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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to be abit fed up- wraparound childcare, what's happening at your child's school?

48 replies

WillyNilly00 · 07/10/2020 19:46

So I run a normally very busy before and after school club at a school. Since being back in September I have received continuous "complaints" from parents when I had never received one before in 5 years.
Parents are complaining about the following:
Children remaining in their class bubbles
Children having to sit down
Not all the children being able to go outside everyday (I can only take 3 bubbles outside eachday, I have 10!)
Children not having all the toys they want everyday
Children sometimes being sat at a table on their own
Lack of flexibility (you cannot cancel sessions and get a refund due to limited spaces)
Not getting all the childcare they require due to lack of spaces (I have a lengthy waiting list)

Parents tell me these things aren't happening at other school clubs they know of and honestly I'm getting really quite fed up. The children are all seemingly happy and busy, any "I'm bored" moments are met with a million options of what to do next!

Sorry its not an aibu but I would love to know what's going on in other before and after school clubs.

OP posts:
Stella8686 · 07/10/2020 19:54

My mum runs an after school and breakfast club.

I work in a different school that also has a breakfast and after school club

They both have very similar set ups to what you describe.

If you're nearly full and busy then surely it's their choice wether that want to use the service or not.

I would limit contact with parents

Don't chat don't engage say it's the schools rules not yours and don't get involved

See if your helper can meet them at the door for a week so you don't have to talk to them

Sorry to the parents but it's tough shit if you don't like the rules 🤷‍♀️

Stella8686 · 07/10/2020 19:54

They're lucky to have the option to be honest!

MillieEpple · 07/10/2020 19:55

That must be demoralising. Our after school club is struggling financially. They needed an extra room and extra staff. then so many parent are working from home or lost their job they dont need it so its not full. The children are really liking having their own spaces and sets of equipment. I think people are grateful its running so not moaning

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken · 07/10/2020 19:58

Breakfast club is in 2 year group bubbles - the only activities are crafty type ones.

Afterschool club is an independent provider at school. Since last week they are all in one group so no smaller bubbles. They can now mix freely.
Before that it was pretty crap because they had to stay in a year group bubble and some children were on their own, which really isn’t on.

They were getting them all outside every day, weather permitting, even when in the smaller bubbles.

TattyMcBab · 07/10/2020 19:59

Infant school run club isn’t taking any juniors into it unless they’re siblings of infant school children. All in class bubbles. Must be costing a fortune to run and numbers don’t seem very high.

Oysterbabe · 07/10/2020 20:01

Our after school club is a private off site one. They all mix freely and play outside as they wish.
It depends a bit on the age of the children but I wouldn't be impressed if my reception age child was made to sit at a table alone.

Findahouse21 · 07/10/2020 20:01

Our school aren't running theirs and it's a big struggle for parents

DominaShantotto · 07/10/2020 20:02

Independent provider who did the wrap around at my kids' school pulled out 3 days before the start of term. No wrap around care, local childminders all full.

Original poster
WillyNilly00 · 07/10/2020 20:06

Thanks so much for your replies everyone!

Luckily we have a large hall so are all in one room so even children at a table on their own, do talk to the children around them. No child is ever alone for long and obviously we ensure they are busy/entertained.

The children have actually taken to it amazingly and I cannot fault them at all, on the whole they just seem to be so glad to be back at school!

OP posts:
Fuzzyspringroll · 07/10/2020 20:07

We have separate year group "bubbles" before school...as in, they are meant to stat and play in their group's zone on the playground.
The rules do not apply for our after school club. The kids mix freely and we run normal after-school club sessions in addition to activity sessions (karate, ballet, fun dance, art, chess, etc.). We are a four-form-entry school and have a large number of pupils in after-school care. We are also very flexible with additional spaces. We are abroad and it's an independent school with a campus out in the sticks, though. :)

Original poster
WillyNilly00 · 07/10/2020 20:09

Also to add, we could certainly never mix the children, we are now capped at 35 and it would certainly feel morally wrong (not that the school would ever allow it anyway).

