Operators Offering Childcare

Specialist Reports Just For Families With Specialist Childcare Operators Offering Childcare Scott Dunn 

	Scott Dunn
Fovant Mews, 12 Nonya Road, London SW17 7PH			MAP
tel: (020) 8767 6090

One of the smarter operators which has moved from offering childcare for skiers to catering to the same parents in summer.

Where

Portugal, Andalucia, Mallorca, Tuscany, and France.

Style

Villas sleep four to 16 people, all with pools, some with separate staff quarters. In Aquitaine in southwest France accommodation is in a group of newly built houses on the coast, each with private pool and access to golf, tennis, archery, biking, shops, bars and restaurants. In the Alps is offering its two chalets in Meribel each sleeping up to 12 though they can be taken with smaller numbers. EAch comes with nanny, maids and cook.

Childcare Offered

Some Villas come with childcare for eight hours a day on a flexible basis with a resident nanny at some properties, there throughout the season, armed with plenty of toys. The eight hours must be taken between 8am and 7pm and the nanny will supervise lunch. (The chefs aim to provide healthy and nutritious meals for children.) The chefs will serve tea no earlier than 6pm unless someone else prepares this and the nanny cannot do so if supervising the children. The nannies are not able to drive children. If babysitting is required this can be arranged on two evenings a week for an additional charge of £6 per hour per nanny.

Extra nannies may be required if you have numerous/young children aged between two and five years.

Children's Clubs operate in Aquitaine in southwest France. Times for this are 9.30am to 5.30pm five days a week, plus an extra half day. Children attending the club are required to have armbands, sun cream, hat, water/juice bottle, sun glasses, pocket money and a change of clothing.

Starfish Club For eight months to three years, with the aim of altering the daily routine of the youngest children as little as possible, while older children will have the opportunity to spend time splashing in the pool, picnicking on the beach with sandcastle competitions, or finishing a giant model in the club house.

Dolphin Club For four to six years will include activities like mini golf, trampolining, boat races and plenty of ice cream. The club room will be in the same place as the Shark Club with a couple of days spent together, for example visiting the local water park.

Shark Club For 7 to 12 years, with activities like bike rides, pirates day on the beach, trampolining and archery, plus quieter and creative options.

Cost of Childcare

The villa nannies come included in the price of the villa. The Starfish club is £210 per child, Dolphin £185 per child and Shark £185 per child.

Other Facilities for Children (and adults)

Cots, high chairs and sterilisers are provided at villas where nannies are present but these must be requested at the time of booking.

Villas are also equipped with a cook five and a half days a week, organising breakfast, buffet lunch and evening meals but there is no guest laundry facility. Instead nearby laundries are recommended for which there will be an additional charge.

In Aquitaine there is a beach (the sea can be rough but there are lifeguards).

Sample Price

In the villas with nannies in high season the price per adult is around £1,000 per week and £600 plus for the second week. Children 2-11 years are £400 for one week, £600 for two throughout the summer and for any villa. Infants are £105 for one week, £150 for two. IN the chalets a week costs from around £600 per adult based on eight sharing. Prices for children 2-11 is around £400 and under 2s £105. Price includes five and a half days' full board and the services of the nanny.