Parents in Jesmond can expect to pay around £30 a day for children’s sports camps this October half-term, according to JesmondLocal‘s survey of what’s available and how families can keep costs down.

Sports School, which runs holiday camps at Newcastle High School for Girls, says its costs in Jesmond are more expensive than those at some of its other locations. “The facility hire is more expensive here than it is, for example, at the coast where it’s a lot cheaper,” said Sports School owner Roddy Mackay.

This week’s Sport School at NHSG is for children aged five to 14 and costs £30 per child per day, running from 10am to 4pm. By comparison, its summer camps at John Spence Community High School in North Tyneside cost £20 per day. Wraparound care is available for an additional £9. “The venues have to cover their costs,” said Mackay, “and the Newcastle High School for Girls venue is lovely and presents really well.”

Sports School offers childcare vouchers for eligible parents, allowing them to pay for camps using tax-exempt income.

Sports School started in 1993 and Mackay said its philosophy was to “bridge the gap” between the sports opportunities available to children at state schools and private schools. Some of the sports offered at its camps include fencing, trampolining and swimming.

Jesmond mum Lizzy Charlton told JesmondLocal her children started playing tennis from doing a camp. “They loved it and they asked if they could do it every day.” Charlton added, “I think it’s nice they mix with children from different schools as well.”

The demand for sports camps in Jesmond is high. Summer holiday camps are the most popular and sell out the quickest. Mackay said Sports School’s catchment is wide, with many parents from outside Jesmond willing to travel to there during half-term holidays.

The Northumberland Club in Jesmond is also running camps this October half-term. It specialises in racket sports and offers activities with both indoor and outdoor options available.

Its daily camp cost rose to £33 per child this summer. “If kids are invested in tennis, I think parents see it as really good value for money because they’re getting full-on tennis coaching,” said Northumberland Club general manager Mandy Tulip.

But following the increase, Tulip noticed that while older age bracket groups were still filled to capacity over the summer, younger age groups were not.

The daily camp cost has since been lowered to £29 per child for this October half-term. Wraparound care and pre-ordered lunches are optional extras, each costing an additional £6. The Club also offers a 15% sibling discount and discounts for members.

Tulip said sports camps teach children “emotional resilience” and “discipline”. “Obviously it’s physical activity for the kids during the holidays, but it’s really good cognitively for them as well. Children might also find in the holidays a sport that they’ve got real talent for.”

Spaces are still available to book at Sports School and the Northumberland Club.