Our comprehensive holiday courses include a five week multi-activity holiday camp, courses in art and a range of sports, as well as our long-established Les Ambassadeurs links with a bi-lingual school in France offering enjoyable opportunities both at home and abroad.
Based at Holmwood House School or Nursery, and fully utilising our extensive facilities and grounds; our holiday courses provide exciting and safe activity-based childcare for all children aged 3 to 14.
“Les Ambassadeurs” is Holmwood’s exciting activity-based Easter holiday course held in French and English for pupils in Years 2 to 6. Holmwood hosts approximately 60 visiting children from our partner school Ombrosa in Lyon, France during their stay, and we encourage Holmwood pupils to take part in the course. Children form lasting friendships when our French friends visit England in the Easter holidays and again in June.
It is a wonderful and unique opportunity for Holmwood children to meet, form friendships and learn about each other’s culture and language, all via an array of exciting activities. The atmosphere is that of a French exchange, without your children needing to leave the country; A Cultural Exchange at “Holm”.
“Les Ambassadeurs” is by far the most popular trip offered by Ombrosa School to its pupils. Ombrosa is a bilingual private school. Both pupils from Ombrosa and Holmwood enjoy learning English and French from their peers, the authenticity and enrichment of this experi- ence is language learning at its best.
The course itself is informal with the emphasis on learning language through fun, engaging and authentic activities. The English and French children spend the day together and take part in the numerous activities on offer such as:
All of these are taught in both languages, focusing on encouraging and improving communication and acquisition of vocabulary. The course activities are taught by experienced Holmwood and Ombrosa teachers. There are magic shows, cinema nights, discos and quizzes for children who opt to stay for extended activities.
There are also trips out for the children (previous trips included Colchester Zoo and Colchester Castle) allowing the perfect opportunity for Holmwood children to present their local area to their French buddies whilst building those key language skills.
Please take a look at the pictures in the below gallery, which will give you a flavour of all the wonderful things the children do on the Les Ambassadeurs course.
Course bookings will be available from January 2021 – early booking is strongly advised for this hugely popular and oversubscribed course.
This course is led by highly qualified coaches from the County, the District, Colchester Cricket Club and Holmwood House School. The facilities include fantastic grass wickets, an indoor sports hall, outdoor and indoor nets, video analysis and bowling machines. All hard ball batting equipment is provided. The sessions will include small training groups, batting, bowling and fielding skills plus cricket matches.
Course 1 : £65 or £25 per day
School Years 1, 2, 3 & 4: Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 April 10.00am-1.00pm.
You need appropriate clothing including indoor footwear.
Course 2 : £95 or £35 per day
School Years 5, 6, 7 & 8: Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 April 10.00am-4.00pm.
You need appropriate clothing including indoor and outdoor footwear plus a packed lunch (strictly nut-free). Cricket whites are worn, but not essential.
Course Details
The above facilities are all subject to weather conditions and the skill level of the individual. In the event of bad weather, an indoor programme is delivered with relevant cricket-related skills and games.
Further Information
Holmwood House: 01206 574305
Email: cricketcourse@holmwood.house
We are delighted to introduce the Ultimate Activity Camp, who will be running their fun and engaging holiday programmes at Holmwood House during the Summer holidays in 2021 over 5 weeks (tbc). They work with some of the best independent schools in the country and have a strong reputation for quality holiday programmes.
Ultimate Activity Camps are highly experienced at running high quality Ofsted-accredited holiday camps, where children aged 4-14 years will have the chance to try over 40 exciting sports, games and creative activities each week.
Their activities will be delivered by engaging, enthusiastic and energetic staff who will instruct and encourage every child to try new activities and make new friends – and naturally have lots of fun!
See their website for full details of their activities and offers www.ultimateactivity.co.uk or call
their friendly and helpful customer service team on 0330 111 7077.
We are delighted to host a summer art course for pupils from Year 1 to 7 over the summer holiday. The art school is led by Mr C Early. More information will be provided ahead of the Summer holiday 2021, but please see some details listed below.
10am – 4pm each day
£200 – full week
£45 – individual days
Places are strictly limited. Early booking and payment is essential. You will receive confirmation of a place by email once payment has been received.
| Yeargroups | 1s and 2s | 3s and 4s | 5s, 6s and 7s |
| Monday | Drawing | Mixed Media | Painting |
| Tuesday | Mixed Media | Painting | Printing |
| Wednesday | Painting | Printing | Sculpture |
| Thursday | Printing | Sculpture | Drawing |
| Friday | Sculpture | Drawing | Mixed Media |
The Nursery Holiday Club (for 4-8 year olds) runs throughout the school holidays. For further details and to book a place for your child, please contact the Nursery on 01206 273827 or email nursery@holmwood.house
151 Coach Road, Great Horkesley,
Colchester,
Essex CO6 4DX
T: (01206) 273 827
E: nurserymanager@holmwood.house
Chitts Hill, Lexden,
Colchester,
Essex CO3 9ST
T: (01206) 574305
E: office@holmwood.house
