School wrap-around - what do we do ?

[Oneanddone88]

Hi,
DD (4) just started reception. I chose the school based on local reputation plus the availability of breakfast club and after school club to facilitate us still working. The school explained to us in a meeting that the after school club runs daily.
Fast forward to a week before term in September and the club (who are a private company hired by the school), says they aren't running due to a lack of staff.
Panic stations as we have no local family and not huge flexibility with our jobs. Partner WFH twice a week so collects then and I work 4 days. So we needed after school club for two afternoons.
The schools response was 'that's a shame but nothing we do'.
We've had to juggle it with another local parent who collects on the two days we needed and we take her DS to school every day. Workable in the very short term but not long term as she is having to leave work super early those days and meet important meetings.
I've emailed the school a few times asking for updates and it's all very 'no nothing sorry '.

I'm at the point where I'm wondering do we move schools to one where they have nursery wraparound.
Also one childminder serves the school we chose, and she's full with a waiting list.

What has also annoyed me is that when we went to info afternoon with the school where they told us the club runs daily , that it wasn't even true. The after-school club told us they ran for two days a week last academic year , and not even the days we needed.

Has anyone else experienced similar before? I feel very stressed. I changed my job of 12 years due to DD starting school and wonder now why I bothered as we're in a worse logistical situation thanks to this.

There's nothing from the club or school about when this is going to be resolved.

As others have pointed out, it isn't actually the school's responsibility, but you were nevertheless given poor information and now they're washing their hands, which obviously isn't great because you made decisions based on that information, as anyone reasonably would.

Availability of before/after school provision is one of the things we considered when sending DS private. Is that an option? Obviously prices vary hugely from area to area, but when we added up what we'd have been spending on wraparound care, lunches, clubs, stationery and equipment etc (all of which is included in our fees), plus the added benefits of smaller class sizes and better facilities/extra curricular activities, it was a no brainer for us to choose private.

I would change schools one with care, nothing will change here now.

What an entitled view! The schools job is to provide your child with an education not childcare.

The school don't have an " urgency" in trying to help sort out child care provision as that's not their role. They would have an urgency in trying to find a class teacher or other educational staff.

Pinning your hopes on one service that you hadn’t booked a place at long before your child stated school was a mistake.

You definitely need to contact your local FIS. This is not the school’s problem to solve! There may be nurseries that provide before and after school care that you’re not aware of and I would be doing everything I could to not have to change schools in your position

Can't afford private. Private nurseries around here only offer AFC to specific schools
I think we'll have to look around, it's really upsetting.

Ah sorry - I thought you were making a general statement that wraparound childcare is not something a school would provide!

Schools are educators not babysitters who need to cater for parents working hours. Why on earth is childcare ever a schools responsibility?!

Flexible working requests at work for you and your DH?

word of warning - start planning holiday care now, this too can be a challenge especially the Christmas holidays. Expensive and in short supply.

Fortunately I'm off in holidays as I'm a teacher.

If there are schools that do offer wrap around and that have spaces then yes, do move ASAP. Your dc has only been there a short time and although it will be disruptive in the short term will be worth it.

Also look to see if there are any other families to do a an after school nanny share with - have you looked into the companies that provide students as after school nannies?

Truth is that childcare is a hugely unappreciated profession. In my area nursery places, childminders, playgroups, breakfast clubs are all very difficult to get into. People who work in the sector and woefully underpaid and undervalued - good places are as rare as hens teeth. The places are booked up with big waiting lists. People have their unborn children on the waiting lists.

Until we as a country start to appreciate the essential work that childcare workers do by paying them a decent wage then things will not get any better. I am waiting with interest top see how on earth the Tory promise of free childcare places for all is going to work, Sounds a great vote winner, but it will be impossible in practice.

Hire a childminder/nanny. Look online. There is definitely more then one childminder in your whole area or you will find one that can travel to you if minding at your house.

No, if you live in an urban area with a choice of schools, you will definitely find one where they provide wraparound care. And it will actually benefit your children, because their friends parents are more likely to be working too and be on the same page about playdates etc.

I’d move schools tbh, especially if your DD just started. I appreciate it’s not the school’s responsibility but equally I really sympathise with your situation. We have the same issue, after school / holiday care is only available if the numbers are high enough to make it financially viable. The lady who runs the ASC says they simply can’t continue to run at a loss and
I get that, they need to pay their staff and they have bills too. Thankfully DS is in his last year and I wfh 3 days a week.

I disagree. Our school had a private provision which went in to liquidation. The school set up its own provision. With all funds going back in to the school. They realise that a school without wraparound care is not a viable school

I live in an area with fairly high unemployment, so there isn't the same demand for afc provision

It's not their responsibility but they have taken it upon themselves to provide information and answer questions about this device all of which has turned out to be wrong.

That's shitty and incompetent.

Ours has been full for years so lots use a child minder

I agree with this. Start looking for a school with an established, reliable wraparound provision. They do exist.

Because parents need to work. So if a school has no wrap around and no childminders catering to it then working parents cannot use the school. Therefore numbers would likely drop and the school would close. It is 100% the school’s responsibility to be a viable option for parents. The school doesn’t have to provide the childcare themselves, though many do. But they do need to source a private company to do it for them

Presumably the school didn't know the private provider was going to close- which they probably did because it was running at a loss if it has gone from full time to 2 days to none.

Ours is booked through the school. It’s the same system we use to pay from trips, lunches and book parents evenings.

Afterschool nannies do not grow on trees - we looked for one when DS started school, and they all wanted full time hours.

I also think it’s a possible way to make a lot of money if the demand is there (which, to be fair, it sounds like it may not in the OP’s case). We pay over £15 per session, and the providers website says the ratio is 1:15. 15x15= 225 per day per adult working. She gets some toast and fruit and yogurt included but nothing that would cost more than a pound or two per child. If the school owns the hall so doesn’t incur much expense in running the club beyond staffing costs, it seems to me there is a fair profit to be made there. Assuming they can get staff I guess…

I’m genuinely baffled what answers you’re looking for from this thread as if you’re a teacher, you should be well aware the school are in no way responsible for ensuring there is AFC at the school. You also knew in June you had been given duff information about how long the wraparound offering was available but still proceeded with the place.

In your shoes, I’d move schools to somewhere that suits your family needs.