Is vacation care available at every before and after school care provider?

No, some providers only run term-time sessions, so check specifically whether a provider offers a holiday program before assuming it's included.

Do I need to book vacation care in advance?

Yes, popular weeks and excursion days fill up ahead of school holidays, so it's worth booking as early as the provider allows rather than waiting until the holidays start.

Can I use vacation care even if my child doesn't normally attend before/after school care there?

Many providers accept holiday-only bookings from families who don't use their term-time service, but availability depends on the individual provider so it's worth confirming directly.

School holiday vacation care options

Vacation care runs as full-day programs during school holiday periods, which is a different booking pattern from the before-school and after-school care most providers advertise for term time. Not every before/after school care provider runs a holiday program, and those that do often require separate bookings, different staffing, and sometimes a different venue than the term-time service.

Ask whether a provider's vacation care runs at the same site as term-time care or relocates to a central holiday hub
Programs typically run full days (matching a standard work day) rather than the shorter before/after school blocks
Excursion-based vacation care days often cost more and fill up faster than in-centre activity days, so book early for popular weeks
Confirm CCS still applies to vacation care sessions, since eligibility rules are the same as term-time care but bookings work differently

What it costs

Vacation care is usually charged as a full-day rate rather than the shorter session rates used for before/after school care, and excursion days often carry an added cost for entry fees or transport. CCS can apply to vacation care the same way it does to term-time sessions, subject to your activity test and subsidy percentage.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for before & after school care.

1. Sparrow Early Learning Victoria Point
5.0★ · 20 reviews

84
2. Grasshoppers Early Learning Centre - Hoppers
5.0★ · 46 reviews

88
3. Little Scholars Redland Bay
4.8★ · 27 reviews

80

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FAQ

Is vacation care available at every before and after school care provider?: No, some providers only run term-time sessions, so check specifically whether a provider offers a holiday program before assuming it's included.
Do I need to book vacation care in advance?: Yes, popular weeks and excursion days fill up ahead of school holidays, so it's worth booking as early as the provider allows rather than waiting until the holidays start.
Can I use vacation care even if my child doesn't normally attend before/after school care there?: Many providers accept holiday-only bookings from families who don't use their term-time service, but availability depends on the individual provider so it's worth confirming directly.

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