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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School wrap-around - what do we do ?

414 replies

Oneanddone88 · 05/11/2023 09:52

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.

OP posts:
UndercoverCop · 05/11/2023 10:45

I understand your frustration, being told there is a daily ASC makes it sound like there's robust well used provision, albeit from a private company. If you knew it was only running two days a week you might've questioned the demand at the school and whether it would continue, and could've asked questions around that.
We use school based ASC, private provider but the staff seem to be TAs and mid day assistants from the school.
There is also one at a nearby soft play that collects from the school, I would never have thought a soft play would do ASC so it's worth contacting the LA to see if they have any information on after school provision

Original poster
Oneanddone88 · 05/11/2023 10:47

Yes I think as some of you have helpfully mentioned, the family information service might be some help. I will certainly get in touch with them too

OP posts:
Headingforholidays · 05/11/2023 10:47

DelphiniumBlue · 05/11/2023 10:34

It’s probably too late for you, in that it will take a long time to get another ASC provider up and running, but do contact the Head and cc in the chair of governors explains that the reason you will removing your child is the absence of wraparound care.
Each child attracts funding, and schools are competing for children. The school needs a proactive head to make some tough financial decisions, and they need to know that the absence of wrap around care will affect the number of pupils on the roll. Letters from you and other parents affected might give them the backup they need to push for this, and to establish whether wraparound care is financially viable.

But many schools are not competing for pupils. In our area every school is full and has long waiting lists - people are grateful to get any school place at all!

MILLYmo0se · 05/11/2023 10:48

Oneanddone88 · 05/11/2023 10:27

From brief chats with other parents , they were also relying on ASC but fortunately have local family help, so although not ideal, they've managed to make it work. There's definitely a need for the ASC
The other school we had on our list has full nursery wraparound, I'm feeling pretty regretful that we didn't choose it.
The point is , if we weren't misled by the school I'm the first instance we'd have never chosen this school.

But in June you were told by the provider themselves that they did have availability for the 2 day you wanted, or have I misunderstood? Regardless of what information the school gave you last school year no one knew the afterschool facility was going to cease operating this September until they announced it leaving you in the awful position you are now in. Its a weird system that you cant confirm with the provider until June if you have to confirm acceptance of the school place earlier but thats not the schools fault.
For now focus on fixing the problem rather than dwelling on how it happened. I would advertise for someone to collect him from school and take him the 2 days, might suit a student maybe, and look at moving schools as a long term solution.
I do understand you contacting the school btw, after all thet are the only ones that know if they are going to offer out the contract for care, but tbh there doesnt seem to be demand for it in your area.

KateyCuckoo · 05/11/2023 10:49

Notimeforaname · 05/11/2023 10:18

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.

That would be a nanny not a childminder.

FlippityFlippityFlop · 05/11/2023 10:51

For all those saying ASC is not the schools responsibility - we know it isn't - but it should be!
Let's be honest - most if not all working families (single parent and 2 parent) need it.

The 9-3 provision doesn't work for the modern day set up. And no, that doesn't mean that I think teachers should be doing it. It means that I think all schools should be providing an offering from 3-6 for children to do extra curricular activities (with funding from the government).

Gcsunnyside23 · 05/11/2023 10:53

Childcare is so tough. If there are no other available childminders in the area what about an informal arrangement with a trusted local parent?

Original poster
Oneanddone88 · 05/11/2023 10:53

@FlippityFlippityFlop I agree , society has changed considerably over the past 100 years and both parents usually work . People don't always live near relatives either.

OP posts:
Original poster
Oneanddone88 · 05/11/2023 10:54

I think I need to try and source some local people who I could trust.

OP posts:
KateyCuckoo · 05/11/2023 10:54

modgepodge · 05/11/2023 10:24

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…

Show quote history

My goodness there's a hell of a lot of expenses with providing childcare. It's nothing like you imagine!

Luxell934 · 05/11/2023 10:56

FlippityFlippityFlop · 05/11/2023 10:51

For all those saying ASC is not the schools responsibility - we know it isn't - but it should be!
Let's be honest - most if not all working families (single parent and 2 parent) need it.

The 9-3 provision doesn't work for the modern day set up. And no, that doesn't mean that I think teachers should be doing it. It means that I think all schools should be providing an offering from 3-6 for children to do extra curricular activities (with funding from the government).

You are clueless. Where are you going to get these staff to fill these roles? Teaching assistants in my school would NOT be willing to extend their day by 3 hours for the equivalent of about £6 an hour after tax, NI, etc Schools already struggle to recruit.

Darhon · 05/11/2023 10:57

Bluevelvetsofa · 05/11/2023 10:01

@Gymmum82 wrap around care is from private providers and is not the responsibility of the school. School is not child care and finding child care, whilst not straightforward, is the responsibility of the parents, not the school.

