How do parents drop children off at school if they work 8-5pm

[Mrstumbletap]

DS goes to school next year, and I'm trying to fathom how people drop off and pick up when they work longer than the school day. What do you all do? Childminder? Childminder then breakfast club? After school club?

[PotteringAlong]

Breakfast club starts at 7am here. I do that and after school club.

[NapQueen]

Our cm opens at 7.30am. If Im on a later start I drop at 8am breakfast club.

[MrsBellefleur]

Dd starts next year as well. Thankfully I will be on Mat leave when she starts so can do the initial few months pick ups and drop offs until she's a bit more settled.

I work 2.5 days a week 8.30 while 5. Then 8.30 while lunchtime. Dh works 8-4 all week. We are thinking of using breakfast club for the 3 days a week and either the possibility of my mum picking dd up after school or dh adjusting his hours for the two afternoons a week to do pick ups.

[Chasingsquirrels]

I used a childminder one day a week from when ds1 was 7mo. She did school runs, so I'd drop with her and she'd take to school. I'd be home for pick up but she also does after school.

[Iizzyb]

We have breakfast club & after school club but I will change my hours when ds is at school full time so I can drop off & pick up at least once a week. Currently at school nursery & I drop off once a week & dm picks up twice so we have some interaction with school & not just via the after school club ladies. Also factor in you will need to do homework & reading with them after school so it's not just about physically getting them there & back

[Mrstumbletap]

Thanks all, unfortunately don't have parents to help and MIL doesn't drive so wouldn't be able to drop him at school.

I'm reading on school websites near us that breakfast clubs start at 8am (I need to be at work by then). And that after school clubs are first come first serve. So that worries me greatly that he may not even get in to the after school club.

Been trying to find a childminder I can drop him at 7:30am 2/3 days a week but not really had any replies on childcare.co.uk.

I'm beginning to panic now! Any ideas of what else I can do? I work 4 days a week.

[purpleme12]

Private nurseries local to the school also do drop off and pick up. That's my plan. Better in my opinion cos open all year round so can send to nursery in holidays too

[JassyRadlett]

It's a bit of a nightmare, really, after nursery. We finally got it sorted but it was diffficult, especially as we also have one at nursery. DH and I alternate drop offs and pick ups and have moved our hours accordingly - I do two 7am starts, and two later, and ditto the other end of the day.

Have you been in touch with your council about childminders? They should have a list.

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

No idea what the secret is. Well, I think actually it is an incredibly short commute or family nearby or more flexible hours.

Breakfast club starts 7:30 here but that doesn't give me enough time to get to work for 8.

I'm just about to drop down to 2 days a week as even working 8:30 - 4:30 is a struggle with commute plus breakfast club / CM hours.

[jelliebelly]

Breakfast club and after school club - dh and I negotiated bit of flexible working so take it in turns to start early/finish early

[jelliebelly]

Or start late/finish late

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

We have a great after school club, open until 6pm. But... it's a big school (4 form entry) and there just aren't enough places so it's usually booked up.

I pick up 3 days a week, DH one day (as he works short day on Fridays) and then one day after school club.

It's main reason I work part time.

[lunchboxtroubles]

Nanny

childminder

family help

one of you starts early and finishes early, the other starts late and finishes late so you can share the pickups and dropoffs

one of you goes part time

etc etc etc

it's a nightmare - nursery is much easier! have you considered school holidays yet?

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

I'm already part time and still struggling.
Sorry OP, these probably aren't the replies you want .

[KatyN]

Friends!! We don't have family nearby either and both work part time so incredibly flexible but still have an arrangement with friends where we drop on day and they drop another. There are loads of people I. The same boat as you and sometimes having 2 four year olds can be easier to entertain then just the 1.

[Jeffjefftyjeff]

No breakfast club or after school club here. Dp had to reduce work hours. they did short (gradually longer) hours the first term of reception which was really difficult to work round.

[PinkSwimGoggles]

one drops off the other picks up.

[cheminotte]

Flexible working request?

[trinitybleu]

Clubs that run 7:30 til 6pm. I used to drop-off (started work at 9:30) and OH would start at 8 so he could finish early enough to collect.

Now work from home 3 days a week but still tend to use club as she enjoys it.

[waterrat]

Our breakfast club is oversubscribed. You will definitely find a local mum who will do it if you can't find a childminder. I have already offered to help other mums with drop off. Eg there is a woman on my road who charges a fiver to have kids from 730 and take them to school. She also does pick ups. Childmnder-lite - someone like thst won't be on childcare.co.uk so you need to post on local Facebook groups or just ask the mums who are already using the school.

Or. Option B. You find a local student or teenager to come to your house at 7 am and take your child to school.

Don't panic you will find someone. There are 60 other kids from your immediate neighbourhood doing the same journey uou need to find out what all those parents are doing.

[waterrat]

Also... ny husband changed his hours so he could do drop off sometimes. Have you spoken to your work about it ?

[NerrSnerr]

Could one of you change or reduce hours?

[BlingedUpBalloon]

Dh gave up work a couple of years ago to be at home with the youngest who has just turned 4. So he does all of the drop offs and pick ups at the moment. Next year he may fit in a bit of part time work during the day, but we just figure one of us has to be around at school starts and finishes, and as I am a teacher myself, it can't be me. It's tight financially, but that's just how it is.

[PinkCrystal]

Before and after school club. It's quite reasonable and luckily DCs friends go to so they're happy. I like escaping the school gate cliques too!

[SavoyCabbage]

Start asking around at playgroups, swimming lessons etc. to see if anyone knows any childminders that are associated with particular schools.