The Strings Club music holiday camp at The Kingsley School was rated Strong Standard for inclusion, welfare and leadership. Founder Amy Cunningham explains.
The Strings Club holiday camp at The Kingsley Preparatory School in Leamington has been rated Strong Standard in three of the four areas Ofsted judged when inspectors visited on 27 August 2026: children’s welfare and wellbeing, inclusion, and leadership and governance. The fourth, behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines, was rated Expected Standard.
The report is published on Ofsted’s website under the name Leamington Spa Holiday Camp (The Kingsley Preparatory School), URN 2841323, at the school on Beauchamp Avenue. The camp has been registered with Ofsted since 1 May 2025. Safeguarding standards were met, and the camp met the requirements of both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register, according to The Strings Club.
Under Ofsted’s new report cards, Strong Standard is the second grade from the top: below Exceptional and above Expected Standard.
What the inspectors wrote
The Strings Club runs music-led holiday camps for children aged 4 to 11, and the inspectors’ quotes, as set out in the company’s release, are mostly about how the children get on. Ofsted found that “children are eager to attend and quickly settle to play with their friends” and that “children thoroughly enjoy their play”, and called them “curious and active learners”.
On welfare, the report says “leaders have created a welcoming environment where children feel safe and protected”, that “staff understand the needs of each child extremely well” and that “children thrive in this caring and inclusive environment, where their welfare and happiness come first”.
Amy Cunningham, a former violin teacher who founded The Strings Club in 2012, said the grades mattered less to her than what the report said about the children:
“Of course we’re delighted with the result, but for me, the most important part of this report is what it says about the children. They feel safe. They feel included. They are confident to join in, make friends, try new things and, importantly, they genuinely enjoy being at camp.
“That is exactly why I started The Strings Club. I wanted children to have somewhere they could discover music, build confidence and simply have a brilliant time being themselves. To see the Leamington Spa team delivering that so beautifully, and to have it recognised by Ofsted, makes me incredibly proud of everyone involved.”
How it compares
Strong grades in these areas are not the norm. The company points to Ofsted’s latest childcare statistics: of the 180 inspections of out-of-school day care providers on the Early Years Register between 10 November 2025 and 31 March 2026, 42% were rated Strong Standard for inclusion, 29% for children’s welfare and wellbeing, and 26% for leadership and governance.
Why Leamington
We asked Amy Cunningham, in writing, why she started the club and why it came here. Her answer:
“Having spent years as a violin teacher, I launched The Strings Club back in 2012 after witnessing directly how transformative musical education can be for a young person’s wellbeing. My desire was to extend this journey to a wider audience, shaping welcoming spaces where children could embrace musical discovery, feel inspired to experiment and build genuine self-assurance.
“For me, it’s always been about much more than learning an instrument. Music can give children a way to express themselves, develop perseverance and experience the satisfaction of mastering something new. There’s also something really special about making music together. It brings children together, creates friendships and gives them a sense of belonging.”
“As The Strings Club grew, we wanted to bring this experience to more families beyond London,” she said. “Leamington Spa felt like a lovely opportunity to do just that. The Kingsley Preparatory School offered the facilities and outdoor space we were looking for, alongside the opportunity to become part of a new local community.
“Ultimately, I wanted children in Leamington to have the same opportunity to experience the magic of music, alongside all the creativity, connection and confidence that can come with it.”
Children with SEND
Inclusion was one of the three Strong grades, and the inspectors wrote that “staff make thoughtful adjustments so children with SEND can actively enjoy the activities and experiences provided”. According to the company, staff adapt routines and resources so every child can join in, and there is a calm zone where children can settle themselves before going back to the activity.
Asked what the camp changes so that children with special educational needs and disabilities can take part, Amy Cunningham said it starts before the child arrives:
“I want every child who comes to The Strings Club to feel welcome, valued and able to participate in a way that works for them. Children arrive with different personalities, needs, interests and experiences, and I think it’s important that we recognise those differences rather than expect every child to approach an activity in exactly the same way.
“When it comes to children with special educational needs and disabilities, communication with families is particularly important. Understanding a child’s individual needs, what helps them feel settled and any adjustments they may require allows us to have a more informed conversation about how we can support them.
“I believe that children thrive when they feel safe, understood and accepted. That sense of belonging matters just as much as the activity itself.”
Her advice to parents is to ring first: “I’d always encourage parents to speak with our team before booking so we can discuss their child’s individual circumstances and the support we can offer at our Leamington camp.”
A day at the camp
The camp runs at the school through the school holidays, from 9.30am to 4pm, with extended care from 8am to 5.30pm. There is one member of staff for every eight children at all ages, and the company says no camp takes more than 40 children. Numbers at Leamington vary from one holiday to the next, and the team will give expected numbers for particular dates. Instruments are lent free to children booked for a day or more.
Amy Cunningham described the day:
“Children can arrive from 8am for our optional Early Bird Club, where they can enjoy activities such as board games, LEGO, books and arts and crafts before the main programme begins.
“The morning focuses on music. Children learn instruments such as violin, guitar or ukulele through guided sessions and musical games, with instruments provided. We welcome complete beginners, so there’s no expectation that a child needs previous musical experience to join in.
“We make space for breaks, snacks, lunch and outdoor play, too. I think it’s important that children have a varied day, with opportunities to concentrate and learn alongside time to move, play and recharge.”
Ofsted saw the music side in action: inspectors watched children practising plucking and strumming on guitars and ukuleles and learning about sound waves.
The afternoons are themed workshops, designed by the company’s Activities Manager, who, Amy Cunningham says, is a qualified primary teacher studying for a PhD in Education at the University of Birmingham on inclusion in schools. “Workshops can include art, drama, dance, sport, wellbeing and other creative activities, giving children the chance to explore interests beyond music, discover new ways of expressing themselves and feel included, supported and encouraged to take part,” she said.
The week ends with a Grand Concert on the Friday, for families. “I love the sense of achievement that can come from this moment,” she said. “Every child arrives with their own starting point, and seeing them grow in confidence over the week is incredibly rewarding.”
Leadership
The third Strong grade was for leadership and governance. The report says “leaders are passionate about providing the best possible care for children” and have “clear and effective systems that support the safe and smooth running of the club”. Staff get a thorough induction, regular updates, guidance and training, according to the company’s summary of the report.
What it means for you
If you are looking at holiday childcare for a child aged 4 to 11 in Leamington, the camp’s Ofsted report card is on the Ofsted site and is worth reading in full alongside any other provider you are comparing. Children do not need to have played an instrument before. For a child with SEND, the company’s advice is to talk to the team before booking. Dates and booking are on The Strings Club website.
Other holiday dates for the year are in our Leamington school term dates guide.
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