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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

childcare for secondary school age children???

27 replies

granarybeck · 12/02/2009 20:55

What do others do? I don't quite understand!

Ds is in year 7 (11) and dd yr 6 (10). In september they'll then both be at secondary school.

Just wondered what others have done at this stage?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

herbietea · 12/02/2009 20:57

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Sidge · 12/02/2009 20:58

How long for, and how often?

I would leave a senior school aged child alone for a short time. But if it's going to be hours I'd try and arrange for them to go to a friend's house where an adult will be home, and repay the favour when able.

Original poster

granarybeck · 12/02/2009 21:00

How long for herbietea? Someitmes would be for hour and half but others could be longer. I work in London so takes forever to get home, so even if I leave work early, is late by time I get home.

OP posts:

Heated · 12/02/2009 21:06

At that age do you think they'll need childcare? Mine are nowhere near that age yet, but I assume it won't be necessary based on the fact that for the last two years of primary my brother & I could be trusted to be left on our own. Our first words to our mother though was always, "I'm starving,what's for dinner?" even before she got her coat off

herbietea · 12/02/2009 21:07

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Original poster

granarybeck · 12/02/2009 21:09

Yet's that's why I'm struggling to know what to do. I'd always imagined wouldn't need childcare by this age, and would finally save the cost!

But now it's here it just seems a long time on their own. A few of their friends go to empty house but I think not for too long. They would be together, and would do same things as if I were there, homework, tv, computer etc.

OP posts:

Heated · 12/02/2009 21:16

Do you have a neighbour who would be their port of call if they needed anything?Part of the reason my mother felt so able to leave us I suppose was that she was only 5 minutes away by car and we had very good neghbours next door.

brimfull · 12/02/2009 21:21

My dd has babysat for kids older than that and she is 17

a teenager would love to do it for £££

Original poster

granarybeck · 12/02/2009 21:23

We do have neighbours that they could go to if they were stuck, not to look after them regularly but if they were worried about anything. I would definitely use a babysitter still in evening.

OP posts:

brimfull · 12/02/2009 21:25

give a teenager a fiver to sit with them until you get home,extra ££ if they start dinner

Original poster

granarybeck · 12/02/2009 21:25

Yes, that is a good idea

OP posts:

BrownSuga · 12/02/2009 21:29

At that age, if we hadn't got the dinner started by the time our mother got in or the washing off the line, she'd be furious. Ahh, the good ol' days.

That's a good idea to pay an older student to be with them, and perhaps they could get them started on their homework too.

Original poster

granarybeck · 12/02/2009 21:37

Yes, my best friend had to do ironing and start the tea, they had the same thing every week on each night so her and her sister knew what to start cooking!

We've got a student living with us now from Turkey who we pay to help put before and after school, we could do same again next year, but it is a real squash space wise and does cost us quite a lot extra in paying her and extra costs.

OP posts:

nomoreamover · 13/02/2009 13:59

Personally my DCs would be cared for by CM or after school club or similar - I wouldn't be comfortable leaving them home alone in case fo fire etc - not til the eldest is 14 or so....

Not implying you aren't a great parent - but maybe stomach the cost another few years then you can leave them 4.5 hours with a clear conscience HTH

ayla99 · 13/02/2009 18:25

A friend of mine chose a childminder near the secondary school and started off sharing care between the childminder and after school activities. She gave her dd increasing responsibility by first letting go home alone on a day the parent would be home earlier. She kept the childminder on the days she wanted a meal provided as she would be later home and then gradually increased the days the child was allowed to go home alone. She did discuss this with the childminder and her dd from the beginning, it wasn't a case of booking a childminder and then suddenly dropping hours unexpectedly. She felt this suited them both well, as she felt uncomfortable with the idea of dropping her dd "in at the deep end" by leaving her to cope alone all week while also adjusting to the new school etc.

ThePrisoner · 13/02/2009 19:09

I have minded older children (both before/after school and during school holidays). They have not always been that keen as it doesn't necessarily do their street cred any good. We got around that problem by them explaining to their friends that they were there to "help" me!

Original poster

granarybeck · 13/02/2009 20:10

that's a good idea ayla99. I think if it were a childminder,Prisoner, I'd have to use that tactic as ds will 12/13 next year.

OP posts:

Tinker · 13/02/2009 20:14

I leave mine on her own - an hour and a half. We both work nearby. Our phone bill direct debit, however, has just been increased by £40 pm

Original poster

granarybeck · 13/02/2009 20:23

OMG! I think that is the underlying answer though, I need a job nearby, just can't face thinking about it

OP posts:

RachieB · 25/02/2009 22:31

i dont know any childminders near here that care for secondary age children

and the after school club is only up to age 11

my son has been allowed to stay on his own, since age 11 for a few hours at a time

he sometimes attends a group / activity at the school til 5pm but other than that gets the bus straight home @ 4.10pm

he is very sensible and trustworthy and we have mobiles so i can be contacted at all times

not sure whether it would be better or worse, if there were 2 of them though ! lol

you could have a mutual agreement with a friend / neighbour whereby you have their children sometimes

hope you sort something out

FeelingOld · 25/02/2009 22:57

I too am a childminder who cares for secondary school kids. Usually year 7/8 then like others have said the parents allow them to be home alone on one day per week (usually the day parents will be home the earliest) and gradually increase it til they dont need me anymore.

I have found that the older ones love playing with the younger ones and the younger ones adore the older ones.

HSMM · 26/02/2009 14:11

I am a CM and I was asked to care for a Secondary School age child. The only reason I did not was because I would not be able to do 2 school runs at once and his Mum didn't want him to walk back to my house (just round the corner). There are CMs out there that do it.

Eggypeggy · 13/03/2009 11:09

Hello. I am looking to set up a network of Childminders to care for secondary school age children (probably years 7 & 8). The sticking point seems to be that kids of that age do not want their friends knowing that they go to a childminder (not cool). Your idea regarding the kids 'helping' is great, but have you any thoughts as to an alternative name to 'childminder' for someone who purely looks after older kids? Any suggestions/ideas welcome!

Ripeberry · 13/03/2009 11:19

Teen minder? Teen club? Big kids house?

HSMM · 13/03/2009 12:21

Cool and the Gang

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