It was part of ofsted inspections a few years ago as actually it’s a necessary provision and society moved on about 3 decades ago. So actually, yes, schools are part of childcare and societally we need them to function as that to have enough economically active adults. Did you not pick up on that in covid at all?

schools are there to serve the economic requirements of the country in a number of different ways.

spanieleyes · 05/11/2023 10:57

But the funding schools get for pretty much anything never covers the actual costs, the nursery funded hours don't match the actual costs, the funding for school meals is less than the actual cost, the funding for EHCPs is less than the actual cost so what makes you think any funding given for after school care would match the costs of provision? Which means that the money would need to come from the school budget affecting the education of the children which IS their role!

margotrose · 05/11/2023 10:58

Oneanddone88 · 05/11/2023 10:44

@margotrose running twice a week for a year

But weren't they the two days you needed anyway or am I misreading?

I get it's frustrating that you no longer have ASC but ultimately it's not the schools fault the provider stopped offering it.

Darhon · 05/11/2023 10:59

Luxell934 · 05/11/2023 10:56

You are clueless. Where are you going to get these staff to fill these roles? Teaching assistants in my school would NOT be willing to extend their day by 3 hours for the equivalent of about £6 an hour after tax, NI, etc Schools already struggle to recruit.

Show quote history

Lots of schools have separate after school provision with staff employed just for this. Often staff who cycle through breakfast club, lunchtime supervision and after school. It’s not some strange, untested idea that can’t happen. It does happen and should be standard.

HamstersAreMyLife · 05/11/2023 10:59

It sounds like wrap around just isn't provided by school and they have a link to someone who does provide it. We found wrap around a nightmare as ours only started when my oldest was in Y5 and is 8 to 4. I leave the house at 6.45 and get home at 7.30 on office days! Tbh childminders are probably the only solution, they are like gold dust here though so we went part time to manage the early primary years.

margotrose · 05/11/2023 10:59

The 9-3 provision doesn't work for the modern day set up. And no, that doesn't mean that I think teachers should be doing it. It means that I think all schools should be providing an offering from 3-6 for children to do extra curricular activities (with funding from the government).

Who is going to provide this childcare and work for three hours a day outside of standard school hours?

Original poster
Oneanddone88 · 05/11/2023 11:00

@margotrose no, they ran Monday and Wednesday, but we need Tues and Thurs .
Fortunately they then said they could accommodate us , and then a week before term said they didn't have staff

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 05/11/2023 11:01

I think thats a pretty poor show from the school. Of course folk choose schools with before and after care facilities. So either move schools, share the pick ups or get a child minder. I would change schools.

arintingly · 05/11/2023 11:02

People on Mumsnet can be really shitty on this topic. Dunno why.

It's not required of the school to provide wraparound but they should give you accurate information and they should care that they will lose some pupils as a result.

I would move schools and post on local parenting forums/Facebook groups about why so that other parents can avoid a school which is so unsupportive of working parents.

gotomomo · 05/11/2023 11:04

Completely sympathise, i couldn't work when mine were small due to no wrap around and the only child minder in the village being full. It never even occurred to us when we bought the house that this would be the case, naivety! It was a minimum of 45 mins to any possible job so once you have dropped off that gives you 4 hours realistically to work and nowhere offered those hours, wfh wasn't possible tgen, internet was still slow!

Legomania · 05/11/2023 11:04

Luxell934 · 05/11/2023 10:56

You are clueless. Where are you going to get these staff to fill these roles? Teaching assistants in my school would NOT be willing to extend their day by 3 hours for the equivalent of about £6 an hour after tax, NI, etc Schools already struggle to recruit.

Show quote history

You are rude, but also inaccurate

My dcs' wraparound care is staffed by LSAs.

SecondUsername4me · 05/11/2023 11:04

PussyGalore1 · 05/11/2023 09:55

To be fair, it’s not the schools responsibility to look after your child after hours.
sorry to be so blunt but can you look at nanny share ?

It's up to the school to present an honest review of their services to prospective parents. They lied. The OP chose the school based on information the school gave her.

Yes I'd move the child

Luxell934 · 05/11/2023 11:04

Darhon · 05/11/2023 10:59

Lots of schools have separate after school provision with staff employed just for this. Often staff who cycle through breakfast club, lunchtime supervision and after school. It’s not some strange, untested idea that can’t happen. It does happen and should be standard.

Show quote history

Why are most schools struggling to recruit TAs, breakfast club supervisors and lunchtime staff then? Also there is a massive shortage in nursery staff. It might be a nice idea but without the staff it can’t happen.

arintingly · 05/11/2023 11:04

Darhon · 05/11/2023 10:59

Lots of schools have separate after school provision with staff employed just for this. Often staff who cycle through breakfast club, lunchtime supervision and after school. It’s not some strange, untested idea that can’t happen. It does happen and should be standard.

Show quote history

Well exactly. On Mumsnet it's this huge problem and impossible to solve.

All of our local schools have wraparound care and have no difficulty in finding staff to run it.

Ours is run by TAs who are very happy to have a full day's work and salary not just school hours