat the Instructor — the beloved daily challenge that gets every child fired up and laughing.
- Age-grouped sessions — every child from Reception to Year 8 is placed with peers and supported appropriately.
- Run by the Sunninghill Prep team — familiar, trained, DBS-checked professionals your child already knows.
- Open to children from all Dorset schools — not just Sunninghill pupils.
- Long hours: 8:30am to 5:30pm — designed to fit around working parents’ schedules.
- Safe, secure school site in central Dorchester — parents drop off with complete peace of mind.
Our summer holiday day camp is not a childminder arrangement or a basic playscheme. It is a carefully structured summer camp programme with a full timetable, enthusiastic staff, and a genuine commitment to making every single day count.
What a Typical Day Looks Like At Our Day Camp
Every day at Sunninghill Prep’s summer holiday club follows a clear, reassuring structure — while still leaving room for surprise, spontaneity, and pure fun. Here’s how a typical day unfolds:
Morning Welcome (from 8:30am)
Children arrive and are welcomed into the day with icebreakers, team introductions, and energising warm-up activities. New friendships start here. Children quickly feel at home, and the staff ensure no one is left on the sidelines.
Morning Sessions
The morning is packed with varied activity sessions — anything from sports challenges and team games to creative crafts and drama workshops. Activities are rotated to keep energy high and engagement genuine.
Themed Immersive Afternoon
Each week at our Dorchester day camp is built around a central theme — a concept that weaves through every session, every game, and every challenge. One week might be exploration and adventure; the next, science and discovery. The theming transforms a good day into an unforgettable experience.
Beat the Instructor
The highlight of every single day. Beat the Instructor is a beloved daily challenge in which the whole group competes against their favourite staff member. Laughter, competitiveness, and genuine bonding — all rolled into one unmissable session.
Evening Wind-Down (until 5:30pm)
Children are collected feeling happy, tired in the best possible way, and already excited about tomorrow. Staff are available for handover conversations, and parents receive full peace of mind at the gate.
Club Activities: Sport, Creativity & Adventure
Sunninghill Prep’s summer holiday day camp in Dorset offers an exceptionally broad range of activities. Our programme is designed to give every child — whether they love sport or prefer crafts, whether they’re outgoing or quietly confident — something that genuinely excites them.
Outdoor & Sports Activities
- Football, rounders, cricket, and team relay races
- Obstacle courses and outdoor adventure challenges
- High-energy games designed to get every child moving
- Collaborative team sports that build leadership and confidence
Creative & Arts Activities
- Drama, performance, and improvisation workshops
- Arts and crafts tied to each week’s immersive theme
- Storytelling, role play, and creative expression
- Music and movement sessions for younger age groups
Themed Immersive Experiences
- Weekly adventure themes that transform ordinary days into extraordinary ones
- Challenges and missions that span the full day’s programme
- Themed costumes, props, and activities to make it feel genuinely different every week
Social & Wellbeing Activities
- Group bonding and friendship-building games from day one
- Age-grouped peer activities so every child feels included
- Quiet zones and reflective activities for children who need a slower pace
The breadth and depth of the Sunninghill holiday club activity programme is one of the most frequently praised aspects by Dorchester parents. No two days are the same, and children return each morning genuinely excited about what comes next.
Who Can Attend Our Summer Holiday Club in Dorchester?
Sunninghill Prep’s summer holiday club and day camp welcomes children from a wide range of local Dorset schools — not just Sunninghill pupils. We are proud to be a genuinely community-facing holiday club for Dorchester families
| Age Range | Reception through to Year 8 (approximately 4–13 years old) |
| Schools Welcome | Sunninghill Prep and all local Dorset primary, prep and junior schools |
| Location | South Court, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1EB |
| Camp Hours | 8:30am – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday |
| Dates 2026 | 20 July – 21 August 2026 (five full weeks) |
| Suitable For | Working parents, families seeking structured holiday childcare, children wanting new friendships and summer adventure |
If you’re searching for a holiday club near me in Dorchester, a summer day camp for primary school children in Dorset, or simply school holiday activities for children aged 4–13 — Sunninghill Prep’s programme is exactly what you’re looking for.
Flexible Pricing
We believe great summer holiday childcare should be accessible. Our pricing is clear, straightforward, and includes several ways to save.
| Per Day | £44 per child |
| Full Week (5 days) | 10% discount applied automatically |
| Siblings | 10% sibling discount on each additional child |
| Tax-Free Childcare | Accepted — use your government childcare account to reduce your cost |
| Booking | Online via the Inspired Learning Group booking portal |
| Payment | Secure online payment; Tax-Free Childcare vouchers welcome |
Summer day camp places in Dorchester fill up fast — especially full-week bookings. We strongly recommend securing your preferred dates as early as possible. Once spaces are gone, they’re gone.
