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?

[llangennith]

BorisTrumpsHair apologies for my post. You seem to be doing all you can to survive. I wish you well.

[missymayhemsmum]

DD goes to an after school club at a local nursery, they send one of the staff round to pick the kids up from school school in a local taxi. The ASC at school closed as not viable. London may be different, but could you arrange with a taxi driver you trust and the ASC to do the pickup? Loads of rural kids go to school by taxi after all.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

Lannie thanks for that link. I looked last night but it all seems a bit like doublespeak to me. Will look again later with a clearer head.

Wheels that is truly appalling. I'm glad you managed to work it out.

Ll

[BorisTrumpsHair]

Taxi driver I trust
What the what what now?
This is central London.
And I really don't see using a daily taxi as part of a long term affordable childcare plan.

I will find a solution. Of course I will and it will not involve daily taxis or finding mythical local teens who want an afternoon walk in the rain and who absolutely will turn up even when something better is on offer.

I WORK. Both myself and the DC need a viable solution that is trustworthy reliable and affordable.

[retreatwhispering]

The thing that enrages me about threads like this is that the fathers concerned just get on with their lives unhindered whilst the mother races around putting out fires. Society does very little to make fathers take actual day to day responsibility for their kids.

You really have my sympathy, Boris. It's not okay that you are dealing with more than 50 percent of the stress and responsibility here. You sound like the kind of person who will get it sorted. Good luck.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

YYY retreat. But when any request for help is followed by an avalanche of abuse it's best to just crack on.

Dc have 2 working full time co-parents.
Only 1 has to pay for ASC.
THe child maintenance he pays doesn't come close to half the ASC even.

[Tanith]

Surely, at £12 an hour, that isn't a lot cheaper than the childminder?
I would check that the service provided is the same - meals, for example. The training requirements, for example, are far lower: the first aid alone is half that of the professional childcare requirement.

I'm not sure why the childminder is considered too expensive (for more than one child in London) and the student nanny agency is regarded as a cheap option.

I also don't think you can blame the school. As budgets are cut, we're seeing more and more extra curricular services disbanded because schools can't afford it any more.

Childminder numbers have dropped drastically. Many stopped doing after school care because they couldn't complete with the after school clubs, which were often subsidised. Now that after school clubs are struggling and folding, there seems to be a lack of provision to take their place and I think parents are going to see much higher bills and fewer options.

[Butterymuffin]

Yes, we get it, you work. I know you were quoting that ironically, at least to start with. As I said before, many of us do and are genuinely sympathetic to your situation. And are actually trying to help, unlike the DC's dad etc. You seem quite dismissive of that. But that's no doubt because you WORK, so you crack on.

[wheredoesallthetimego]

you have mentioned once or twice that you WORK

so do I
so do many of the women on this thread
I've used various solutions including local teenagers to fill various holes over the years

if you're definite you want to change school then fine, but no need to pour scorn on perfectly workable solutions that people have dared to suggest.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

yes the WORK is an ironic reference to a previous very funny thread.

where getting taxis unaccompanied in not a workable solution for me.

I'm not pouring scorn on anyone and I'm not asking for a million suggestions to fix the problem. I am fixing the problem. I really don't believe most people are happy to entrust the day to day care of their young children to random people. Certainly in the area I live in I don't know any families that do this. If you want to do that great, but rejecting that option for my DC is not pouring scorn on anyone.



Anyway its a bight new day, I've met with the other school, they have places for both children and the transfer is in action.

We will go to a new well managed school, with 4 times the outdoor space, lovely staff and children, my DC can go to ASC on site every day and also do a club/activity every day after school if they want too also.

I will have to pick them up for 6pm, but as the school is much closer to my work this is perfectly viable. And the ASC will be half the cost for me - so it's all ended up as a winning situation for us all.

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

Great news OP .

[BorisTrumpsHair]

it really is.

[wheredoesallthetimego]

ah, it was an ironic reference to workzilla!
apologies - I thought you might be a bit like her.......!
glad it is all sorted

[Butterymuffin]

I knew it was a reference, but I think the irony started to get lost as your replies went on. Anyway, I'm pleased you have a solution to the problem now.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

oh that's fantastic news!!!! well done OP !!!!!

[BorisTrumpsHair]

yes workzilla

Even in the middle of a really stressful time I do try and keep a bit of humour about me - it helps with the keeping of my sanity.

I feel so massively relieved today. A wee bit of stress about the DC's transition of course, but I'm sure they will be fine and love the new school, clubs, and after school care too.

I'll have to buy new uniforms etc this month, but the savings on childcare will cover that, and next month I'll have a lot less costs.

[MrsPottsTeaCosy]

Glad you've got it sorted op. It pisses me off that all this stress mainly falls on the shoulders of women

[BorisTrumpsHair]

I'm sitting at WORK in tears. (Luckily this is OK at my WORK).

Its the right move, its a good move etc but still we will be saying goodbye to some wonderful people. Its the end of something I wasn't expecting to end at all 24 hours ago.

I hate change. Now I've just got to hold it together for the DC.

[retreatwhispering]

Hey, well done OP!! Sounds like a fantastic change for all of you.

[BoffinMum]

To be fair though, the new school sounds a lot better for many things, not just ASC. It's going to upsetting now but soon you will probably be wondering why you didn't move earlier.

[Myheartbelongsto]

I've experienced this hell op so you have my sympathy. If I lived neat you I would do this for you for free!!

[BorisTrumpsHair]

I agree Boffin - it's a process & its all better on the other side.

I've had a walk at lunchtime and have re-calibrated myself a little.

[BorisTrumpsHair]

myheart and everyone who has been kind and sympathetic

[herethereandeverywhere]

Just checking in and 'yay!' for your news!

Change is rarely easy but this looks like a great result for you all in the long term - I hope things go smoothly from now on.

[Myheartbelongsto]

No problem at all op, and happy for you now its sorted but you and your children could have done without a new school I'm sure!

Hope they settle in and you never look back x