to expect after school care?

[BorisTrumpsHair]

I've been Googling and I can't find the information I need. I need help.

I'm SP work FT. 2 DC in primary school

I need to change my after school care (ASC) and was going to go back to using the schools after school facility. Our school uses a provision at another primary school (we are in London) and has a "walking bus" policy to get children there.

So today I contact the ASC provider to register them to be told they no longer collect children from my school and I have to get the kids there myself.

My school says the walking bus cost X amount and they can't afford it!!!

So now our school has no ASC. I thought they had a statutory duty to provide it but I can't find the relevant evidence I need - probably because I'm in a bit of a flap!!

It seems most of the families in our school have a SAHP and there are very few FT SP's like me. I feel so alone in this.

AIBU to expect the school to provide ASC? What is the statutory duty my school has?

[haggisaggis]

How old are the kids? Can you arrange a long term deal with a taxi company? Years ago when my dc went to ASC it was at a school about 4 miles from their own one. The minibus to take them there was out of action for over 6 months so they arranged with a taxi company to take them. (may not be practical in London though)

[BorisTrumpsHair]

hell no Backie I WORK

[BorisTrumpsHair]

I would not trust a taxi company to do that I I doubt my school would release a 6yo to a taxi driver even with her older sister.
I would never do that.

[AndWhat]

If the hours for the club fit work is your childminder able to collect from school and drop your dc off at the club for a small charge? Or could you offer a local mum a few quid to do that run for you?

[BorisTrumpsHair]

I can look for a CM who will work until 6.30. But I was hoping to use ASC which is half the cost.

New CM will be same cost if not more than the old CM - so £200 per week. In my world that is a shit ton of money.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

I can't believe that no CMers in your area work past 6pm!
There seems to be some kind of embargo around here.

[Mittens1969]

I think the issue is that the OP had no warning that this was going to happen, that's what she's angry about, understandably. Hope you find a solution, OP.

[IrregularCommentary]

It's only for under 12s, but the tax free childcare scheme is pretty good tbh. I use it for my 1yr old and it saves us around £100 a month on her FT nursery fees.

Childminder has to be registered, but other than that, it's relatively painless.

[Sallycinnamum]

I feel your pain OP and those who don't use childcare will have very little sympathy for your predicament.

I found childcare when my DC went to school a hundred times more complicated and after school nannies are few and far between even in London.

My DC school have an excellent breakfast and after school club. If it closed I'd be up shit creek and I have a DH who works from home half the week.

After school provision is dire in the UK.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

thank you Mittens yes I was expecting to use ASC tomorrow and it's come as a shock that the school can withdraw it and not tell us.

[BoomBoomBoomBoooom]

Well if you knew BORIS then why are you asking "AIBU to expect after school care?"

[BackieJerkhart]

Would you be comfortable paying a local student to collect DC from school and take to ASC?

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

I can see why you are stressed OP. No after school care after 6pm here either but luckily we have an ASC at school.

It is very, very difficult sometimes and I know lots of parents have had to end up reducing their hours which of course is not always possible.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

cheers Sally.
I was considering moving schools at the beginning of the year for other reasons, to a school with fantastic ASC - it was a massive attraction. I decided not to.

But if I had know our schools new policy re ASC I would not have hesitated in changing. Now it will be a lot more disruptive for my children to change. and that is upsetting.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

High schools finish after primary schools don't they?

[BorisTrumpsHair]

I already work less hours than my colleagues - I finish one hour earlier than them every day. Leaving earlier really is't an option

[MrLovebucket]

Hi Boris

Does the school have a Facebook, or similar, page where you could post about sharing costs to the ASC with other parents? If the ASC was quite popular then this might be an option (apologies if you've already tried).

Are there any local colleges where students would be studying childcare and might be able to take on a couple of hours at MW?

Is the other school (with the ASC attached) as good as the one your DC go to at the moment? Might be worth considering it if it makes financial sense.

Hope you get it sorted, it sounds a right PITA.

[Willow2017]

How long does your child minder have your child a day to be paying £200 a week for after school care?
Seems a huge amount for around 3 hours a day.

People round here use local taxis to ferry thier their kids to child minders. They are all checked and work for schools too so no worries using them.

Tbh school is there to educate your child not provide childcare.
You can try child care vouchers or tax free childcare but if you dont apply for tax credits then you are limiting your options and that's not the schools fault.

[Thirtyrock39]

Childcare after 6pm is a nightmare I only know of one cm who does that and she's not one wed ever use
If you literally can't get anything surely your job has to fit in around the childcare? I've worked in a range of jobs and levels from barmaid to teacher and employers usually offer some flexibility

[BackieJerkhart]

High schools finish after primary schools don't they?

I meant a college or university student. many have a timetable that would allow them to take a half an hour to escort your DC to ASC. Or you could advertise for a parent/carer who was already taking DC from school to ASC to take yours too for a small fee.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

Thaks MrLove

Willow that is the going rate around here. £20 each per child per day

[Sk77]

I'm confused why posters say school have to provide extra funds for clubs? us parents foot the bill?

[BorisTrumpsHair]

Seems a huge amount for around 3 hours a day.
You think?

[ShastaBeast]

I don't get the lack of emphathy on this issue. It may not be a statutory requirement but it bloody should be, this kinda shit is fucking over the careers of women across the country. Investment in quality childcare would pay off quickly and massively in economic terms. It's this selfish, I'm alright jack, attitude that is preventing progress. During the labour government there was a real drive to open up schools as community hubs, providing various services and generating additional funding. There is a big demand in our school but no provision, therefore other providers are reaping the profits and are more expensive having to pay rent for their premises. Luckily the head teacher is about to depart and some fresh thinking management is long overdue.

We also seem to have a lot of stuff targeted towards parents who are always available with no consideration for full time working parents - I was a SAHM and now work PT. I suspect some parents, mostly mums, aren't working/as much in part due to lack of decent provision and inclusion for working parents. Even the other mums don't make effort to include full time working parents in class events like contributing to teachers' gifts.

[BackieJerkhart]

£20-£25 per child per day is standard round here for afterschool care with a CMer.