After school clubs

[HereBeFuckery]

Once again, primary school cancel a pre-arranged after school activity with 27 mins notice before the end of the school day. Last week, they notified us 12 minutes AFTER the end of the day that the club was cancelled and to collect children from the school office 'immediately'.

I get that clubs aren't childcare or guaranteed, but essentially, if you work (y'know, like most parents) you have to say 'no darling, you can't do X fun after school activity' because you, as a parent, would have to be free, not in a meeting and within five mins drive of school just in case they cancel at zero notice AGAIN.

Even a couple of hours would mean I could sort something out. In 20 mins I have no chance.

WIBU to make a formal complaint to governors about the piss poor communication?

@Tomorrowisalatterday sorry I couldn't tell! 😆

When my kids where primary school age I was always available during party's, clubs,sleepovers etc yes. Because I'm the parent. Some people forget that.

Now this can't be real, you cannot be that sad!

Obviously people rely on the activity happening as bo

You can't rely on them as childcare - you need a wraparound club or childminder.

I agree.

These clubs are cancelled last minute as an emergency had arisen and the parents have been told as soon as possible.

Any extra kids hanging around waiting for parents to collect them means that staff have to stay later.

It is not going to be a case that they knew all day but just couldn’t be bothered to let parents know.

It really depends on the school

No teachers are involved at all with our after school clubs, it's all TAs, who are paid extra. Some do it, some choose not to. And all of the clubs charge.

as booked!

In DS's school children can go to teatime club instead of a club is cancelled (which is rarely, because nobody would book them if they weren't reliable).

These clubs are cancelled last minute as an emergency had arisen and the parents have been told as soon as possible.

why is it different for an after school club though as opposed to a coding club?

Surely the line is the difference between an enrichment club that lasts about an hour, run by teachers or an external provider and a designated After School Club that runs every day until 5/6pm with pretty much the same format and is designed to benefit working parents.

The latter is obliged to deal with staff sickness, bad weather, other events at the school etc and provide the childcare somehow. The former isn’t obliged to be reliable childcare and can call parents to have their children if they need to.

If being available to ok be collect my child if to he are sick, frightened is being sad then I guess I am. Oh no sorry it's called being a responsible parent

So I need to pay for a childminder in case the club I've paid £10 a session for gets cancelled? 😆

The latter is obliged to deal with staff sickness, bad weather, other events at the school etc and provide the childcare somehow. The former isn’t obliged to be reliable childcare and can call parents to have their children if they need to.

In the schools I know both are paid for, why is only one obliged to be affected by bad weather?

I mean I've never experienced this in real life but interesting to hear the reasoning.

If there's bad weather there is limited space inside. Therefore paid for clubs are given priority.

If being available to ok be collect my child if to he are sick, frightened is being sad then I guess I am. Oh no sorry it's called being a responsible parent

What a load of tosh & you need to unclench. My eldest is sleeping over at his best friends on Friday, I'm going out as opposed to sitting by the phone or outside their house. Doesn't make me an irresponsible parent but of course you are free to do what you consider is best 🤣

Some of these parents are in for a shock when their kids start year 7. At that age they don't even notify you of a cancelled club, the kids just got told it's cancelled during the day and are free to go home at the normal time

@Sherrystrull

Therefore paid for clubs are given priority.

I've already said I've never known free clubs!

My dcs school charges more for the activity ones & plenty are inside already; book club, lego, coding, sewing, art, drama all inside.

Don't worry, after 20 odd years of being a parent I fully understand that the unexpected often happens. I do t feel right to leave my kid hanging.

It's obviously very school specific.

Don't worry, after 20 odd years of being a parent I fully understand that the unexpected often happens. I do t feel right to leave my kid hanging.

Yes I'm sure they have grown up well adjusted, just like you...

@yoyy and I've worked all my working life in schools and never been paid for enrichment clubs across a variety of settings.

Your school is clearly the exception and not the rule.

Some of these parents are in for a shock when their kids start year 7. At that age they don't even notify you of a cancelled club

Do you work in a school? Do your dc go to a very bad one? I've never known this professionally or personally but I'm lucky to have excellent schools in my area.

I'm amazed you've never heard of a free club.

Anyway, it'll be due to space availability, or suitable staff to run it.

Our ASC is run by on site TAs with plenty to step in so is never cancelled.

An outside agency runs football and there's no local staff to step in so it could be cancelled.

Considering several have great jobs and one at uni I be would say they have turned out just fine.

Actually it gets the highest grades in the area and is very supportive.

I'm amazed you've never heard of a free club.

I'm amazed you assumed all schools ran free clubs?

We use after school club for our DCs. That is childcare and is never cancelled (unless they close the whole school or something). The eldest one also does after school activities. These aren't childcare and do sometimes get cancelled. We have both booked on the same day, so either dc1 goes to their sports (or whatever) club and then to ASC where I collect them or if it's cancelled they go straight to ASC.

My point is you do have to book proper childcare as well as the activity club if you want to stay at work (as I have to do)