After school club alternatives

Sporkle99 · 2023-09-06T09:40:03+00:00

I am a lone parent whose child has just started school. He is on a waiting list for the after school club. I work 7:45-2.45 then make up the rest of my full time hours in the evening. If there is a meeting at work that's important I need to find after school care for my son. I was a little naive to think I could just book after school club in advance ad hoc but apparently it is always full. Will a childminder do ad hoc hours? (Not that I can even find one nearby as I've tried!) or will I potentially be looking at having to book full time after school club and just put him in it so I won't have any issues with work? (I know this seems like a completely mad idea!)

Nevermind31 · 06/09/2023 10:42

sometimes afterschool clubs or childminders will accept as hoc bookings (usually of children that go on other days) IF there is availability. If you want certainty you will need to pay. No one is going to hold a space if they can fill it (ideally full time)

NiceViper · 06/09/2023 10:43

I think FT ASC or FT childminder is your best bet.

Or find a babysitter who can do those hours and does not mind ad hoc work (sixth former or university student, maybe, depending on their contact hours) but remember that if you want someone to keep a slot free for you (ie not take other work or book their own events in the slot, you'll need to pay a good retainer)

SnapdragonToadflax · 06/09/2023 10:44

Mine is starting next week and will be going to a childminder because the after-school club is full (I rang to book the day after we got confirmation of the school - have since discovered others booked when they applied in December 😞). You might be lucky to find someone now though, and probably not ad hoc - mine is signed up per term.

If you work full time though, surely it would be better to get your work done while he's in school/after-school club and not have to work in the evenings? I did enough working with mine at home during lockdowns to never, ever want to have to juggle the two again.

Whawillthefuturebring · 06/09/2023 10:44

I doubt it. Most places run to maximum capacity as there is very little profit in childcare and if they didn’t they would be making very little money.

Original poster

Sporkle99 · 06/09/2023 10:45

NiceViper · 06/09/2023 10:43

I think FT ASC or FT childminder is your best bet.

Or find a babysitter who can do those hours and does not mind ad hoc work (sixth former or university student, maybe, depending on their contact hours) but remember that if you want someone to keep a slot free for you (ie not take other work or book their own events in the slot, you'll need to pay a good retainer)

I would just feel so bad sending him to breakfast club and after school club. 7:30-5 would be a very long day and it would also be expensive. £75 a week. I'll keep looking for a childminder as that could work, I just can't seem to find one that does ad hoc. I'll also look into babysitter idea as that's not something I had thought of.

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Original poster

Sporkle99 · 06/09/2023 10:47

SnapdragonToadflax · 06/09/2023 10:44

Mine is starting next week and will be going to a childminder because the after-school club is full (I rang to book the day after we got confirmation of the school - have since discovered others booked when they applied in December 😞). You might be lucky to find someone now though, and probably not ad hoc - mine is signed up per term.

If you work full time though, surely it would be better to get your work done while he's in school/after-school club and not have to work in the evenings? I did enough working with mine at home during lockdowns to never, ever want to have to juggle the two again.

That's what I do with breakfast club, hence why I start fairly early. I wanted to finish early so he can continue with his swimming lessons and gymnastics clubs. 7:30-5 feels like a long day for him.

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jannier · 06/09/2023 10:54

Sporkle99 · 06/09/2023 10:45

I would just feel so bad sending him to breakfast club and after school club. 7:30-5 would be a very long day and it would also be expensive. £75 a week. I'll keep looking for a childminder as that could work, I just can't seem to find one that does ad hoc. I'll also look into babysitter idea as that's not something I had thought of.

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Your unlikely to find ad-hoc most childminders would do just after school and it's like going home with friends time to chill a friendly adults if your upset and playmates. Most will charge a session rate some by the hour needed....you can use tax free or UC if eligible.

BringOnSummerHolidays · 06/09/2023 10:54

Childminder also has ratios for year R children. I remember mine told me it's easier once they are over 8 or something. They can only safely allow a maximum number of different age groups. If the childminder is at full capacity, then they can't add another 5 year on that day but possibly a 10/11 yo (year 6).

Hope that explain things about flexibility about childminders. School after school clubs won't be run like this.

PuttingDownRoots · 06/09/2023 10:57

Is your job flexible enough that you could block out a couple of days for meetings from 3pm, but put him in ASC/childminder the other days?

Original poster

Sporkle99 · 06/09/2023 11:00

PuttingDownRoots · 06/09/2023 10:57

Is your job flexible enough that you could block out a couple of days for meetings from 3pm, but put him in ASC/childminder the other days?

I've got him on a waiting list for the two days I usually have meetings where I physically need to be there as I work from home, we are number 6 and number 9 on both of those. Applied as soon as the school place was confirmed but didn't hear back for a long time.

I'm hoping I can make friends with some of the other parents and we can tag team as I did this with nursery and it was a game changer! But this won't be instant and would only be if we actually got on and the kids did too.

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