Breakfast Clubs - why won't they let children in late?

[Caligyulea]

Just wondered if anyone else has a breakfast club like this. DS (6) is desperate to go to breakfast club a couple of times a week. I quite fancy the idea, because I could also drop DD off at nursery where she could have her breakfast, leaving me with an extra hour to arse about on Mumsnet, erm, no I didn't say that, I mean to do some work.

However, kids have to be dropped off at breakfast club between 8 and 8.15 and if they're late, they won't be admitted, meaning Mummy has to hang around until 9am when he can go to school.

For me, it would be a bit tiresome but no major problem. But for someone who has to get to an office, it's a form of childcare that simply isn't meeting the end-user needs. Are most school breakfast clubs like this?

I always assumed breakfast clubs were simply open before school for parents to drop their children off as they required. Didn't realise they had a set starting time either.

Do they serve a hot breakfast, and all the children at the same time? Might be the reason I guess.

Certainly not meeting the needs of all users.

Hmm. I don't think the security angle stands up really, because parents can't wander in and out of schools anyway (doors are locked!) I can see the breakfast/ teeth cleaning thing, but I'm wondering if there's a way round that.

I'd like to raise the issue with the school, but want to do it in a constructive way of how can we get round the reasons this is like this so that it can be more flexible (and therefore meet parent's needs) so that I'd be more confident about paying upfront and using it (and I'm sure other parents haven't committed because of that uncertainty about being let down if they happen to be running 5 minutes late).

Does anyone have any experience of breakfast clubs which do have a bigger "window" where kids can be dropped off?

kids can be dropped off at any time at ours, but food is only served til 15 minutes before school starts. if you drop them off later you still have to pay full price (although its only 50p) but they dont get fed. no problem with security at all, they are all in one room and you have to knock on the door to be let in. dont see how it could be a problem

ours is open 8am-8.45am and ch/n can be dropped off anytime but if they want to be served a breakfast they have to be signed in by 8.15am....the cost is basically £2.00 per child but it does have sibling and regular user discounts......

What happens to siblings who don't attend the school chatee, once school starts?

sibling discount is only available if the siblings are at the school/using a place at the club......we have one year 7 child who still comes once a week......