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Free places to go in the school summer holidays
Many towns have free experiences, museums and art galleries that include interactive areas for kids. I’ve done some digging and here are some that I have found around the country for you to enjoy in your summer holidays. Please suggest more in the comments.
Belfast
Start with the Ulster Museum, a Northern Irish museum that is home to a large collection of art, history and natural sciences. From Ireland to the South Pacific, ancient relics to hands on activities, the museum offers something for everyone. There are even dinosaurs and an Egyptian Mummy.
Now onto the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, where you can discover cottages, farms, schools and shops set in parkland. Costumed guides demonstrate traditional crafts. There are also steam locomotives or you can experience the sensation of flight in the Transport Museum. …
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Paying for Easter kids clubs with childcare vouchers
I have been using childcare vouchers from my employer and Sodexo, a voucher scheme administrator, for 11 years now. I don’t get childcare tax credits, so this is the next best thing for me.
This year’s budget has introduced some changes, but don’t come into play till next year, so till then I will use my voucher entitlement.
I don’t pay tax or NI on childcare vouchers, so that’s a huge plus.
As the kids grow up, childcare costs have decreased, but I still use holiday clubs and after school clubs and the ones I use accept vouchers. Even in teen holiday clubs, they are accepted!
Childcare vouchers are a salary sacrifice scheme. You need an employer that offers the scheme, and your childcare provider has to accept vouchers for it to work. If you …
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Free and low cost ideas for family fun over Easter
Soon two weeks of Easter school holidays will be upon us. While as kids we were out on the streets playing till it got dark, today it’s hard to get the kids away from their screens, so I’ve put together a list of ideas to keep them busy, ranging from Easter Egg hunts, free pet workshops, story festivals, to biscuit making kits and free apps.
Free My Pet Pals Easter Activity Club at Pets at Home
To celebrate super small furry animals, like the Easter Bunny, the nationwide pet shop Pets at Home will be providing Easter fun for children, with free pet workshops over the Easter holidays. “My Pet Pals Easter activity club” will be holding workshops at 2pm throughout the week using fun, interactive activities to educate the next generation of pet owners …
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Free and low cost ideas for February half term
Half term is looming, so while sitting the kids in front of a screen is the easy option, here are some ideas for keeping them amused without emptying your purse.
Get crafty with Hobbycraft
In Hobbycraft stores nationwide there will be a range of activity for children to do every day between 11pm and 3pm. The activity in store is free, and includes things such as Foam Shape Decorating, Face Painting, Pom-Pom animals and decorations, Making Sessions and a few others. Find your local store here: http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/storefinder
Cheap films at Vue cinemas
The Vue Kids AM offer which is normally over weekend mornings will be extended during the week days in half term to every morning, in selected Vue cinemas. Tickets cost from just £1.75 for 2D films and from £3 for 3D films, for …
