Now that spring is just around the corner, your thoughts might be turning to Easter and herb planting, but there’s something else that should also be on your mind these days: choosing a summer school.
Summer school and what it means exactly
Now, before I dive in, I would like to clarify that in Malta, which is where I’m from, the term ‘summer school’ denotes a non-academic place where kids socialise and partake in activities. Things such as art & crafts, drama, water play and/or swimming, fun outings, science-related activities, sports, and so on are organised.
Some summer schools are specific and cater just for sports, or drama, or anything else, but most cover a wider array of things to keep the kids entertained. I believe in the US and some other countries this is referred to as ‘summer camp’, or ‘day camp’. In Malta, kids do not sleep over ‘at camp’. They come home everyday, just like they would after school.
Why summer school?
Whether you work, or you just want your kids to have some structure and socialisation, summer school is an amazing opportunity for kids. After all summer holidays are long (especially in Malta – 3 whole months!). Even if you’re lucky and have family who are happy to watch your child, personally, I still prefer the structure and convenience of summer school.
There is no shortage of great options out there, and this can be both a good and a bad thing. While there’s something to suit all needs, you’ll have to sort through a lot of options to find it!
Here are my 10 top tips for choosing a summer school that you and your kids will be happy with!
- Core hours: One of the most important considerations should be the hours the summer school runs. If they don’t seem like a good fit for your work schedule, commute or other responsibilities, it could end up creating a lot of hassles for you this summer.
- Extra hours: If you need to drop your child off early or pick them up late, you should find out what their policies are surrounding extra hours. What are they, how much more do they cost, and what are the kids up to during this time? Is there a breakfast option? Do they offer transport that runs on time to get the kids to and fro school during these hours?
- Transport: If your children are going to need transport, make sure you ask about this as not every school offers it. Some schools offer it to limited locations too.
- Location: The location of the summer school is very important. Sometimes the closest one to you may not be the most convenient in terms of access and parking. Location can be particularly important if you need to use extra hours, and especially if transport is not available.
- Beginning date: Find out when the summer school begins and make sure it works for you. You might specifically want one that starts closer to the end of the school year so your kids can maintain their routine and you don’t need to make other arrangements for them, or perhaps you plan to take a few weeks off to spend time with the kids before summer school begins and don’t want to pay for weeks they won’t be attending.
- Ending date: You also need to factor the ending date into your decision. Do you need it run up until school starts, or would you rather have some time off between summer school and school? Some schools stop exceptionally early, and this may not be convenient for you.
- August break: When is their August break, how long is it, and – most importantly – does it work for you? The last thing you want is to return from a week abroad and find that the school will be closed for another full week!
- Activities: What activities will they be doing? Do they sound like activities your child will enjoy? One thing to consider with more specialized summer schools like STEM or music-focused offerings is whether their activities match your child’s interests. Do they want to stick with things they love or explore something new? How much time is devoted to structured activities, and how much time is free play?
- Outings: Do they have outings? How frequent are they, and do they go places your children will enjoy visiting? Is there a specific day of the week they plan outings? If so, does it coincide with the days your child will be attending if you’re doing a 3 or 4-day week?
- Price: Summer school can be expensive, so you’ll have to consider your budget when choosing a school. Make sure you can comfortably afford it, and keep in mind that the amount of fun your kids have does not correlate to the amount of money you spend on summer school! If you plan to send more than one child to summer school, inquire about sibling discounts.
Summer will be here before you know it, and choosing summer school now can help your chances of getting a spot in your top choice!
I really hope this helps ease some of the stress with choosing a summer school for your little ones!
Love,
Nakita xxx
UPDATE: Here’s a list of summer schools in Malta, recommended by Maltese mamas on social media, when asked to submit their favourites:
Funsize Heroes
Bosco Summer School
Kids on Campus
SportsKidz
Sports 4 Kids
BeeSmart Summer Club
San Anton Summer Club
HiKids
Kamaja Outdoors
St Aloysius summer school
Creative Energy Summer Club
School of performing arts summer school – https://sopa.com.mt/
Minions fun summer club
Birzebbuga sailing club
Personally recommended: Planet Kids
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