The Best Incursion Ideas for School Holiday Programs and Vacation Care
- Sophie Green
- Apr 13
- 5 min read
Planning a school holiday program? Yoga, dance, mindfulness and martial arts incursions are among the most popular and effective activities for OSHC and vacation care providers across Australia in 2026. Here is what works, why it works, and how to book the right provider for your centre.
What Is a Vacation Care Incursion?
A vacation care incursion is an activity delivered by an external provider directly at your centre or school during school holiday periods. Rather than transporting children offsite, an incursion brings the experience to you. One of our specialist facilitators arrives with everything needed to run an engaging, structured session for your group. Incursions are a popular choice for OSHC coordinators because they are low-prep, cost-effective, and easy to tailor to different age groups and room sizes.
Why Wellbeing Incursions Are a Growing Priority in Holiday Programs
Children's emotional regulation and social wellbeing have become central priorities in quality OSHC practice, and that focus is showing up strongly in how coordinators plan their school holiday programs.
The National Quality Framework highlights the importance of children's health, safety and wellbeing as a core standard, and educators across Australia are increasingly looking for activities that do more than entertain. Coordinators want incursions that help children feel calm, connected and capable, particularly during the longer holiday breaks when routines are disrupted, and energy levels can spike.
Movement-based and mindfulness-focused incursions are particularly well suited to this need. Activities like yoga, breathwork and guided relaxation give children practical tools for self-regulation, while dance, martial arts and group fitness build confidence, coordination and teamwork. The result is a holiday program that is both fun and genuinely supportive of children's development.
The Best Incursion Ideas for School 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 typically combine 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.
What to Look for in a School Holiday Program Incursion Provider
Not all incursion providers are equal, and choosing the right one can significantly improve the experience for both children and staff. Here is what to look for when booking:
Age-appropriate programming. A quality provider will offer sessions designed for specific age groups, from toddlers and preschoolers to school-aged children, all of whom have very different needs, and a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works well.
Onsite delivery. The provider should come to you. Incursions that require travel or external venues add unnecessary complexity to an already busy holiday program.
Flexibility and scheduling. Look for a provider who can work within your timetable, split sessions across different rooms or age groups, and accommodate your specific numbers and space.
NQF alignment. Any reputable provider should be able to demonstrate how their sessions support the National Quality Framework, particularly Quality Areas 2 and 5 relating to children's health and wellbeing and relationships with children.
Simple booking process. Holiday programs move fast. You need a provider who is responsive, organised and easy to communicate with and not one who adds to your administrative load.
How Yogamigos Delivers Holiday Program Incursions Across Australia
Yogamigos specialises in movement and wellbeing incursions for children, delivered directly to OSHC centres, schools and vacation care programs across Australia - major cities and regional towns including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, and beyond.
Sessions are designed for children from toddlers through to primary school age, with programming tailored to suit your specific rooms, group sizes and timetable. Whether you need a single session or a full week of structured wellbeing programming, Yogamigos works with you to build something that fits your centre and your children.
All Yogamigos sessions are aligned with the National Quality Framework and delivered by experienced, child-focused facilitators who know how to hold a room — from a group of five-year-olds on a rainy afternoon to a hall full of energetic twelve-year-olds on the first day of holidays.
Booking is straightforward. Get in touch with your preferred dates and session structure, and the team will take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vacation care incursion? A vacation care incursion is an activity run by an external provider at your centre during school holiday periods. The provider brings all equipment and expertise needed to deliver the session onsite, making it a low-effort, high-impact option for holiday program coordinators.
What age groups do holiday program incursions cater to? Yogamigos caters to children from toddler age (around 4 years) through to the end of primary school. Sessions are designed and differentiated by age group so that the content, pacing and activities are appropriate for the children in each room.
How do I book an incursion for our school holiday program? You can enquire directly through the Yogamigos contact page. Share your preferred style of session, dates, session times, and rough numbers, and the team will come back to you with a tailored proposal.
What activities does Yogamigos offer for holiday programs? Yogamigos offers yoga, mindfulness, dance, pilates, martial arts and group fitness sessions. All our vacation care programs are designed specifically for children and delivered by experienced facilitators.
Do you travel to our school or OSHC centre? Yes. Yogamigos comes to you. All sessions are delivered onsite at your centre, so there is no need to organise transport or manage offsite logistics.
How much does a holiday program incursion cost? Pricing depends on the number of sessions, group sizes and location. Contact the Yogamigos team for a quote tailored to your program.
Are Yogamigos holiday program incursions NQF-aligned? Yes. All Yogamigos sessions are designed to support the National Quality Framework, with particular relevance to Quality Area 2 (Children's Health and Wellbeing) and Quality Area 5 (Relationships with Children).
Ready to Bring Wellbeing To Your Holiday Program?
Contact us today. We look forward to working with you and your community.
