April 2019 School Holiday Inspiration

Our April 2019 school holiday guide is packed with fun and educational holiday programs in and around Sydney’s Inner West! Be sure to book in advance to take advantage of early-bird discounts and to avoid disappointment, and don’t forget to use those Active and Creative Kids vouchers (many of the businesses listed here are registered Active or Creative Kids providers).

Bop till you Drop
Bop till you Drop is running performing arts workshops on 16 and 17 April in three locations: Lane Cove, Mosman and Waverley. These workshops are designed for children aged 5–12 years. The programs are educational with professional teachers who will gently encourage and teach your child new skills in dancing, singing and acting plus craft, cooking and science. There are six action-packed classes per day, which aim to build self-esteem in your child. It is recommended that your child attend both days as on the second day the children will perform in a concert to show off their new talents and they will also be awarded a graduation certificate. Regular hours are 9 am–3 pm. Extended care hours (subject to numbers) are available (8 am–5 pm) on the Tuesday; only early-drop off is available on the Wednesday. Cost is $75 per day. A sibling discount of $30 is available for two-day bookings. For more information or to book, click here.

AcroPals
Located in Marrickville, AcroPals is offering school holiday acrobatics workshops on 23 and 24 April. There’ll be airtrack tumbling, acroyoga, gymnastics skills, strength and flexibility training and a whole lot of fun! Choose from a half-day (9 am–12 pm) or full day (9 am–3 pm). A half-day costs $50, a full day $80. For more information and bookings see here.

Aptitude Education
Based in Five Dock, Aptitude Education is a tutoring centre offering programs for all ability levels in Maths and English. During the April school holidays, NAPLAN readiness sessions will run from 15–19 and 22–26 April. The cost is $45 per hour for group sessions or $60 per hour for individual tuition. Bookings via email at info@aptitudeeducation.com.au

ArtSpark Studio
ArtSpark Studio, located in Rozelle, is running art and sewing workshops from 15–29 April. (Note: Monday 29 April is a pupil-free day in many schools.) There are workshops for preschoolers, primary and secondary school students. Choose from a half-day (1 pm–4 pm) or full day (10 am–4pm). Half-day workshops cost $70; full days are $120. Extended care is available on request from 9–10 am and 4–5 pm at $10 per hour. There is a discount rate available for multiple days or sibling bookings within the same workshop period. ArtSpark also features an eco-friendly garden and mini farm where participants can relax and play between workshops. For further details and bookings, see the website.

Australian Theatre for Young People
During the April school holidays, the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) is offering a range of drama workshops for primary and secondary school students in the Inner West and city areas. Young people from K–6 can explore animal magic, myths and legends, twisted tales and even create their own play in a day. Years 7–12 students can create their own You Tube channel, make a short film, learn about musical theatre and improvisation techniques or take part in an intensive Shakespeare workshop. Locations and hours vary but are mostly around 9.30 am–3.30 pm. Additional before and after care can be purchased. Earlybird discounts are available until 1 April. For more details and bookings, please see here.

Beyond Distinction
Beyond Distinction is an afterschool sports and music academy for primary school-aged children in the Concord/Cabarita areas. When school’s out, it offers a premium range of activities to inject some fun and learning into the holidays. Beyond Distinction’s Autumn School Holiday FUN program runs from 15–18 April, with an awesome line-up of activities including a LEGO STEM day, a junior golf clinic, an excursion to the StarWars Identities exhibition and a Star Wars-themed art workshop. The program is suited to students aged 5–12 years. Drop-off is from 8.30 am–4 pm daily. The cost is $110 per day, with multiday discounts available. To book, visit the website.

BRICKS 4 KIDZ Inner West
During the April school holidays BRICKS 4 KIDZ Inner West workshops will be held in Leichhardt and Balmain. The workshops, designed for kids aged 5–11 years, include STEM-based learning and fun with LEGO. The Leichhardt workshops will run from 15–18 April and 23–26 April. You can choose from a one-day Junior Robotics-themed workshop or two-day programs focusing on Extreme Ninjas and Brick City Engineers. The Balmain workshops will run on 15, 17 and 18 April. Choose from a one-day workshop on wizards and witchcraft or a two-day workshop on extreme ninjas. The cost is $90–95 per day. To book the Leichhardt workshops, please use this link. For the Balmain workshops, please use this link.

Creative Little Fingers
Creative Little Fingers, based in Drummoyne, is running art workshops for children aged 5–12 years on 23, 24 and 26 April from 10 am–12 pm. The workshops will use mixed media to create projects with various themes. The cost is $35 per class. For further information visit the website. For bookings please email mjalogan@live.com.

Gallery NTK
Gallery NTK, in Croydon, provides quality art tuition and creative fun with a focus on skills and techniques for all levels and abilities. During the April school holidays Gallery NTK will be holding drawing and painting workshops for kids of all ages. Classes will run 15–18 April and 23–26 April between 9 am and 3 pm. Choose from half-day ($50) or full-day ($95) classes. The Art Cafe will be open throughout the school holidays. Bookings can be made here. Gallery NTK is a Creative Kids provider.

GymKidz
GymKidz is a toddler, kinder and recreational gymnastics centre in Newtown. The Gymkidz holiday program is gymnastics focused but includes a variety of stimulating physical and motor-skill development with games, acrobatics and circus, double dutch, rhythmic, dance and team challenges, all in the care of qualified instructors. This April, the holiday program will run from 15-18 April from 9 am to 3 pm. The program is suitable for boys and girls aged 4–8 years. The cost is $80 + GST per child, per day. Spaces are limited. For more information, please see the website.

