To send dd to Breakfast Club every morning?

[NapQueen]

Because of my shifts if I work an Early my childminder has to drop dd at Breakfast Club as she does two separate school runs and obviously can't be at both at the same time.

In order to keep things simple and straight forward for dd I've been taking her every day. It's 8am and they seem to get a decent breakfast. It has no cost (however I would pay if they charged).

I figured once she got into Y1 I could reassess but as she is just starting Reception I thought it'd be more routine for her to go every day rather than one day one week, three days the next week etc.

Aibu? It does make for longer days for her but she's not napped since she was 2.5 and is used to long days at the CMS when I'm on an early (at CMS 7.30-5).

I do worry that I'll be judged by the staff at the school though!

My school offers free breakfast club and many of our pupils attend every day. Things would be a major PITA for many of our parents if we didn't offer this service. As teachers, we absolutely do not judge. Make use of the services available to make your life easier.

It's fine.
My DD went to breakfast club daily from reception and she was fine. She did that for 3 years 8 months.
We don't need the club any more so lost our place. It's £3.00 daily.

If it is suiting you and your DD then that is all that matters.

I very much doubt that anyone is judging you. Remember that teachers and other school staff are also very often working parents. Some may have had to put their own young children into other breakfast clubs or childcare so that they can get to work on time, supervise playground and breakfast club as needed amongst other things.

Where the heck is the money coming from for these free breakfast clubs?! Happy to admit I'm envious!

Do it. Nobody should judge you and if they do, who gives a toss?

My 2 go to breakfast club every single day. I'm a single parent and student, when I'm in placement and working full time I need it daily; when I'm in lectures I only really need it 2 days a week but they go every day (and to after school club every day too). They like it, it means they have routine and structure, they get fed for free (we have free breakfast clubs as we're in Wales) and they eat better with their friends than at home. It's setting them up for me graduating and working full time when I will need them there every day.

It also took a long time for us to convince the school that a breakfast club would be well utilised (a lot of children are bussed in and they argued for ages that BC wouldn't be well attended) so I feel taking them daily is supporting the argument that there is a need so it continues running. Spaces are not limited, so we're not taking anything from other families. It works for us and we're happy.

I'm not sure Margot. They heavily subsidise school trips too (Certainly they did at preschool level) and her ballet class provided by an external company is subsidised too so is £1.00 per class

We do live in an area of low income; mass unemployment and very very wide diversity. I'm not sure if all this means they get more funding.

Margot, ours is ran by a teacher volunteer and a parent volunteer. Then kids just pay for what they eat (toast 10p, cereal 20p, juice, 20p, etc)

Thanks. I did think it must be related to areas of low income etc, which obviously I don't begrudge at all.

Margot when my child went to Breakfast club I was told I could claim tax credits as it is childcare to pay towards the cost of said club.
The club had a registered number so I could do it, but we didn't use it that much so wasn't worth it when we were doing different amount of days each week.
Maybe see if you can claim tax credits for the childcare to help with costs?

My kids have /do go to breakfast club every day. Even if my plans for that day include sitting on my arse watching Netflix.

They like it, its free (I'm in wales), it suits me to not have to negotiate the school gates at 8.50 and so that's what we do.

Thanks PeanutButter.

If your child doesn't need to go to breakfast club every day then I would not send her every day.

I'm glad to hear do many positive replies here. I've been feeling so guilty as when my son starts school next year he'll do breakfast club and then after school care till 6pm every day. We don't have any choice but I worry that we are abandoning him. OP it sounds as if you're doing the right thing, a routine is much easier on children if not the parents:)