Finding before school and after school childcare

[dodi1978]

My husband and I are currently in the process of looking at infant schools for DS who will start September 2017 (he is August born so one of the youngest in the class if that matters).

We both work full time, with my husband working more than an hour away. This will make mornings and evenings challenging, and some of the schools we like don't have a breakfast club. We live in a well-to-do area and it seems as if many schools are based on the SAHM principle!

So... my question... what websites and resources can you recommend to find before and after school childcare? After school is less of a problem, as most of the schools we have looked had have provided leads local childminders who pick up from school etc.

But before school is a bit of an issue... a drop off at 8.30 / 8. 45 just doesn't work for me as I will have to take DS2 to nursery afterwards (needs to be in that sequence due to location) and I wouldn't ever be at my desk before 9.30 at the earliest.

Any leads welcome as our school preferences will have to take practicality into account.

[TooTweeOrNotTooTwee]

Hi Dodi. We had the same issue (both working, DD school offers no before or after school care).

We manage by having a nanny two days a week - full days but the cost is manageable as we have taken younger DS out of nursery on those days. One day DD goes to an external before and after school club who provide a minibus service to the school - we may increase this in due course once she's settled into school and not too tired after. The other two days I've flexed my hours so I can drop off and pick up.

Another idea to explore is local childminders - we didn't find any for us but many do provide before and after school care.

[TooTweeOrNotTooTwee]

Sorry just saw you have already explored the childminder option!

[redskytonight]

IME childminder tend to drop off at schools if they pick up in the evening. At least it seems unlikely that no childminders will do this. Local after school/breakfast clubs often will do runs to and from specific schools as well. I'd suggest asking the schools or ideally other working parents that have DC there. You can search for Ofsted approved carers on their website. Local facebook groups can also be good sources of information.

[idontlikealdi]

The I had to change my hours so I can do drop off. Our gates open at 830 - I can make it to my desk for 930 just but It only works because station is very near school and office is very near station. My core hours are now 930-6.

[BananaPie]

Childminders will take kids before school and drop them off. Find one on the way to the nursery and you'll be sorted. Childcare.co.uk is a pretty good resource. Your council will also have a list of registered childminders, possibly on the Internet.

It will work out. Childminders don't get booked up as far in advance as nurseries and there appears to be more churn throughout the year

[JoJoSM2]

You could get a before-and-after school nanny + full days in the holidays (presumably that care will be required?) The pay is then averaged across the year so the nanny is able to manage her finances. It tends to suit nannies looking to have time to pursue other hobbies or study during the day so they can be found.
Alternatively, if you have a spare bedroom and would be open to have someone living in, you could look at finding an au pair.

[AidingAndAbetting]

I have yet to meet a childminder that doesn't do before school care as well as after school. My childminder offers care from 7.30 in the morning.

[CruCru]

Where do you live? Have you tried putting a thread in the "local" section of Mumsnet?

[bummyknocker]

I'm a childminder and offer before and after school care and cover the holidays too.
I find that one parent gets to work early so they can leave earlier enough to do the pick up at six, the other parent then does the morning drop off and gets to work a bit later but then doesn't have to rush home for pick up - seems to be a good balance.

[BackforGood]

Google 'Family Information Service' and the name of your local authority and they will be able to give you a list of CMers (almost all of whom will give dc breakfast and take them to school as well as collecting) and also you'll find a lot of the Private Nurseries do a before and after school club and school run to their local schools (usually until the child is 8).

As others have suggested, then changing your hours and you and dh working a kind of 'shift system so one drops off and starts later but isn't being relied on to collect from after school care, and the other going in early enough to ensure they are there to do the pick up is something a lot of us have done.