Pick up from school until around 8pm

[Gettingthereslowly2020]

I'm planning to start a university course which is part time one day per week. It would start around lunch time and finish at 7pm each week. Due to the nature of the course, I wouldn't be able to leave early each week.

I would need someone to pick my child up from school and babysit until 7:30 or 8pm depending on how long it takes me to get back. My child will be only just 9 when the course starts.

What kind of childcare will I need?

The afterschool club closes at 6pm and local child minders close at a similar time. I'm a single parent with no family. Child's father cannot be relied on - he would either say no or just leave her at school and leave me in the lurch to embarrass me and make things difficult. He's a nightmare but that's another story. I don't know anyone that would be able to help. I know babysitters on sitters.co.uk babysit in the home but would they pick my child up from school? It's only a 15 min walk from school.

Any ideas?

Some childminders would do this in cases such as yours but not advertise it. Do you know any that do pick ups from DDs school?

Are you certain no childminders would do it?

Have you asked local childminders?

If you are in London, Koru Kids do this kind of thing. I haven't tried them though.

I think you’d quite easily get a sixth former to do that. Still an ad in the window of a local shop/notice board. Or ask in Facebook group?

Thanks for all of your replies.

I'm only just starting to look into it. The course doesn't start until September.

I checked the council website and local childminders close at 5-5:30 so I'm not sure how keen they would be to open until 8pm just for one child but you're right, there is no harm in asking.

I'd thought of a college student but I'm guessing they would be at college or on placement during school pick up time.

I'd rather it was someone who has been DBS checked if I don't know them. I don't want to dump my child on a stranger while I bugger off to university for hours!

There are other options like a nanny share or even a friend maybe a babysitter who can collect from the school

I would look into a sitter, actually. I think it would be nicer for your DD to be at home anyway good luck with your course.

All childcare students at college are over 16 and have to be dbs checked. Full time college will be finished at 4.30pm at the latest, so they could collect from after school club and take to your house. They would be grateful for the money and the reference tbh

In the past we've used babysitters to do this - with your child in afterschool club till 6 that helps bring the job into the 'after work' zone nicely.
I think Sitters babysitters are only supposed to work in your actual home from something my neighbour (who does babysitting through them), but if its just a walk from school to your house, and you paid from the point of them getting to your house, walking to the school etc, you should be able to find someone

I used to do this for my ballet teacher's kids one day a week when I was 18. I collected them, took them home, cooked dinner, and then started homework with them.

Thanks everyone, you have all made things a bit clearer and given me some ideas of things I can look into.

I’m really keen to use a childcare student for my after school childcare - I have an 8 year old, 13 and 14 year old. It would really just be someone to keep them company plus maybe take them to activity etc. Where would I find this @calamityjam. Would you contact college or do they have notice boards etc?

My childminder has done things like this in the past. She would mind all the kids at her house, then after they all get collected would take the Late mindee home and do supper/pjs etc. Then wait til parent gets home. It was only ever short term/once a week etc rather than a permanent arrangement, so worth asking.

I know a couple of retired ladies who do this for pin money and would jump at one day a week.

I would contact your local colleges and ask for the person who runs the childcare department. Also when I ran the baby room at a private nursery, my apprentice would regularly do extra childminding because she was on a low wage. May be worth asking if any families you know use a local nursery if they can recommend anyone. However college would be your best bet. Good on you for thinking about these young people. Experience and a reference from you could literally change their lives

My childminder would have done that but not advertised, as she wouldn’t want to work to that time every night but would do say one night a week for someone. Totally worth contacting people to see if they would be willing.

The term ‘Home Help’ would also cover this type of arrangement I think.

I used to do something similar when I was a student.

My dd did this when she was in 6th form for someone.

However, plenty of CMs would keep a child until 7.30ish one day a week. Especially an older child, rather than a baby. CMs are self employed so can set whatever Ts&Cs they want to.

Ask around friends, colleagues, neighbours. I bet you'd find a 6th former who would be very happy to do this. Even if you want a dbs - all my dc had dbs's in 6th form a they worked as lifeguards.