OP posts:
StellaGib · 07/10/2020 20:11

No breakfast club for infants, only juniors - they are sat on their class table and have breakfast brought to them and can read or draw afterwards.

No after school club as there aren't enough staff to keep the classes separate.

Cherryup · 07/10/2020 20:11

Well I think your parents are bloody lucky, you are doing your best in difficult circumstances.

Our school has stopped all before and after school clubs, my friend has had to drop 12 hours a week from work, that's a huge loss of income over a month.

Leylafrenchie · 07/10/2020 20:38

My daughter school has had a lack of uptake in breakfast club.
It’s only her and 2 others on a Monday (only day she goes). They even sent an email out about it.

After school clubs are running as normal.

Leylafrenchie · 07/10/2020 20:38

^ primary setting

Nootkah · 07/10/2020 20:40

We have breakfast club (run by school) and after school club (run on school site but by independent company).

In both cases the children have to remain seated on year group specific tables. Breakfast is table service only (!) Its a small school and this does sometimes mean that my daughter is the oy one on her table.

The staff are managung it really well, wirh the rables set out in a horseshoe so everyone can see everyone else, and there's a mixture of "all join in" acrivities like bingo, quizzes and simon says, as well as craft.

To be honest I'm thankful our school are running this, as many of my colleagues children's schools arent.

I think your complainy parents should get over themselves. If rhey dont like it they can make other arrangements. You're doing the best you can. If its in school, yeae group bubbles cant mix, end of. No amount of complaining is going to change that.

Nootkah · 07/10/2020 20:41

@Fuzzyspringroll ybat would be vintrary to guidelines in the uk - year group bubbles mustn't mix at school.

IgnoranceIsStrength · 07/10/2020 20:43

DS is in year group bubbles to a table and they literally stare at a screen for all of breakfast club and all of after school club. No toys, no colouring and very bored but he has a friend luckily and seems ok with it. He has said how boring it is compared to last year and I understand it is a bit needs must with COVID however I do feel that the weekly regulars could have their own bag of lego or tray of pencils or just anything to break up screen staring

MrSnowmansCarrotStickNose · 07/10/2020 20:44

Our school has only just started breakfast club again (with no actual breakfast). It has to be booked in advance and preferably paid for on a Monday. Children sit in their bubbles. I can't remember what form of entertainment they have, maybe worksheets. It is however more than twice the price which parents weren't happy with.

Rachellow · 07/10/2020 20:45

school isn't running any after school or breakfast clubs. The clubs that collect seem to be creating school bubbles instead of maintaining class bubbles as they collect from about 3/4 different schools but trying to keep them all outside.

samosamimosa · 07/10/2020 20:47

All the children can play out together but it's a small ASC as most families have one SAHP, when they are inside they sit at a table per bubble.

Sauvignonblanket · 07/10/2020 20:47

At our primary wraparound (private provider on the school site)

  • year group bubbles with specific key person before and after school
  • outside as much as possible
  • toys rotated so each bubble gets one set per week
  • lots more sitting at tables, drawing and crafts

They're being as flexible as possible on changing days and arrangements (within reason). I don't think people are complaining - we're extremely grateful they're here.

NeonBella · 07/10/2020 20:50

I would've been more than happy with your set up op.
Unfortunately since school has resumed my old breakfast/after school club has had to reduce numbers and as result of this have increased the cost.
I now can't afford to use it despite being offered a place.

trilbydoll · 07/10/2020 20:51

ASC is keeping them in year group bubbles for juniors and the infants are one bubble because there are not as many of them. Normal flexibility around booking, it is generally not completely full.

They are either all outside or all inside and the hall / playground is marked out with a zone for each bubble.

Tbh they have never gone in for toys in a big way, they have craft stuff but generally they play games like grandma's footsteps.

MarjorytheTrashHeap · 07/10/2020 20:54

I work in a school and my DC go to breakfast and after-school club at their school. In my school it is normal hours but the children sit in bubbles. At my DC's school it is operating at reduced hours, children in bubbles, no toys, just colouring and films.