What do you do for childcare for 11 year olds?

[MiddleAgedMother]

Planning for my youngest DD’s move to secondary school. The older DCs will have left home by then and the earliest either DH or I can home is 6pm/7pm sometimes later.

DD will be home by 430.

What do people do for childcare?

Is that 5 days a week? Too much of so. We allowed 12yr old to walk home once or twice a week so he's home alone from about 4.15 to 5.15. I think until 6/7pm 5 days a week is too much, even if he's capable at that age.

I've only just stopped a long commute - but adjusted my hrs to start very early and finish earlier so I could be home / pick up by 5.30. Could you do that once a week and your H do something similar? Or work from home one day?

I would consider what could be happening in a school childs school life...if they are having good days loads of friends and no problems at school coming home alone can be okay (although 5 days a week from 3.30 to 6 or 7 and sometimes later is tough and lonely) If they have a bad day, being bullied, arguments with friends, struggles with homework, unfair teacher type days this is definitely too much. The first home of being in is the time a child needs to unload cry cuddle etc to be set up to carry on rather than sink into depression etc.
Do you want socialble chatty children who talk about their day or sullen hide in the bedroom your not interested in my life children?

Childminders - many change to only doing after school children they have outings to park homework support and friends that ar enot the ones who may have been causing the argument today, they provide a listening it will get sorted ear, can pass on any immediate problems so parents can contact school before the school office shut, and help with problems like I need x for my homework.
This holiday we have been den building, Geocaching, making volcanoes and science experiments, bowling, making papermache for homework projects, to the science museum and cooked a tea for everyone to take home to share with their families. and they have done their own thing with board games, model making etc. Everyone is aged 10 to 14 and they have made the decisions what we do and where we go.

My dd started secondary in September and is really struggling with coming home on her own I have changed my hours so I can come home earlier on some days and have also organised my mum to come over one day a week after school.

Its not really an option for her to stay longer at school as the school library shuts at 5pm and most of the clubs finish at 4.45pm both of which are too early and would mean her walking home in the dark.

She is fine on her own (watches t.v/ plays on her phone etc) but just doesn't like it.

I think I’d be considering another year with an au pair. Dd is 11 and I wouldn’t want her coming home from school, letting herself in and being on her own until At least 6, maybe 7pm. Thats a long time, she would want feeding in that time and I wouldn’t be happy about her cooking and eating alone each night.

I’m a childminder so I’m always about as I work from home, so it isn’t an issue for us, but if I was working out of the home, especially in a job with a long commute, I’d be wanting someone with dd for another year or so.

Thanks all.
They mostly all travel independently here to and from school on the tube or bus so I’m not concerned about pick up just time at home.
And I absolutely wouldn’t want DD eating alone.
It will depend on the school too on extra exact home time.
It might be I can do one or two early starts, early finishes and work from home later if required.
DH can be home by 530pm a couple of days a week if not travelling.
But another year of au pair or a student seems like a good idea.
No family near by unfortunately. Nearest is several hundred miles away.

I don't know your set up but ime it's the after school activities that cause an issue with picking up. If she has an away game of sport she might not be back at school til six. Is she still ok to get the tube and walk back to an empty house on her own if no friends are coming home the same way?

Thanks for the prompt on that.
If she’s at one of the schools on the tube then it’s ok for coming back after clubs as busy and lots do.
If it’s a school with buses that is more difficult as I won’t be able to pick up and the buses are more tricky.

Am going to juggle somehow so almost always someone home by 6pm.
Still not keen on the 90 minutes alone though.

I would remember to that going to "big" school can be very scary and confusing your asked to be responsible for so much more, loads more homework and schedules and bigger school with large intimidating kids you come from being the big fish at primary to a minnow at seniors and the older kids are happy to confirm that. I would definitely plan to be around the first term or have someone who can be.

My Eldest dd was 9 and in year five when she started coming home alone. It was only for 40 mins , she just sat and watched tv and ate a snack I had left for her.
By year 7 then an hour and a half I think is fine. They could stay for after school clubs, school library, friends houses some evenings.

My eldest carried on going to our childminder for the first 6 weeks. It made all the difference. I just think it is such a change going to secondary school, it was one less thing for him to worry about.
After that he didn't need it, but then, I was home 2 days anyway, and on working days was home by about 5.15.
If au pair is an option I'd do it. Or maybe see if you can find a student or even local 6th former to be there for a couple of hours every evening.

Thanks. Important to have extra support in first half term - it will take time for all of us I guess. Thanks