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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Thoughts welcomed - 8 yr old childcare

15 replies

Adelie0404 · 06/08/2017 11:46

I have an 8 year old who will be 9 in Sept, year 4. And a 13 year old. Both sensible, good girls. 8 year old has an 8 min walk to school, crossing one road with a crossing guard. Up to now we have had an au pair to take to school and pick up her up. This has been an extremely easy au pair job, but, as my husband has been away a lot for months at a time, essential as I work a lot and long hours (medic). DH is back soon and here next 6 months and says we don't need another au pair as he can take her to school and will be home around 5.

So question is: how do we cover 3.10-5. Her sister will be home about 350 as she has 1.2 miles to walk, so in reality there's only getting home and half an hour or so by herself.

There is an after school club which I don't like and she doesn't want to go as none of her friends go. There are some lovely other mums who would take her occasionally but I'm very keen not to be a cheeky fucker. She's a bit old for a childminder isn't she? The other option of course is she just walks home by herself and lets her self in. I would expect great mumsnet condemnation if I chose this option.

Just mulling over options. would would others do?

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BackforGood · 06/08/2017 22:16

What is it you don't like about the afterschool club ?

No, she's not too old for an after school childminder.

Yes, she's too young to be walking home, letting herself in and being unsupervised until 5pm ever day.

Yukbuck · 06/08/2017 23:25

Does your eldest child walk past her school? I'd put her in after school club and get the eldest to pick up on the way past.

GreenTulips · 06/08/2017 23:29

I think school wouldn't be too impressed by her walking home alone every day

I think you need to sell the after school club - she can make new friends -

DeanKoontz · 06/08/2017 23:31

Any activity type clubs she could do after school?

WhichJob · 06/08/2017 23:38

Hmm, I think she is too young to walk home and wait for her DSIS although it would be tempting but in the winter in particular I wouldn't be keen on my DC doing that at that age. She isn't too old for a childminder or after school club so I would go for one of those until she is a bit older.

Migraleve · 06/08/2017 23:49

How is she too old for a childminder

Lots of childminders do before and after school places for this exact scenario

FourFrenchHorns · 07/08/2017 13:10

wouldn't it be handy to have an au pair though - summer holidays etc?

Original poster

Adelie0404 · 07/08/2017 14:49

Thanks for responses! My oldest went to the after school club because she wanted to - friends went. What i didn't like was the people running it didn't seem to like children! Several times she missed the snack as she was playing - and they wouldn't get her one later. It was supposed to run till 6 but they always started clearing away at 530 so the few children left at the end had very little to play with. That's why i don't like it! And DD has no friends who go currently.

Will look at a childminder I think. We've had au pairs for 5 years and would both like a break! FourFrenchHorns - Summer holidays, oddly, we need the au pair less - I arrange lots for the girls and take lots of time off - and so they are not really needed.

OP posts:

GreenTulips · 07/08/2017 15:40

Well it's her own fault for missing snack!

If they cleared up after 6 you'd have to pay more as it would add the cleaning time - I'm sure these ladies have homes to go to AND it's not easy getting people to cover for just a few hours a day -

llangennith · 07/08/2017 15:46

Quite a lot of kids at our primary got to a childminder after school.
Up to Yr 6.

jannier · 07/08/2017 21:57

Schools usually require children up to year 5 to be collected by a responsible adult. Ofsted insist child-minders do not hand over to anyone under the age of 16. (exceptions for teen age parents).

I childmind for all ages some come at 13 as they don't want to be home alone and treat me like a second home. What about school closures?

Passthecake30 · 07/08/2017 22:01

Mine go to a childminder and will be up to at least year 6, perhaps beyond if they need to.

CinderellasBroom · 07/08/2017 22:08

Would school let her leave by herself? Ours requires written permission, and even then only for children in Y5 and Y6.

I'm letting my 9yo walk to and from school by herself a couple of days each week next term (she'll be in Y5), so that she can attend clubs that otherwise I couldn't get her to. She has chosen walking by herself rather than Afterschool Club, which she has disliked but had to go to for the last few years. She won't come home to an empty house, though.

I don't see it as any different to her walking to the local shop, or to a very local activity - both of which she does regularly.

Original poster

Adelie0404 · 07/08/2017 22:36

I don't know about the school - I shall find out!

She is reasonably independent for 8. She does go to the local playground with a friend from her class and I am OK about that - it is quite safe, surrounded by houses and if i step out of the house and go 10 steps, I can see them. They cycle up and down the road. I want her to have some freedom and the school walk is very short and safe, but I agree an empty house effectively rules it out.
School closures - DH will take days off.
Our current au pair is staying to end of September I think.

DH tells me he has a plan, but I'm not sure what he is thinking - he is on a boat at the moment, with intermittent email - not that we don't communicate. He might be changing his hours. His sister is probably coming to stay (from US) and she is the best childcare ever, though drives me nuts and stays for a month at a time!

OP posts:

incywincyspideragain · 14/08/2017 21:01

My 3 boys walked home together from when they were in years 2, 3 and 5 - School weren't keen but ultimately it's a parenting decision, it was max 10 mins walk and I was home by time they got there.
Eldest just about to start senior school and I've reservations about him being home alone whilst I finish at work (up to 5pm), we're looking for nanny / housekeeper to be in house when boys arrive home. Littler 2 also don't want to be in out of school club (you don't have to justify it OP!) but will use it as alternative to no one being home as they are a bit too young (9 and 8) Childminder is great suggestion, would have chosen it for eldest but he refuses - he's an introvert and would hate going to someone he doesn't know in their home. Fall back option for us it to muddle through with me adjusting work hours so I can be home when school finishes or at very least minimise time he is alone for

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