It’s a childcare one, advice needed please

[mommaboo]

Hi

I have two under 5 I need to try and figure out what I’m going to do!

At the moment, we have nursery (my youngest is 9 months and starting this week).
I don’t have any other help for childcare arrangements. No family that can help.
Partner is self employed and travels.

What happens when school starts? for example, how do you arrange childcare in 6 weeks summer holidays?

I’m a nurse working in a primary care setting, which offers more flexibility than in hospital - but still, I know I wouldn’t get unpaid leave or be able to use my annual leave up for that 6 weeks (or other half terms!).

I’m starting to think of retraining as a teacher (which has been something I’ve considered too) - but I also know, the grass isn’t greener necessarily (in terms of work pressure)

help! 😅🙈

I was in same boat, no family. Before my ex moved overseas we would both use AL and then we would pay for a holiday club. We made it work.

Thank you for your reply.
I’m embarrassed to ask really, but I’m genuinely a bit clueless! How does holiday club work (at school?)
do they cover a full day (9-3?)
What kind of activities did they do for your children?

I have a one year old and a five year old - i work 4 days and husband works FT, and travels. Zero family support. It’s a bit of a patchwork but the one year old is with a CM 3 days a week and nursery one day, eldest is a mix of the same CM and breakfast/after school club.
my advice is to ask every school you see what their wraparound is, and if you can get on their waiting lists when you apply - some spots are like gold dust so you might need to formally apply for spaces basically as soon as you know what school they get allocated.
have a look at childcare.co.uk again when you’re looking at schools and start messaging childminders that work for your school, we completely lucked out - ours had space for both and works school holidays.
we have a very good set of friends, with one family we are doing childcare swaps in holidays. So between four adults we can have the kids one day a week using one days leave, rather than one person having a week off. Go to all the parties when your little one starts school, go to the half term drinks suggested and make friends yourself - everyones very happy to get each others kids if a train’s delayed etc but obviously you need to build a relationship and work out who you trust.
ive started booking summer holiday slots for my eldest - her dance school does a week of “club”, gymnastics a day a week. The rest will be a fudge with CM/childcare swaps, leave.
it’s tricky - but it’s doable. Im also considering retraining to work more round the kids but you can make it work, and my eldest absolutely loves the wraparound! Xx

Your partner needs to step up and help. Sorting the childcare/drop offs/pick ups is not just down to you.

For school days, depending on how early you need to be at work / how late you need to be at work, you’ll need to get them into breakfast club or after school care. If you’re at work outside of the wrap around service you can find childminders who will drop off / pick up from school. There’s often a SAHM at the school who has trained as a childminder and minds a bunch of kids after school at their house. Like @ButterflySkiessaid, you can also build ‘your village’ with other working parents and nanny share or take it in turns to take annual leave and have all the kids. Failing all of that, you can often find a teenager who is willing to pick up your child after school, walk them home and stay with them until you get home.

Holidays are slightly trickier as you’re looking for holiday clubs that run for whole days rather than 9-3.

Your options for the school holidays will be holiday clubs or a childminder. Holiday clubs are usually private run companies such as Barracudas and Camp Beaumont which run 9-3 and some do 8-4. You also get other activities such as football and gym camps and smaller holiday clubs run by individuals depending on your area.

Lots of these clubs advertise in local schools. You will need to get booked up early. Lots take childcare vouchers/tax free childcare. The likes of Barracudas and Camp Beaumont have full days of activities that can be viewed on their websites.

Annual leave, childcare swaps and holidays clubs. Luckily the holiday club my ds went to offered 9am-3pm or 8am - 6pm

Holiday clubs typically run 8-6 (you might have to pay extra for extended hours) or you could put in for parental leave and see if you get some of the holidays off.

School holiday child minder
annual leave
paid holiday clubs
share load with partner
switch your work contract to term time only
book grandparents in for a few days if they live far away
its a lot of juggling

The holiday club ds went to was run by a company at a senior school so they had use of a couple of classrooms, hall, field and tennis courts. You booked online and there was a brief outline of activities listed for the day. Needed to take packed lunch, water bottle etc. Activities included crafts, team sports, yoga, basic science activities, board games and generally a U rated film last thing from about 4pm onwards. They did have a mobile planetarium visit one easter which was amazing. It was no extra cost.

No, as a teacher-I have never worked in a school that runs a holiday club. Round here, they tend to be based in sports centres.

I wouldn't recommend teaching by the way...

Check out what age holiday clubs take from as some won't take 4 year olds (Supercamps will if I remember correctly).