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Original poster

No hourly rate for after school club

143 replies

Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 10:38

Hello everyone,

We are new to Oxfordshire, and I have just found out that I can only book an entire after school club session per day in our primary school. As opposed to book let's say an hour per day. Our school charges £13 per session and it runs between 3 and 6. I would need only 1 hour per day, between 3 and 4. I looked around nearby schools in town, and it seems that it is the common practice here, except one primary (further away), that has got short and long sessions with different rate (£7 and £ 12.95).

We've moved from Bedfordshire, where in our old school we could pay hourly rate and could book one hour per day if we wanted.

I am very annoyed by this, that I would need to pay for something that I will not use.

I am going to raise this with the headteacher, but curious to see how other people think about it. In my opinion it is very inflexible.

Thank you for your answers.

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Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 14:09

TheYearOfSmallThings · 08/11/2022 14:02

I'd say the best thing is to book the full afternoons for your two younger DC and just get back out there. Don't worry if it doesn't pay - the thing you need to achieve from this job is to demonstrate that you want to work and will show up for work as agreed. That is the thing that is really in question after someone has chosen not to work for a while.

Not working for years can give you time for thinking about the way things should be, whereas working (rightly of wrongly!) forces you to just engage with the way things are in reality right now. Obviously your first job is just a step towards something better, and you may well be glad of the longer sessions soon.

Thank you. Definitely, I can recognise myself in what you are saying. I am laminating too much, and now this is time for action. That is why I decided to go for a job that is not entirely fit with childcare. I got frustrated with waiting and weighting up pros and cons.

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 08/11/2022 14:02

I'd say the best thing is to book the full afternoons for your two younger DC and just get back out there. Don't worry if it doesn't pay - the thing you need to achieve from this job is to demonstrate that you want to work and will show up for work as agreed. That is the thing that is really in question after someone has chosen not to work for a while.

Not working for years can give you time for thinking about the way things should be, whereas working (rightly of wrongly!) forces you to just engage with the way things are in reality right now. Obviously your first job is just a step towards something better, and you may well be glad of the longer sessions soon.

Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 13:56

ping78 · 08/11/2022 13:33

OP it's not a county thing, they're businesses, some are run by schools, some outside providers, they will each do things differently, there is no county wide instruction. Our town has several clubs all operating differently, the county has nothing to do with it.

Also, I took the children to a nursery in Beds, run by a military charity. Than was taken over by a business.

The nursery went downhill afterward, business oriented, lack of quality etc. 3 of my children went there, huge difference. So obviously that is a difference between a non/profit organisation and a business. By the way, the charity wanted to take over, but was pushed out. They were very upset. Se were we.

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Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 13:53

TheTeddyBears · 08/11/2022 13:51

It's pretty standard and that rate is pretty good. My local one is £18 for 3-6pm regardless oh whether u need 10mins or 3hrs. I'm in central Scotland.

Why is it soo expensive up there?

OP posts:
TheTeddyBears · 08/11/2022 13:51

It's pretty standard and that rate is pretty good. My local one is £18 for 3-6pm regardless oh whether u need 10mins or 3hrs. I'm in central Scotland.

Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 13:51

ping78 · 08/11/2022 13:33

OP it's not a county thing, they're businesses, some are run by schools, some outside providers, they will each do things differently, there is no county wide instruction. Our town has several clubs all operating differently, the county has nothing to do with it.

Yes, I know. But somehow I have this feeling (difficult to describe it in an articulate way) that there are elements of assumptions that you can get away with these (prices etc) because your target population is used to it/don't know anything else/that's their expectations.

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Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 13:45

TugboatAnnie · 08/11/2022 13:05

I know it doesn't make sense but it's better to think that you are sharing the cost of the childcare and it's not just coming out of your wages. Off topic but if you are returning to full-time work, parenting, housework etc needs to be shared so get your husband into the mindset early on!

Yes, I already had a discussion about it with him. My mother and I spent the last decade looking after the children, while he was working, sometimes abroad (military). He was the breadwinner. I keep telling him that this 50s setting just does not work any more, also as the children are getting older (so am I) I want to do something. And this time for money.

He is supportive of the idea but his work is sooooo important that he need to be in London for looooong hours. He has a very specialised job, in London. So commute does not help either.

