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Original poster

The maximum you would pay for an after school club?

50 replies

Whinge · 20/04/2021 06:57

I know it depends on so many things, but i'm curious to see the answers.

What's the maximum price you would pay for a club that runs until 6pm and serves a light meal?

OP posts:
MiloAndEddie · 20/04/2021 07:02

I’m in the Midlands, I’d say £15 but tbh if it was my only option for after school care in reality I’d probably pay whatever they charged!

ouchmyfeet · 20/04/2021 07:06

I'm in the NW and ours is £15 per child. I think it's outrageously expensive for what they provide but have no other options

Cupcakegirl13 · 20/04/2021 07:06

I pay £10 for this.

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Clymene · 20/04/2021 07:09

It's been a couple of years but they charged £8 here. Club ran until 6.15

Equimum · 20/04/2021 07:13

We pay £10 in the SE, but it’s run by the school and doesn’t my include supper (just a snack after school). Would probably pay up to £15, depending on activities offered and food.

MattyGroves · 20/04/2021 07:15

£20, if they catered to my son's multiple food allergies

Original poster
Whinge · 20/04/2021 07:36

Thank you for the replies.

OP posts:
BettyCarver · 20/04/2021 07:40

I think what you’re willing to pay also depends on whether you’re used to paying all day childcare when your children are pre school age. My kids are much older now, but I remember how much it cost when they were in nursery while I worked. This was back before free hours kicked in at 3 years old; also (like many nurseries) you paid all year round for your place. When my children started school and I only had to pay before and after school childcare, I thought I’d won the lottery! However I remember other parents (who hadn’t worked when until their children started school) grumbling about the cost of wraparound care 🤷‍♀️
Tbh around £15 sounds reasonable to me... that’s a fiver an hour if it’s open til 6.

Frazzled2207 · 20/04/2021 07:42

Ours is £13 which I think is too much (nw). I think there should be some kind of structured activity included but it’s not even a meal it’s a substantial snack plus supervision

wendz86 · 20/04/2021 07:42

I'd say £15, ours is £10.50.

museumum · 20/04/2021 07:45

We pay £14.50 but the activities are excellent- nature walks, free play, arts and crafts.

Original poster
Whinge · 20/04/2021 07:46

@Frazzled2207

Ours is £13 which I think is too much (nw). I think there should be some kind of structured activity included but it’s not even a meal it’s a substantial snack plus supervision
What sort of structured activity?

General painting / crafts, or something more focused like sport or coding etc?

OP posts:
De88 · 20/04/2021 07:47

Ours is £6 at the school, activities are brilliant too.

Original poster
Whinge · 20/04/2021 07:50

@BettyCarver

I think what you’re willing to pay also depends on whether you’re used to paying all day childcare when your children are pre school age. My kids are much older now, but I remember how much it cost when they were in nursery while I worked. This was back before free hours kicked in at 3 years old; also (like many nurseries) you paid all year round for your place. When my children started school and I only had to pay before and after school childcare, I thought I’d won the lottery! However I remember other parents (who hadn’t worked when until their children started school) grumbling about the cost of wraparound care 🤷‍♀️ Tbh around £15 sounds reasonable to me... that’s a fiver an hour if it’s open til 6.
That's a great point. A bargain for one person's, could seem extortionate for another.
OP posts:
Original poster
Whinge · 20/04/2021 07:51

@De88

Ours is £6 at the school, activities are brilliant too.
Per hour? Or for the whole session? £6 for roughly 3 hours care is amazingly low. Shock
OP posts:
reluctantbrit · 20/04/2021 07:51

DD's childminder charged £5/hour for after school, so £15 per day incl. tea.

I would say an afterschool club should charge a bit less unless they really provide extras like homework club, proper activities etc.

Original poster
Whinge · 20/04/2021 07:54

@reluctantbrit

DD's childminder charged £5/hour for after school, so £15 per day incl. tea.

I would say an afterschool club should charge a bit less unless they really provide extras like homework club, proper activities etc.

What sort of proper activities were you thinking?
OP posts:
AnneofScreamFables · 20/04/2021 07:55

Maximum £20. But once you go over around £5 per hour per child then parents with two children would find it cheaper to have a nanny.

Of course, if it was also a structured learning session I would pay more. Eg sports, drama, art, language, music. Then I would probably pay around £25, reckoning on £10-12 for the activity, and then childcare an meal on top.

It would need to be a meal that meant I did not need to feed them anything else once we got home though.

NothingIsWrong · 20/04/2021 07:57

I pay £15 for that. Includes a small snack (biscuit and milk) immediately after finishing and then a light meal about 5. Typically fishfinger wraps, pizza, pasta with sauce and yogurt/fruit.

Activities are generally playing outside in the playground if weather good, some craft stuff but not loads every day. Older ones encouraged to do homework if they have it. Lots of resources like building blocks, etc that they are allowed to use. It peters out as they get older, my DS is the only Y6 some days (but only 20 per year group).

Original poster
Whinge · 20/04/2021 08:20

@NothingIsWrong

I pay £15 for that. Includes a small snack (biscuit and milk) immediately after finishing and then a light meal about 5. Typically fishfinger wraps, pizza, pasta with sauce and yogurt/fruit.

Activities are generally playing outside in the playground if weather good, some craft stuff but not loads every day. Older ones encouraged to do homework if they have it. Lots of resources like building blocks, etc that they are allowed to use. It peters out as they get older, my DS is the only Y6 some days (but only 20 per year group).

That's pretty similar to what I was thinking. Not a specific club, but one that offers general crafts, play and a bit of food.
OP posts:
minniemomo · 20/04/2021 08:28

I paid £11.50 per child 15 years ago then switched to a housekeeper who would collect the kids instead because I didn't need 3 hours and there was no reduced price for early collection and no tea

Original poster
Whinge · 20/04/2021 08:35

@minniemomo

I paid £11.50 per child 15 years ago then switched to a housekeeper who would collect the kids instead because I didn't need 3 hours and there was no reduced price for early collection and no tea
No tea but it cost £11.50 per child. Shock Did they get any food, even just a light snack?
OP posts:
Thirtyrock39 · 20/04/2021 08:48

Mine is £11 no meal- cheaper than childminders which would which would be about £15 for 3-6pm and my son really enjoys it and they do lovely activities and it's a familiar spacious environment. We have used childminders in the past which were fine but prefer the wrap around care at school overall

Original poster
Whinge · 20/04/2021 09:05

@Thirtyrock39

Mine is £11 no meal- cheaper than childminders which would which would be about £15 for 3-6pm and my son really enjoys it and they do lovely activities and it's a familiar spacious environment. We have used childminders in the past which were fine but prefer the wrap around care at school overall
Does your son get a snack, or do they provide no food at all?
OP posts:
DazzlePaintedBattlePants · 20/04/2021 09:07

We pay £10 for 3:15 to 6pm, substantial snack includes (toast etc). Would pay up to £15.