Wraparound childminder routine

[8DPWoah]

DD starts school in September, I'm currently not working but weighing up options for possibly doing so.

If you use a wraparound childminder (not wrapround at school), what is the general routine etc? Snack when they get in and then they eat at home, or a meal at childminders? What do they do for activities- generally playing and relaxing after a day at school, or more structured?

I guess it's a piece of string job but I'm interested to see what the norms are just to compare with the school provision, for context I'm wondering if staying in school for longer, or popping somewhere else for a couple of hours, is going to work better for us. I didn't want to get too in depth with individual childminders at this point.

Depends on what time you are picking them up, the individual childminder and what you agree with the childminder.

For example my childminder use to provide an evening meal to the kids she did wrap around care for when my DD was under 2. However those kids she had since babies so she knew they what they would eat and were picked up after 5.30pm. The children she has now she doesn't because they are picked up around 5pm. (My DD use to leave eating stuff. )

In regards to activities - most of them seemed to do a mixture of playing with the younger ones and watching TV. Though one use to hide away to read and do homework.

One advantage of a childminder for a primary age child is they can take your child for random days in school holidays and inset days, though it will cost more than other childcare. (My DD tells me who she plays with.)

I am a childminder who offers wrap around care. As my dh works with me as my assistant we pick up from 2-3 primary schools, dependent on the day of the week. Once we have walked them back to our home they get a snack and then can choose to relax, play, do arts & crafts and when it is better weather and lighter outside can play in the garden.
In the past I have done cooked meals around 5pm but have stopped those as several children leave before then or around then, plus I found we had a lot of fussy eaters. For children who leave later, closer to 5.30-6.00, I offer toast and fruit as extras rather than a meal, even the younger children manage fine like that.
You will probably find that your dd will be very tired when she starts school, indeed we have sometimes had children falling asleep on the sofa, and will just want to chill. We offer the chance for tv time after 5.15-5.30 for those few who stay later. Each childminder will do things differently, so once the school allocations have been done in April I would see who will be available with spaces, until a child is 8 years old a childminder can only care for a limited number of children so may not have space, and arrange to visit and book in asap. Personally I know I have a younger sibling of one of my school children starting school and chatted to mum this morning to let her know I wouldn't be able to do 2 of the days that currently she would need, fortunately she can be flexible around her working arrangements and we have agreed that she will alter the days around so I can care for both children from then 3 days a week alongside the others I already collect from that particular school. My dh on the other hand could take on more children for the schools he covers.

Thanks both, really useful. I was hoping/thinking along the lines of get in, have a snack, chill or play and generally be warm, safe and happy 🙂 she is fussy so I will make sure to look at food arrangements but if most are more like a nursery tea that would work for us as would most likely have dinner at home with us to keep food issues to a minimum stress for everyone! I think I would be picking up by half 4 ish anyway.

I think the school provision would be fine too but I'd be more likely to use school for breakfast club and then a childminder after, I think, if I can find one with spaces that does the pickup!

If weather is nice we stop at the park on the way home.
This week they've really been into dens so they have done that....2 5 year old, 10 year old and 2 3 year olds.
Other wise there is craft, Lego, cars, puzzles or the TV if they want to chill generally they don't ask until near to 5. We have snacks around 4 and some go at 4.30. I don't do dinners as there all gone by 5.30