Before/After school care, dd starts next Sept. When should I be looking???

[PooPooGirl]

DD starts school next September, I believe I am supposed to put her name down for schools in October. I will also need before and after school care but how and when do I go about this?

TIA

Hi PooPooGirl

I'm not sure about the schools and putting names down, all I know is that I want my ds to go to a particular school (part time) when he's 3 and I put his name down last year (he's 2 and a bit now). This is only because I wanted this school.

As for before and after school care, I am a childminder and offer school runs which would include taking them and picking up from school at required times. This is an option but I really don't think you need to think about this until next year as childminders won't (usually) know this far in advance whether or not they can offer you a school run. There are also breakfast clubs and after school clubs in certain areas.

Sorry I can't help more.

I'd say start looking about 6 months in advance, then try and secure a place a couple of months before.

I feel a bit better now. Someone told me I should be looking now!

Thanks!

You should get a letter from your local education authority in about October for the following September ask you to put down the school(s) of your choice & telling you about the way they allocate spaces. You won't hear until about April/May whether you have got a space in the school of your choice. Once that is confirmed then start looking for before & after school care soon after, especially if there is a shortage of childminders or after school club spaces for that school. With a childminder be prepared to pay a deposit or a retainer fee to reserve the space for the September.

depends on teh school to be honest. the school that my ds1 goes to has such a long waiting list that een though my ds2 doesn't even start the nursery until september i have put his name down for breakfast and after school clubs for the following year!
i would contact the school and see what the waiting lists are like for their clubs.