20/11/2025
Why You Should Book Your 2026 School Holiday Childcare Early
Book 2026 school holiday childcare early and save with our Early Booking offer, low deposits, Klarna, instalments and Tax-Free Childcare at the UK’s No.1 activity camp.
School holidays can be a challenge for busy families; juggling work, childcare and keeping kids active and entertained. At Barracudas, we provide the UK’s leading school holiday activity camps, delivering unforgettable experiences for children, while giving parents a flexible, reliable and affordable childcare solution.
Booking your 2026 school holiday childcare now means guaranteed low prices, more payment options than ever, complete flexibility and peace of mind. Here’s why planning ahead is the smartest and most cost-effective way to secure your child’s place at the UK’s number 1 holiday camp.
Guaranteed Lowest Rates for 2026 Holiday Camps
When you book early, you don’t just secure your child’s place, you secure the best possible price. Our Early Booking Offer guarantees our lowest rates until 31st January 2026, saving you up to £100 on your 2026 holiday childcare costs.
Early booking = guaranteed savings + guaranteed availability.
Secure Your 2026 Camp Place with Low Deposit Rates
As well as our lowest camp prices, if you book before 31st December 2025 you'll take advantage of our low deposit rates: £30 per week (full week bookings) or £10 per day (individual days bookings).
After this date, deposits increase to £50 per week or £15 per day, so early booking is the best way to keep upfront costs low.
Flexible Childcare Payments:
Klarna (New for 2026!) and Easy Payment Plan
We understand it can be difficult budgeting for school holiday childcare and are pleased to have expanded our payment options to give parents even greater flexibility.
You can secure your booking with a deposit (low rates available until 31st December) and then choose from:
- Barracudas Easy Payment Plan: spread the cost interest-free with manageable monthly instalments
- Klarna: pay in 30 days or split the cost (subject to Klarna approval)
Booking early gives you the maximum number of months to spread the cost; keeping monthly payments at their lowest. Of course, you can also select to pay in full at the time of booking, if that's what suits you.
Example Payment Plan for a 2026 summer week
The earlier you book, the more you save, and the smaller your monthly cost. Here's an example of your monthly payments, taking advantage of our Early Booking Offer:
Book a summer week in November
- Deposit: £30
- Monthly instalments Jan–Jul (8 months): £23.13
Save an Extra 20% with Tax-Free Childcare
As a fully Ofsted-registered school holiday camp provider, Barracudas accepts Tax-Free childcare and Childcare Vouchers. This means you can save an additional 20% on your booking.
How Tax-Free Childcare Works
- Pay £8 into your TFC account
- The government adds £2
- Use the balance to pay for Barracudas camps
A simple, guaranteed way to reduce childcare costs.
Protect Your Booking with Flex
Add Flex for just £4 per day and book with total confidence.
Flex benefits:
- Refund protection
- Cover for unexpected changes
- No-stress booking
- Ideal for parents planning ahead
Flex makes early booking risk-free.
Reassurance for First-Time Bookers
Trying a holiday camp for the first time? No problem. You'll have peace of mind with our no-quibble Money-Back Guarantee.
If your child doesn’t settle:
- We’ll try again on another day
- If it’s still not right, we’ll refund you in full
- Plus we’ll give you a credit to try again the next year
It’s a safe, supportive way for new families to experience Barracudas.
Flexible Date Changes for 2026 School Holiday Camps
Plans can change, and we’ve made sure your booking can too.
You can move your dates up to 14 days before camp, subject to availability. If the new date costs more, simply pay the difference, but you'll not lose your initial payment. See our Terms & Conditions for more information.
You get the benefits of early booking and the flexibility of later planning.
Why Early Booking = Less Stress
Secure your child’s place now and enjoy:
- Our lowest rates for 2026
- Guaranteed availability at popular locations
- More time to spread the cost
- One less thing on the family to-do list
- Plenty of time for your child to get excited
It’s the easiest way to plan 2026 school holiday childcare with confidence.
What Your Child Gets at Barracudas 2026 Activity Camps
Our camps offer so much more than childcare, they’re a place to grow, explore and thrive.
What we provide:
- 80+ exciting activities (outdoor, creative, sports, team games)
- Screen-free fun designed to beat school holiday boredom
- Sessions that boost confidence and independence
- Safe environments with enhanced DBS-checked staff
- Outstanding parent reviews (5-star Trustpilot, 1,800+ reviews)
- Affordable childcare for working parents with flexible hours and locations
No wonder we’re the UK’s No. 1 school holiday activity camp.
What Our Parents Say
"All the information beforehand was v helpful & drop off was great, the team were warm and welcoming. Our daughter loved it." Emma
"Nothing but great things to say! Great set-up, fun activities, good size groups and wonderful staff." Sarah
"A really well put together camp with outstanding staff and loads of great activities for them to chose." Chris
"They get 2 choices for every session which is fantastic and the QR code system for picking up our children feels safe and secure. " Lisa
Find out more on why parents trust us.
How to Book Your 2026 School Holiday Childcare
- Choose your Barracudas camp and dates
- Lock in the lowest rates before 31st January 2026
- Secure your spot with a low deposit before 31st December 2025
- Add Flex for complete booking protection
- Pick your payment option: EPP, Klarna, Tax-Free childcare/Childcare Vouchers, or full payment
Book early to guarantee savings, availability and a brilliant school holiday experience for your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the cheapest way to book school holiday childcare for 2026?
- Booking early with Barracudas secures the lowest rates, the lowest deposits, and the longest time to spread the cost through instalments or Klarna.
- Do Barracudas holiday camps accept Klarna for childcare payments?
- Yes; New for 2026, you can now pay using Klarna at checkout, giving parents extra flexibility alongside our monthly Easy Payment Plan.
- How can I save money on UK school holiday camps?
- Book early, use low deposits, spread the cost interest-free, apply Tax-Free childcare for an extra 20% saving and protect your booking with Flex.
- Are Barracudas camps Ofsted registered?
- Yes, all our sites are Ofsted registered, meaning you can use Tax-Free childcare and Childcare Vouchers.
Join us for school holiday fun and adventures in 2026. We look forward to welcoming your child to camp!