When did wraparound care become commonplace?

[daysonmybicycle]

I was born in 1980 and don’t think there was anything like that in place when I was at school. I think my granny used to collect me from school until I was about eight and then I let myself home. Not sure what others did or in school holidays. I think childminders were a ‘thing’ but not very well regulated or checked.

Yes I agree. I don't think day care type of nurseries existed either -only nursery schools that you went to the year before reception.

Well I'm 55 and had wrap around care when I was 8-12.

Our DS’s school won’t let DC leave on their own, an adult needs to collect him. We don’t live anywhere near his grandparents - in fact, one set of grandparents has died. Both parents are more likely to work these days, and also more likely to live far away from family who could provide wraparound care. It’s not puzzling really.

Probably around the same time a mortgage and living costs became unaffordable on one salary and more mums had to return to work.

[Sorry, not overly helpful, but I do think it's a fascinating societal change which isn't fully understood nor explored]

I’m 35 and there was wrap around care

I was born in 1980. I went to a childminder before and after school throughout primary school. She rented a room in a local village hall and from memory there were about 10 children there, possibly more. I also remember going to holiday camps at the local university during the summer holidays.

I'm 50 and the local mums took turns to walk us back. About 6-8 children. No checking who was picking us up, we just walked out of the gate. When it rained, we'd put the back seats down of my friends mums Datsun and squish 8 kids in the back and bang down the boot. Happy days 😊

I don't think OP is asking why but when it became necessary.

My own mum was a SAHM until I was about 10 and even then she worked school hours only. We didn't live near family so I think lack of wraparound care would have been a factor.

I was born later in the 80s. I agree that childminders weren't as well regulated but they were 100% commonplace. I had several childminders, an after school club not far from my school and summer camps.

They all became commonplace when more mothers worked.

I think as many mothers worked when I was little as when my daughter was little.

Before school club wasn't a thing but our play yard was open from 8am until 8.45 when the doors opened. We could play in the yard for free under a couple of teachers and a TA or twos supervision. No booking in, no payments.
After school clubs were activities, school choir, orchestra, football etc.
Childminders definitely existed as we both had them.
I'm 34.

Childminder registration has been a thing since 1948.

The children's act in 1989 started more robust checks with social services and local councils with Ofsted taking over in 2001.

Things have changed though, I remember just playing in the playground until my mum picked me up, with the school gates open etc. That wouldn’t be allowed now. I also remember going to a childminder but no Ofsted regulations etc.

there were also more crèches in operation

I went to a lot of random holiday clubs! But after school I was a latch key kid from 11.

Childminders and I think they could have more children than they can now.

Theres always been 'wrap around care' but it had different names 'going to aunty so and so's after school', 'playing round Sarah's after school', going to the next door neighbour, the teenage baby sitter over the road

It was community based, informal, ad hoc. Cheap

We just had had own front door key and looked after ourselves until parents came home from work! Became very self sufficient!

Some single parents started up an after school club at my school in the early 90s.

Yes, I’m not asking why 😂

I only know my school so it’s possible every other primary school in the 80s did breakfast and after school clubs.

My school used to do an after school club thing too, I think it was free though.

Don’t know. I was given a key by my divorced mum when I was about 9/10. (I’m 60 now).

It was horrible so I’m very glad that there’s wraparound care now.

I also used to be dropped off very early. Now I’d be wondering why but then I used to just sit and wait for school to start!

I went to 3 different primary schools in the 80s and none had breakfast or after school clubs. A couple of my friends had an older lady watch them at home after school, cook their tea etc til parents got home. My DMIL looked after a neighbour's child for a fiver a day or something like that!

That used to happen to me, too!

I was born in the 60s and my mum was at home when we got in from school (no one ever ever picked us up tho - about a mile walk).

When my younger brother was about 7 (so I was about 10), my mum went back to work. So we were home alone until she got in. She was a teacher very locally tho so she was able to get home earlier than some working parents.

Edited to add: Dh is the same age as me and his mum never worked; but he made his own way to school and back again from the age of 5. Think his older siblings were at different schools then. It's hard to imagine now, isn't it?

I was born in 1984, Irish middle class upbringing. Most of the mums didn't work. The ones who did used childminders after school if they didn't have family (either at their own house or the childminder's, no distinction between childminder and nanny). I certainly don't remember anyone going home alone anywhere near as young as 8, although I suppose in a class of 37 it's possible some did and I wasn't aware.

DH's mum worked, but part-time. She would take the summers off (public sector job) and he went to various aunties after school. Again, definitely not home alone at 8 or anything close to it.