How much value do you place on being able to pick your kids up from school?

[youdrive85]

Weighing a couple of job options up. DC starting school in September. How much value do you place on being able to do pick ups at 3ish (and how many times a week) vs after school club etc.

If I had the choice, I would pick up as often as I could. Reception children are often shattered at the end of the day. They see their frends going home - or going to the park - and they want to do the same. How often is too often to have a small child sobbing on your knee because they have to go to after-school club? I am a supply teacher and this happens at least twice a term.

I absolutely loathe the school gates. Anything to escape the hell of that. A gentle pick up from after school is so much better!

The breakfast and after school club was appalling. My children would come home with bruises, tales of bulling and bits of uniform ripped. I hit the out and they have never ever gone back!

Not important at all. Used to share drop with DH when the DC were much younger, with childminder for pick or ASC mix, they changed schools and go by bus then childminder equiv pick

Yup, for me no interest in re-arranging / decreasing work including negative impact on overall family finances for school drop/pick

I love doing the school pick up and am grateful to do it once or twice a week.

Thanks everyone for replying! If I could guarantee my child would enjoy after school club I wouldn't mind at all

Absolutely none. I see it as a great victory that I can probably count on 2 hands how often I needed to pick them up at the school gates. (Did drop off for most of it though). Picking up from after school club was much calmer and easier!

It was really important to us. DH dropped off and I picked up. I worked reduced hours during the primary years and now back full time.

They never wanted to go to after school club, they just wanted to get home and chill out before any evening clubs they had on.

It was importantly to me and luckily we could arrange things so that DD wasn’t using after school clubs until year 5.

Most kids at her school had a parent collect them, especially in the younger years. DD is an only child and I think it helped solidify friendships.

I feel such a pull to do more drop offs and pick ups (half a term into reception), I've very grateful to have a none working day and can often finish early on a Friday so something can grab them straight from ASC and head to the park with other families. I just dont want them or me to miss out, but honestly its very rare for any parent to do 10 pick ups/drop offs a week.

I would like to have more flexibility for after school activities, I'm trying to cram swimming in without missing out on that 1 confirmed day we have for the park/play dates. I dont want more commitments at the weekends.

We use before and after school care 3 times a week each and I like how theyre meeting lots of children, its like a big family. They listen to them read which is great. I dont have one of these exhausted kids everyone promises so thats not an issue.

Whatever you end up with will be your families norm and others will be in that position too.