How to Choose the Right School Holiday Program for OSHC and Vacation Care
- Sophie Green
- Aug 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 10
If you're an OSHC coordinator or vacation care program manager, the lead-up to each school holiday period usually means one thing: filling your activities calendar with engaging, reliable programming that keeps kids active, entertained, and safe. With so many providers and options to choose from, it can be tricky to know what actually makes a school holiday program worth booking.
This guide is for anyone responsible for planning vacation care activities, whether you're building out a full week of school holiday program ideas or looking for a one-off incursion to break up the schedule. We'll cover what to look for in a provider, what a typical session involves, and when to book to secure your preferred dates.
What Makes a Good School Holiday Incursion Program
Not all holiday programs are created equal. When you're evaluating providers for OSHC activities or vacation care, here's what genuinely makes the difference:
Variety. Kids attending vacation care are often there for multiple days in a row, sometimes across the full holiday period. A good program offers enough variety to keep things fresh, rather than the same format on repeat. Look for providers who can mix things up - think fun and engaging yoga, dance, martial arts, mindfulness, and movement-based games - so children stay genuinely engaged.
Safety. Any incursion provider working with children should have appropriate qualifications, current Working With Children Checks, public liability insurance, and First Aid/CPR certification. Don't be afraid to ask directly - a reputable provider will have this information ready to go.
Qualified, experienced instructors. Beyond compliance paperwork, the best instructors know how to read a room full of kids of mixed ages and energy levels, and adapt on the fly. Look for providers with genuine experience running sessions specifically in school holiday and OSHC settings, not just standard studio classes.
Easy booking. The best providers make the admin side simple - clear pricing, straightforward booking forms, and responsive communication, so you're not chasing details during an already busy period.
What a Typical Yogamigos Holiday Program Session Looks Like
At Yogamigos, our holiday program sessions are designed to be fun, inclusive, and easy to slot into your existing schedule. A typical session might include:
A warm, energetic welcome to get kids excited and settled into the session
Movement-based activities, drawing on yoga, dance, or mindfulness games, adapted to suit the age range and group size
Interactive, playful elements that keep engagement high, even for kids who might not consider themselves "into yoga"
A calming wind-down, such as a short guided relaxation, to help transition smoothly back into the rest of the day's activities
Sessions can be tailored in length and format to suit your program's structure, whether that's a single one-hour session or something built into a broader themed day.
Tailoring Your Program Around a Theme
If your vacation care program runs around a set theme each holiday period, a good provider should be able to work with that, not around it. At Yogamigos, we love collaborating with coordinators to bring a session to life within whatever theme is already planned for the week. A few examples of how this can look:
Animals: Yoga classes lend themselves beautifully to all animal themes, including adventures under the sea, in the jungle, on safari, etc as poses named after animals (think cat, cow, dog, and butterfly), pair with playful movement games and animal-themed breathing exercises.
Landscapes and adventure: Sessions themed around jungles, oceans, or outer space, using storytelling and movement to "travel" somewhere new each session
Olympics and sport: A more energetic, strength-and-balance-focused session tying into an Olympics or sports theme, incorporating partner poses and light challenges
Seasons and festivals: Sessions that tie into the time of year, such as a winter wonderland theme in the July holidays or a summer beach theme in December.
Letting us know your theme ahead of time means we can tailor music, language, and activity style to match, so the session feels like a natural extension of your program rather than a stand-alone add-on. It's a simple detail, but it goes a long way in keeping kids engaged and making the day feel cohesive.
How Early Should You Book?
Peak school holiday periods fill up fast, particularly in the weeks leading into the major summer and mid-year breaks. Providers with strong reputations and popular instructors tend to book out well in advance, so it's worth locking in your holiday program provider as early as possible - ideally several weeks before the term ends, rather than waiting until the week before.
Booking early doesn't just secure your preferred dates; it gives your provider time to understand your group size, age range, and theme, so the session is tailored properly rather than generic.
Examples Of Our Holiday Programs
Yoga is one of the most versatile incursion options available for school holiday programs. It works across a wide age range, requires minimal equipment, and can be adapted to suit different energy levels throughout the day. Sessions are super fun and engaging, typically combining inclusive, accessible movement and breathing, and may include relaxation if you wish, giving children tools they can take beyond the holiday program. For younger children, yoga is often delivered through storytelling, games, and imaginative play, making it engaging even for those who have never tried it before.
Dance incursions are consistently among the most popular choices for vacation care programs. They are high-energy, inclusive and require no prior experience. A skilled facilitator can run sessions that blend freestyle movement with structured choreography, keeping children engaged while building rhythm, coordination and self-expression. Dance works particularly well in larger group settings and can be themed to match your program's focus for the week.
Pilates-based movement sessions offer a calmer alternative to high-energy activities and pair well with mindfulness programming. These sessions focus on core strength, body awareness and controlled movement, making them a great option for mid-morning or post-lunch slots when you want engaged but settled energy in the room.
Martial arts incursions bring structure, discipline and a strong sense of achievement to school holiday programs. Children learn basic techniques in a safe, respectful environment, with sessions designed to build focus and self-confidence rather than competition. Martial arts is particularly popular with primary-school-aged children and works well as a standalone highlight session within a multi-day program.
For centres looking for something high-energy and fun, group fitness incursions offer a wide variety of formats; from obstacle challenges and team games to circuit-style activities that get every child moving. These sessions are ideal for before-lunch slots and work well across mixed age groups when designed with clear differentiation in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should we book a school holiday program provider?
Ideally several weeks before term ends, especially for peak periods like the July and December holidays. Popular providers and instructors book out early, and early booking also gives your provider time to understand your group size, age range and theme.
Can incursions be tailored to our program's theme?
Yes. Yogamigos works with whatever theme is already planned for your holiday period, from animal and jungle adventures to Olympics and sport themes, tailoring music, language and activity style to match.
What qualifications should a holiday program provider have?
Look for current Working With Children Checks, public liability insurance, and First Aid/CPR certification, along with genuine experience running sessions in OSHC and school holiday settings specifically, not just standard studio classes.
How long is a typical session?
Sessions can be tailored in length and format, from a single one hour session to something built into a broader themed day, depending on your program's structure.
Ready to Book Your Next Holiday Program?
If you're planning ahead for the next school holiday period, Yogamigos' holiday programs are designed specifically for OSHC and vacation care settings, with flexible options to suit groups of all sizes. Looking for something outside of the holidays too? Our wellbeing incursions for schools offer the same engaging, easy-to-book approach for term-time programming. Get in touch with our team today to lock in your dates.
