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?

[BorisTrumpsHair]

FT childcare in holidays is a lot more than £200 pw.
And I still have to collect at 6 or even earlier - in those weeks I have to leave work early to do it.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

the ASC is still running but at another school.
The walking bus has been stopped.

I WORK - I don't have a bloody clue what other parents use/d ASC as I don't pick my kids up from school.

[gnushoes]

Can you ask the school to share contacts for other parents using the ASC so you can sort something between you?

[retreatwhispering]

This sounds so stressful.

OP ring round all the SAHP parents you know and trust and offer to pay them to take your DC. SAHPs are often very happy to make some extra cash. Ring all the parents of kids going to ASC at the other school and ask them too. Try to get something sorted for the next few days whilst you get something longer term in place. Call in any favours.

Can your oldest child go there alone? If she started school 6 years ago she must be 10.

Good luck!!

[BorisTrumpsHair]

time to go pick the DC up!

I started the day so well - then it went horribly wrong.

thanks to those who understood and know what I'm going though. The worst part about being single parent is going through crap like this on your own.

[retreatwhispering]

Sorry, just seen that you don't know the other parents. Ring the ASC, make clear that this is an emergency and ask them to give you some numbers. Take unpaid leave if you must to get this sorted. Go and see people in person (head at your school, head at other school, parents at the school gate who might be able to help).

[meditrina]

" When I went looking for that legislation today it has now disappeared!! They have done away with it."

I think it never existed, and it seems likely that you have conflated 'best practice' official guidance and what actually had the force of law.

Under New Labour, all schools were obliged to do was signpost services (ASCs, CMs etc) and evaluate local demand to inform their decisions on whether to add to provision.

As it never said when schools had to assess demand, and they tended to ask those attending the school (who had, pretty much by definiftion, solved the after-school conundrum) the assessed level of demand was artificially low and there was never the expansion that might have been the intention.

The school have acted appallingly in not informing users (and prospective users) of an important service that a change was planned for the autumn. Because I'm ready to beg good money they haven't only just decided this.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

I have a SAHP who is going to look after my DC for 2 days.
She is fab but she has very small flat and I don't want DC spending every day after school in a tiny space watching TV - they deserve a better life that that. It's OK for one or 2 days at end of the week but not every day.

They already can't do clubs because they can't do club AND childcare - fatal error, does not compute.

Its a partial solution, but not a long term solution.

I will get though this week. And look at alternative school tomorrow.

[Butterymuffin]

Yes, I work FT too and I wouldn't necessarily know either, but in your position I'd start finding out..

School in my experience won't be that helpful. I would contact the ASC directly and say you want to keep (go back to?) using them and are there any options for you and the parents from X school? Ask them whether they could speak to those other parents about a possible taxi share or whatever else. It's the transport link that's the problem, so look for a way round that. Is there someone local who would consider walking the kids over as a childcare job? Childcare student etc?

[MaggieSimpson44]

Talk to the head teacher of your school and ask if she'd approach the staff in school and see if anybody would be willing to walk your kids to the ASC each day for a fee. Our school has no ASC and a parent was in a similar predicament. A couple of staff were happy to make a private arrangement.

[Sallycinnamum]

willow I pay for my DC to attend after school club so I'm not getting it for free.

In many other countries a decent after school and breakfast club is a mandatory requirement for schools.

[chloworm]

This makes me so angry. My sister had to give up a really good job that she loved because there was literally no-one else to take/pick up her daughter from school. The school did not offer clubs and there was not a single childminder in the area. So bang went her career. I currently work 2 days a week (the only days the school has places in the b/f and a/s clubs). I want to increase my hours but I just can't. So few employers will accommodate 10-2pm hours. There are no childminders. There are so many grandparents here that help out, but my 2 retired parents just won't entertain it. I have tried to get students to help (we live near 2 universities) but I have been let down time and time again. This is happening to too many women and needs to be addressed. A career is simply not a viable option for so many women with children. I wish someone had told me before I got into a mountain of debt getting a university degree! Good luck OP, I hope you manage to get things sorted.

[Lethaldrizzle]

I don't understand the anher. It is not the states responsibility to provide after school child care. All of us who choose to work or not have to sort out our own child care issues.

[Daftmare]

So it's a choice between working and supporting your family ( but being reliant on cms etc) or not working and being on benefits? Don't be ridiculous Lethal

[chloworm]

But what if you can't sort out childcare Lethaldrizzle? What if there are no childminders, friends, family, clubs that you can use? Should women be warned not to have children in case of the above eventuality 4 years after a baby is born? Or perhaps women need to be told don't bother getting an education because you won't need it anyway? I was sold the lie at school that I could have a good career and a family. I have a few friends in France, Belgium and Norway. The subsidised high-quality state run creches/after school clubs ensure that more women are in work if they want to.

"All of us who choose to work or not..." Sometimes there is no choice. The circumstances don't allow it.

[Lethaldrizzle]

Daft - I never said anything about benefits! . Life is about making choices. If you want to work most of have s have to sort out childcare. Sometimes it's bloody difficult but it can be done.

[wheredoesallthetimego]

Could you pay a TA to walk him to the ASC?

[BorisTrumpsHair]

worm this absolutely seems to affect women and their career/job more than men. It's not an issue for one single father I know. It's the mums who are doing all the juggling.

In fact this situation has been made worse by XP withdrawing the little after school involvement he had which increased MY childcare bill by £240 a month. He refused to cover the cost, and threw in several days of verbal and emotional abuse for good measure, as I dared to ask him to cover the increase. The additional £240 has tipped the balance re childcare costs for me really.

Then came the 6 o'clock pick up enforcement. Then when I went for plan B the school has pulled the rug out of under that plan.

So now we need to move schools. Hopefully there will be places available. I will find out tomorrow.

I don't have a choice whether I work or not. And I'm happy to work and support my family. I don't take tax credits and I am financially independent. Happy to stay that way.

Affordable accessible adequate wrap around childcare is vital and I can't magic it out of thin air.

[wheredoesallthetimego]

Does your class have an email or whatsapp list? If not maybe time to suggest one? That way you can stay in touch even though you're not at the school gates.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

Why would I want to do that? I need affordable reliable safe childcare. I don't want to be seeking favours I can't return day after day and I wouldn't do that to my kids. They need and deserve a bit of security.

[Believeitornot]

What is your job? Can you change jobs?

Can you havea private arrangement with anyone at the ASC for them to bring your dcs home?

I would be wary of moving schools unless you really had to. My dc moved school and it has taken him a while to settle down.

I have to say I absolutely hate the fact that it is incredibly difficult to manage a career and childcare without a massive pot of gold. It's disgusting that the government has done not enough to support this. It reminds me I must write to my mp to complain. I think we should have a slightly longer school day and much better and subsidised childcare.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

Sadly they are not obliged

You need to use local Facebook page and other mediums to find after school child minder

Sorry 😐 t really sucks

[BorisTrumpsHair]

I've been in my job 20 years and I love it. I would not be able to find anything anywhere near as family friendly as this in my industry.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

I mean one that you pay for not favours

It's shitty as hell but as a lone parent you might get some childcare support ?

Or move school but that's a huge upheaval

[wheredoesallthetimego]

If you were in touch with the other parents you could find out if any others have the same issue and maybe share a babysitter/taxi with a regular driver to take them from school to ASC.