Inkling Writing Studio
Based in Hunters Hill, Inkling Writing Studio offers fun creative writing workshops for children aged 7–12 years. During the April school holidays, workshops will be held on 15 and 16 April from 10 am–3 pm. The workshops are intended to help children discover the joy of imagination and develop their poetry and story writing skills. The cost is $80 per day. Bookings via email alison@inklingwriting.com.au or 0414 462 476.

Julie Peadon Art
During the upcoming April school holidays Julie Peadon Art will be running holiday art workshops for primary and high school students in Drummoyne. The workshops will run on 15–18 April and 23 and 24 April, with half-and full day options. Themes include design your own T-shirt or bag, pop art, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Cezanne and Matisse and the classes involve drawing, painting, mixed media, collage, printing and more. Students will leave with their own masterpiece. The cost is $45–49 + GST for a half-day, $90 + GST for the full day. Bookings can be made at the website.

Kidz Artworx
Burwood-based Kidz Artworx runs creative art classes for 5–12 years and beyond, including drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, design and sculpture. During the April holidays, classes will be held on 15–18 and 23–26 April. Choose from morning (9.30 am–12.30 pm) or afternoon (1.30 pm–4.30 pm) sessions. Themes include cute animal painting, whimsical birds in oil pastels, baby jungle animals or LEGO in clay, charcoal drawing and more. Classes cost $55 per three-hour class. For more information or to book, please see the website.

Leap into Literacy
Leap into Literacy is a program that helps children become engaged in reading and writing through fun, creative techniques that aid retention, foster independent learning, and promote students’ future success. During the April school holidays, Leap into Literacy is running K–2 reading and writing and Years 3–5 Naplan literacy programs in Balmain and Drummoyne. The programs will run on 16 and 17 April and 23 and 24 April. The cost is $60 for each two-hour session including materials. To find out more or book your child’s place, visit the website.

Paper Rock Scissors Art Studio
Paper Rock Scissors Art Studio in Rozelle offers creative classes that include lots of fun and unusual experiences. The studio is running separate half- and full- day programs for K–2 and Years 3–6 between 15 and 26 April. The K–2 program includes pussycat, pigs and popsicles papier mâché, pom pom pets and peg fairies, letterboards and lanterns, bunny and bird drawings and collage, fairy and reptile rock gardens and more. The Years 3–6 program includes cartooning, animal drawing, painting and printing, creating and marbling pots, making crystal necklaces, painted rocks, crochet, stained glass candle holders and more! Morning sessions are from 9 am–12 pm; afternoon sessions are from 2–5 pm; full-day programs are 9 am–5 pm, with extended hours available (8.30 am–5.30 pm). The half-day programs cost $60 + GST; the full-day programs cost $120 + GST. To see the full program or book your child’s place, go to Paper Rock Scissors Art Studio’s website.

Resilience in Kids
Resilience in Kids aims to strengthen the resilience of everyday children aged 5–12 years experiencing everyday challenges. In the Easter school holidays, half-day and full-day programs are will be held in various locations across Sydney, including Annandale, Lilyfield, Cammeray, Neutral Bay and Roseville. Workshops will take place on 15, 16, 17, 18, 23 and 24 April. Resilience boot camps, a superpower camp and a chill-out camp will run at the Inner West locations. The camps build children’s resilience through fun games and activities. They include art, drama, music, movement, breathing and storytelling. All of the programs are run by deeply experienced resilience coaches. The cost is $75 per child per half-day and $105 for the full day. Check the program for further details. Bookings can be made via the website.

SeedTree Coding and Maths Education
Located in Strathfield, SeedTree teaches coding and secondary Maths. During the April school holidays Coding: Web Development sessions for students in Years 7–10 will be held on 15–18 April and 23–26 April. Choose from morning or afternoon sessions (10 am–1 pm or 2 pm–5 pm). The cost is $480 (for a total of 24 hours, i.e., $20 per hour). In addition there will be Coding: Python and Year 11 Maths Graphs sessions on 18–22 April. These cost $300 (for a total of 15 hours, i.e., $20 per hour). SeedTree is a registered Creative Kids provider. You can redeem your voucher for the coding course only. Bookings can be made via email henry@seedtree.com.au or 0490 420 489.

Speech and Language Sydney
Speech and Language Sydney, a mobile speech pathology practice with extensive experience in supporting children with their social communication skills, is running its popular Lego Based Therapy program again this April. The LEGO Based Therapy approach builds social communication and language skills while working together to build a LEGO model. This structured, evidence-based program is fun and works on communication skills in real time. The LEGO Based Therapy sessions will be held at Studio You in Birchgrove on 17, 18 and 24 April from 9.30–11 am or 11.30–1 pm (must attend all three days). The sessions are for children aged 5–16 years and attendees will be grouped according to age and ability. The cost is $230 per three-day block. SALS can work with HCWA-registered clients and families who are NDIS self managed or plan manager managed. To book email emma@speechandlanguagesydney.com.au or phone 0448 242 460.

Sydney FC
Sydney FC is Australia’s leading football club. They run holiday clinics for kids aged 5–13 years, with participants receiving a free training kit and hat, plus a two-game membership. During the upcoming school holidays, Sydney FC Autumn Football Holiday Clinics will be held in Five Dock and Chiswick from 16 April. The cost is from $230 with two- and three-day options. To book, see here.