Do you use any sort of wraparound care for school age children? And how much?

[Summermeadowflowers]

I’m trying to make a decision on what would work best for the family.

DS starts school in 2025, but I’m due back from maternity leave in July 24, and if I want to make changes to my work it would be best to do so then.

The primary school the children will probably attend does have some wraparound care but I’m not sure of the quality of it or how much it is used. I do have a loose impression that most children are picked up by parents or other family members - this isn’t the case here. In any case I’m keen to limit wraparound as much as possible. I am considering asking for two days a week (currently work three) to help settle DS into school when the time comes. But I am conscious that I won’t be working a lot at all in that case and that will obviously have implications for pay and so on.

I am just wondering what others do. The main issue is that we don’t have a school within walking distance and any realistic primary school that’s an option for us is in the other direction to my workplace. So I’d have to drop DS quite early to then get to work on time, especially factoring in dropping DD at nursery for the two years that’s applicable! So for example, I need to get to work for 825 at the latest - and that really is the very latest. Breakfast club starts 730, so I would have to drop DS off for that, probably get to DDs nursery at 750, then I could probably get to work for 810/815. It’s an early start though as we’d have to leave the house at 720.

I am largely ‘thinking out loud’ here but interested to know what wraparound looks like for other people and any suggestions or advice on how to best make it work.

Just looked - £11 for after school and £4.50 for breakfast club, including breakfast (obviously!) and a ‘light tea’ - that could be a pain in some ways. So £62 per week for two days two children.

I can make you feel better - our after school is £31.50. Just cut from 5 days to 3 days.

Gosh, that is a lot! I hope they give a home cooked dinner with organic vegetables for that price!

The pricing is reasonable for supervision - just hope it isn’t too loud and chaotic!

@ColleenDonaghy is that per day or per week?

Per half day.

It does include pickup from school at 2, activities, a hot meal and a lift to youngest's nursery so we only have one pickup. But, yeah. Painful.

My children’s school has free after school clubs like football, makaton, forest school these finish at 4:15 and are a life saver for me as I can’t leave home till after 3:30 when my other child gets home. The school also has after school club that is available till 6pm for £9 however can book them in till 5pm for £5 or 4pm for £3, I occasionally use this. They also have breakfast club from 7am, £3 a day.

Consider discussing potential work schedule adjustments with your employer to accommodate your son's school hours. Evaluate childcare options and morning routines carefully, keeping in mind the financial implications of reducing work hours. Seek input from other parents in similar situations for practical advice.

Good luck I hope you manage to get it all figured out 🥰

The school brekkie club I use you can book what days you need and not use what you don't need - with 48 hours notice when you book. Which might mean you can use your DH for some drop offs? After school sport clubs at my school are quite good or there is an after school club where they just have them until 5.30 (outside provider)

Brekkie club is £5 a session and after school clubs about £6