To ask honestly, how many children are in wraparound every day? Especially reception

[anothertwix]

My job is a bit rubbish at the moment. I’m three days a week. I’m searching for other opportunities but they are all full time.

Eldest dc starts reception in September. If I went full time he’d be in breakfast and after school club every day except Friday (dh works from home)

It feels a lot. Wondering what others think.

YABU - look for full time
YANBU - stick at three days.

It is a lot, especially at the start, but lots of people make it work so worth weighing up
possible new full time jobs before deciding. Mine did a lot of wraparound but not quite four days. Finding time to read with them when they're in reception, however busy the rest of the day is, is worth factoring into your plans.

Are you talking 7.30am to 6.00pm every day?

DS was in FT from the moment I went back after maternity leave.

Mine did full time wraparound from reception, but they were also in full time nursery, and school is easy for them academically. They cope well. But then they know no difference and they have no choice. We both work full time and part time isn't really realistic in terms of CoL and our professions.

Work in a school but it can differ from school to school. Bear in mind that there might be after school clubs that they pester you to go to - completely unappreciating your part time sacrifice! . Our school has football, coding, dance etc run by outside suppliers and the wrap around team pick them up after that.
I work school hours. My daughter begs me to go to wrap around.
It might take a bit of time to get used to - you could delay a move for a year. But don't let the kids deter you from a better job.

My two were everyday for the whole of primary school

What about their dad? Can you both work full time but one do drop off and finish later and th other start earlier and do pick up?

I teach reception, 1 or 2 children go to breakfast club most days and between 3-6 go to after school club on various days in my class this year. Nobody goes to a childminder this year, which is quite unusual for our area.

Mine are in two days ASC and no breakfast club. Reception kid is knackered and would struggle with more I think. But they have only ever done two days childcare, so not used to it. Friends of theirs are in ASC every day. They're all different.

If you're not sure could you apply for FT and see if you can get compressed hours or PT? It's frustrating feeling stuck! I work three days PT and to get anything decent I'd have to go to 4 days or FT.

Out of the 30 kids in reception with dd, I would say at least 20 are dropped off early (not technically breakfast club but 45 mins before school starts) and probably about the same go to ASC most nights

Mine were until the pandemic.

then post pandemic was wfh and didn’t need it anymore however one of mine chose to go back 3 days a week because she loved it - play dates after school with snacks 🤣

It's becoming more and more common but it's definitely not for the benefit of the child. If you have no choice then obviously needs must, but I'd try my best to avoid it.

My DC are older now (secondary school), but both were at nursery FT for full days (7:30-6:30) and then full time wraparound care for the whole of their times at primary school (until they were allowed to get themselves to and from school).

I felt bad about it, but I was the breadwinner and worked FT. The plus side was that they were fine with starting/settling into school, and always did plenty of things during the school week.

My children went to a childminder before school from 7.30am then went to the ASC until 5.30ish, five days a week. I was a full time teacher so luckily only needed childcare in term time and my children were able to relax with me in the holidays. I did still have to pay the childminder half fees during the holidays to keep their places - she took on other children in the school holidays so was making up the money.

I don’t think my children struggled with the long hours even in reception, they have certainly never complained or moaned to me even when chatting about their school days when adults.

I think if I had to work in the school holidays, I would have worked part time as my husband often worked away so the bulk of the housework and childcare was often down to me!

I used to be involved in an Afterschool club for a big (1000) primary. Every day was very rare indeed - only a handful of kids. Most came 2 or 3 days

I have 5 children in my class who go to Breakfast Club and After-School Club. None of them ever want to go.

A childminder is a better option in my opinion. Just a few children in a house like it would be if you were at home.

Mine go to a childminder 3 days a week, home 1 and after school club 1, and breakfast club every day.

Would a childminder be an option for you? That's less intense and more like how we would relax at home after school anyway.

Ignore this comment.

Two teacher parent household here so ours were - DS still is in Yr 6 - in full time wraparound since reception. They’ve never known anything different and neither DH nor I were going to give up our careers.

I think it's not ideal as at that age they will be socially exhausted etc snd just might need the downtime

But. In the end there are also benefits...playtime etc instead of tv !

From my experience by about 10 most kids hate it ...but there is a sort of golden age for it between about 6 and 7 and 10 when they enjoy it

I’d say almost none in my reception child’s class; have no idea how people manage it though

DS started reception this year and is in wrap around 4 days. Breakfast club at school and then a mix of childminder and after school club from the 2nd week of term in Sept.

It was a bit difficult at first even though he had been at nursery 4 days a week since he was 1 but I think the transition to school can be tiring (emotionally and physically!) whatever you do

Mine went to breakfast and After school club 5 days a week. Didn’t have a choice unfortunately. All 3 managed - the after school club staff were fantastic and it was very much downtime - cosy corners, watching films, but outdoor play too. They were fine.

Ignore it for what reason?

Before my daughter started school I kept getting told how exhausted she'd be, but I never found that to be true. She was used to being at nursery 7:45-5 so the school day seemed pretty short.

I know children who go to wraparound everyday day and think nothing of it. My daughter goes 3 days a week and loves it. She'd go everyday given the choice, but I accept that all children are different (as are ASC settings - we're very lucky with ours).

DT’s went to breakfast and after school clubs five days a week from Reception. They loved it and hated if we collected them early - extra playtime with their friends.

One of the reasons for choosing their school was the breakfast and after school clubs.