Questions about pricing or Tax-Free Childcare?
Email us at daycamps@inspiredlearninggroup.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.
Day Camp Childcare You Can Rely On
When you search for holiday club childcare in Dorchester, safety and trust are non-negotiable. At Sunninghill Prep’s summer day camp, those things are at the heart of everything we do.
Safeguarding & Child Safety
- All camp staff are fully DBS-checked before working with children
- Sunninghill Prep follows robust safeguarding policies aligned with national standards
- Our secure school site means children remain within a supervised, enclosed environment throughout the day
- Parents and guardians receive clear information about drop-off and collection procedures at point of booking
Staff Experience & Training
- Camp is run by the Sunninghill Prep school team — experienced, qualified, and known to many local families
- Staff are trained in first aid, behaviour management, and positive engagement techniques
- High staff-to-child ratios ensure every child receives proper supervision and support
- Activities are planned and led by staff who genuinely love working with children
School Site & Facilities
- Sunninghill Prep is a well-established, trusted independent school in central Dorchester
- Access to excellent school facilities including outdoor spaces, sports areas, and creative rooms
- Secure site with gated access — no child can leave unaccompanied
What Parents Say About Our Holiday Club Day Camp
Don’t just take our word for it. Families from across Dorchester and Dorset have been booking Sunninghill Prep’s holiday club day camp year after year.
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“All 3 had a great time and came home having made friends they could not wait to see again. This made fozzzzzz the easiest drop-offs before I headed into work.”
— Parent, Sunninghill Prep — Summer Day Camp
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“We’ve used Sunninghill Holiday Club for the last couple of years now for all major school holidays and I honestly can’t imagine not having it now. My daughter loves it. The variety of activities put on by the staff are excellent — the long opening hours and friendly staff make the whole experience really valuable and great fun.”
— Parent of daughter in Form 1
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These reviews reflect what we hear consistently: that Sunninghill Prep’s summer holiday club in Dorchester delivers real value — not just as holiday childcare, but as a genuinely positive experience that children ask to return to.
Holiday Club Day Camp at Sunninghill Prep: Available Every School Holiday
Our holiday club isn’t just a summer offering. Sunninghill Prep runs day camps during every school holiday — Christmas, Easter, and every half-term throughout the year. Families in Dorchester and across Dorset can rely on us for consistent, high-quality holiday childcare, term after term.
| Summer Holiday Club | 20 July – 21 August 2026 — Five full weeks |
| May Half-Term Day Camp | 26 – 29 May 2026 (Tuesday to Friday) |
| Easter Holiday Club | Dates released each term — see sunninghillprep.co.uk |
| Christmas Holiday Club | Dates released each term — see sunninghillprep.co.uk |
| October Half-Term Day Camp | Dates released each term — see sunninghillprep.co.uk |
To stay informed about upcoming holiday club day camp dates in Dorchester, bookmark sunninghillprep.co.uk/information/holiday-club or follow Sunninghill Prep School on Facebook and Instagram.
Summer Childcare in Dorchester — A Trusted Local Option for Dorset Families
Finding reliable summer holiday childcare in Dorchester that combines safety, fun, and flexibility is no easy task. Sunninghill Prep’s Holiday Club Day Camp has been trusted by Dorchester families for years, and our reputation across Dorset speaks for itself.
Whether you live in Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport, Blandford Forum, Sherborne, or any of the surrounding Dorset towns and villages, our day camp is easily reachable and worth the journey. Our location at South Court, South Walks Road, Dorchester, DT1 1EB is central, well-served by roads, and familiar to hundreds of local families.
| · From £44/day · 10% off siblings & full weeks · Tax-Free Childcare accepted |
| BOOK NOW → |
| daycamps@inspiredlearninggroup.co.uk |
Summer day camp places in Dorchester fill up fast — especially full weeks. Lock in your dates now.
Find Us — Sunninghill Prep School, Dorchester
| School Name | Sunninghill Prep School |
| Address | South Court, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1EB |
| Telephone | 01305 262306 |
| Day Camp Email | daycamps@inspiredlearninggroup.co.uk |
| School Email | receptionist@sunninghill.dorset.sch.uk |
| Website | sunninghillprep.co.uk/information/holiday-club/ |
| Booking Portal | inspiredlearninggroup.magicbooking.co.uk |
Terms and Conditions are available at sunninghillprep.co.uk. Tax-Free Childcare accepted via your government childcare account.