OP posts:
ping78 · 08/11/2022 13:33

OP it's not a county thing, they're businesses, some are run by schools, some outside providers, they will each do things differently, there is no county wide instruction. Our town has several clubs all operating differently, the county has nothing to do with it.

Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 13:32

wibblewobbleboard · 08/11/2022 13:17

At 13/14 I wouldn't have been happy with them bringing 3 younger children home from school and looking after them for a few hours, no.

And the thread came up in active. I didn't notice the board until you pointed it out.

Well, Y9 (13,5) and Y7 (aged 11,5) come home from school by themselves, older kid's school is a bit further, 15 min walk, younger just 5-7 min walk.

Y5 (9.5 years old) is picked up by me with his reception-aged brother.

I am talking about 1 hour at the max per day right now (although as I have job interviews, the timing can change slightly.)

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Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 13:23

babybrainfart · 08/11/2022 13:03

I live in Bedfordshire and can pay for up until 4:30 or 6. I used to live in Bucks and it was a flat rate. I can understand why they do it as your child is taking a space, but I understand your frustration.

I used to live in Oxfordshire 25 years ago, than moved around and lived in Bedfordshire for a long time. Then back to Oxfordshire.

I lived here pre-children time, and now with children.

It just seems more expensive here. Also, reading the answers too, it seems that this is generally accepted. Surely whatever can be done in Beds could be possibly done here too?

The only primary school in this town, who runs the two sessions for different rate is a brand new one, but if I am correct it caters for a less-well off (just like our school.) So I wonder when setting up this "two-tier" system they had this factor in mind.

OP posts:
mogtheexcellent · 08/11/2022 13:19

15 per afternoon in leafy Berkshire but its open til 6.30. plus 5.50 for breakfast club. Run by a non profit charity.

To be honest I work from home and DH is home by 5.25 but we sometimes leave DD in club so we can have some fun. She doesnt go to sleep until 10pm and DH is asleep at 8pm and up at 5 so its our only chance. Even better is Tuesdays when she gets collected by another parent and taken to drama class till 7.30.

FWIW I spent 2 years working at a loss (if taking fuel costs into account). ASC is cheap by comparison.

wibblewobbleboard · 08/11/2022 13:17

At 13/14 I wouldn't have been happy with them bringing 3 younger children home from school and looking after them for a few hours, no.

And the thread came up in active. I didn't notice the board until you pointed it out.

Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 13:09

EllieQ · 08/11/2022 12:56

@Mackonadragos Even if you are not entitled to benefits such as Universal Credit towards your childcare costs, you can sign up to the government’s tax-free childcare scheme which gives you a discount towards childcare. This is available to everyone earning up to £100k

.Tax Free Childcare

Regarding your comment that the issue is that you’ll be working one day to cover childcare you don’t want to use, I assume you mean that the cost of ASC will take up one days wage. That is the trade-off with working and paying for childcare. My daughter’s nursery fees took up half my monthly salary, but it was worth it to stay in work as costs reduced once she got older and we got the funded hours, then reduced again when she went to school.

Have you thought about school holiday childcare as well?

You’ve done well to get a job after being at home for several years, and hopefully it will all go smoothly as you settle into working again.

Show quote history

Thank you for your answer. I will definitely look it up. Sounds good.

I sort of know, that women work and their earnings go to childcare. It is just hard to face up with it. (In the past I never needed to pay for childcare, also I never made any money.
I 've already made up my mind about Xmas. I do not celebrate Xmas this year, my husband with the kids will go to his mother, while I want to work through this period here, where we live.

Summer holiday is trickier. For me it was going home (continent) in the past and I have to think about it. I assume it will depend on the nature of my job.

)

OP posts:
TugboatAnnie · 08/11/2022 13:05

I know it doesn't make sense but it's better to think that you are sharing the cost of the childcare and it's not just coming out of your wages. Off topic but if you are returning to full-time work, parenting, housework etc needs to be shared so get your husband into the mindset early on!

babybrainfart · 08/11/2022 13:03

I live in Bedfordshire and can pay for up until 4:30 or 6. I used to live in Bucks and it was a flat rate. I can understand why they do it as your child is taking a space, but I understand your frustration.

Tryingmyb3st · 08/11/2022 12:58

Flat fee here and you have to pay for the full week-no individual days. It's the only club available and that's life!

Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 12:56

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/11/2022 12:43

£13 fir childcare a day sounds fab cost

yes I know you don’t need 3hrs but maybe in that time do something can’t do easily with kids, or food shopping, gym, watch tv and chill and use the 3 hrs if paying fir it

to make asc work they need a steady income and if lots of parents wanted one hour say fir £5 then wouldn’t make any money

Thank you for your lovely answers.

My life is about boring and relentless house work (4 children). But I feel sorry for my youngest to keep it in school for so long. Actually when they come home from school, they read and play lego etc very nicely.

OP posts:
EllieQ · 08/11/2022 12:56

Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 12:39

No. We never claimed anything, as I have a husband, and I never worked so we would not have been entitled. now, that I start or want to start to work I might claim, we haven't looked into it yet.

(And that husband of mine works in London, and comes home late.)

Show quote history

@Mackonadragos Even if you are not entitled to benefits such as Universal Credit towards your childcare costs, you can sign up to the government’s tax-free childcare scheme which gives you a discount towards childcare. This is available to everyone earning up to £100k

.Tax Free Childcare

Regarding your comment that the issue is that you’ll be working one day to cover childcare you don’t want to use, I assume you mean that the cost of ASC will take up one days wage. That is the trade-off with working and paying for childcare. My daughter’s nursery fees took up half my monthly salary, but it was worth it to stay in work as costs reduced once she got older and we got the funded hours, then reduced again when she went to school.

Have you thought about school holiday childcare as well?

You’ve done well to get a job after being at home for several years, and hopefully it will all go smoothly as you settle into working again.

WrongLife · 08/11/2022 12:56

I'm in Oxfordshire and my ASC does it per hour, some of the staff just don't work until the end which suits them I think.

however, they don't let anyone under 16 collect children so your 13yo wouldn't be able to do that bit. In addition, to put that onto a 13yo EVERY day is a huge responsibility and would mean they could never do any after stuff themselves. I have a Y10 and a Y8 as well as the Y5, and both the older ones do sports clubs and go home with mates after school. Outside of emergencies or organised one offs I don't expect them to look after the younger one, they are not the parent

Blueroses99 · 08/11/2022 12:55

My DC school also have 3 sessions: Early (straight from school to 4.30); late (from 4.30 to end); and full (all the way through).

It works because school clubs all finish at 4.30, so they probably have enough kids leaving early and being replaced by lates to make the ratios work. Many parents would rather pay for a club (art, sports etc) than ASC, which is a bit more generic in terms of activities but most clubs are oversubscribed.

Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 12:47

treadcarefully · 08/11/2022 12:41

Going to buck the trend here. I managed an after school club up until I retired 3 years ago. We operated on 3 sessions per afternoon and it worked just fine. Flexibility for parents. We always kept to strict ratios but saved on staffing costs if vast numbers of children only needed one session and suited staff who didn't want to work till 6pm.
It's still run that way now.

God! This sounds great! (I linked our old school, where there were also 3 sessions.)

Thank you for sharing it.

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Ponderingwindow · 08/11/2022 12:46

You take up the whole slot at the session regardless of what time you pick up. Staff still need to be paid as well. A full session fee is fair.

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/11/2022 12:43

£13 fir childcare a day sounds fab cost

yes I know you don’t need 3hrs but maybe in that time do something can’t do easily with kids, or food shopping, gym, watch tv and chill and use the 3 hrs if paying fir it

to make asc work they need a steady income and if lots of parents wanted one hour say fir £5 then wouldn’t make any money

Original poster
Mackonadragos · 08/11/2022 12:42

Oblomov22 · 08/11/2022 12:33

"I wonder how many of you have teenage children. " Grin

Whilst obviously there is continually a large proportion of Mn posters with newborns and young ones, many of us have been here for 20 years, have uni children and young adults.

Surely you know that?

As it is a childcare section, I assumed that it is parents who have children that still need childcare. (I myself "graduated" from the pregnancy / child birth groups, and don't tend to visit it.)

OP posts:
ShortDaysLongNights · 08/11/2022 12:41

Our after school club has the same policy. Would I rather just pay an hourly rate? Yes, of course. But it's the most convenient option for us and we're thankful to have a space so unfortunately that's it. And it does give us flexibility for an extra hour of childcare if and when we need it.