How We Started

When families in Harlow, Essex needed flexible, reliable childcare during the school holidays, The Hangout Holiday Club was born. Our story begins with a simple after-school club, designed to support local parents and give children a safe place to learn, play, and grow. But like many great ideas, it didn’t stay small for long.

We love seeing children become friends at our clubs.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the world changed — and so did the needs of families across Harlow and beyond. Parents were balancing work-from-home schedules, childcare gaps, and a whole new set of challenges. We listened carefully to the community and adapted quickly. What started as after-school care grew into a full-scale Kids Holiday Club, offering full days of activities during school holidays.

Smiles from all the children.

We realised parents needed more than just a place for their children to be supervised. They needed a nurturing environment where kids could thrive, explore, and experience new things. So, The Hangout Holiday Club evolved. We expanded our hours, developed a packed programme of creative workshops and fun activities, and built a team of passionate, highly-trained staff ready to make each day memorable.

We love seeing the children grow and learn.

Learn more about our journey on our About Us page

Our Ethos

At The Hangout Holiday Club, our ethos is simple: every child deserves a safe, inspiring place to enjoy their school holidays.

We believe that school holidays should be about more than just time off school. They should be about exploration, creativity, friendship, and growth. That's why everything we do at The Hangout is designed to encourage children to try new things, build their confidence, and, most importantly, have fun.

Tie Dye Workshop

Our club is built on strong values of inclusion, care, and respect. We welcome all children aged 4 to 11 years old from across Harlow, Essex, and beyond. Creating a diverse community where every child feels valued. Whether it’s through messy arts and crafts, energetic outdoor games, or engaging STEM activities, we give children the freedom to express themselves and discover what they love.

You can read more about our safeguarding and inclusivity measures on our Policies page

Outside playtime.

Safety is at the heart of our ethos too. All of our staff are fully qualified, DBS-checked, and regularly trained to meet the highest standards of care and safeguarding. We follow strict health and safety protocols to make sure every child is looked after while they’re with us.

We also understand the importance of structure. That’s why our club runs in line with typical school day timings, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with early drop-offs and late collections available. This helps children maintain a familiar routine, making their transition from school to holidays smooth and stress-free.

Finger painting at The Hangout

Above all, we want The Hangout Holiday Club to be a place where children look forward to coming. Somewhere they can laugh, play, create, and be themselves — all while making memories that will last a lifetime.

Ready to join a Kids Holiday Club that puts your child first? Book your place today.

Our Future

The future of The Hangout Holiday Club is as exciting as the journeys we create for the children we serve.

Looking ahead, our mission remains the same: to offer the best Kids Holiday Club experience in Harlow, Essex. But we’re not stopping there. We are constantly seeking new ways to enhance what we offer, ensuring every school holiday is even more special than the last.

We supply a wide range of toys and games for children.

One of our main goals is to continue growing our range of workshops and activities. We’re already known for bringing in local businesses to run specialist sessions — from martial arts to craft making — and we plan to expand these partnerships even further. By collaborating with more local experts, we can offer even more diverse and enriching experiences for the children who join us.

We’re also committed to keeping up with best practices in childcare and early years education. This means regular staff training, staying informed about the latest developments in child development, and always reviewing our policies to ensure we’re offering the safest, most inclusive environment possible.

In the long term, we aim to open new locations across Essex, making it easier for families beyond Harlow to access high-quality, trusted holiday childcare. Our dream is to create a network of Hangout Holiday Clubs, all offering the same outstanding care, vibrant activities, and welcoming atmosphere that parents and children love.

Chocolate bar making

As we continue to grow, one thing will never change: our commitment to the children. Every decision we make, every programme we create, and every partnership we build will be focused on giving children the best possible experience during their school holidays.

Because at The Hangout Holiday Club, the future is all about making magical childhood memories — one school holiday at a time.

If you'd like to know more about upcoming locations or opportunities, get in touch with us.