After school care for DS (3) - advice needed!

[HBV]

I have DS (3) and DD (1) who are currently at nursery (8am to 6pm) 3 days a week while I work. I have only just gone back and am loving it. The problem is that in September, DD will be going to the nursery of his future school and the hours will be 9am to 3pm 5 days a week.

I'd love to carry on working but could not do my job 3 days a week in the hours remaining after drop off and before pick up.

An obvious answer would be to find someone who could pick up DS, bring him home (would have to be by car which makes me nervous) give him supper and then possibly pick up DD before I get home at 6ish.

I'm already guilt-ridden at the thought of someone else picking DS up, but assuming I can get over that, what is the best way of going about finding someone appropriate to do this? He is too young for after school clubs in the area. How much would this normally cost (I live in SE london). Any advice would be really welcomed !

sounds like a CM would be ideal - he would be collected and taken to a homebased environment and many minders provide a homecooked meal

contact your local Families information service for a list of minders in your area.

visit several and get a good feel for them and you will find the right one.

At private nurseries the nursery nurses are often willing to do this sort of thing. I dont know how state nurseries compare though?

When my ds2 started school (mornings only from sept to dec) I found a local cm who was happy to pick him up from school at 1 and keep him til 5.30. I was lucky that friend who is a cm (but busy!) could recommend someone for me. If you know anyone who has children at school, ask if they or their friends can recommend anyone. Otherwise, just trawl the la list I guess. Sorry, can't help with £ am oop north!

Incidentally, he started going to afterschool club (from 3 til 5.30) when he was 4 1/2 and loved it!

It sounds as though you need a Child Minder - which is what I looked high and low for when I was in the same situation. I couldn't find one, but fortunately DS's school after school care would take 3yos and we managed that way - just.

Do be aware tho, that you 3 year old will be taking up a under 5 space, and you may be asked to pay for a whole space, as for a CM we can only have 3 under 5.

Note that Shoshe very unreasonably wouldn't move to the other end of the country to be my CM when I needed one so badly so she is clearly not all that obliging

On the norty step miss squiggle

We do not have bad manners here!!!!!

I have one just like you at the moment

Thank you everyone for your advice.

Unfortunately, the nursery stopped doing after school care some years ago and the company they handed over to only does age 4 and up(and all the nusery staff are there until 7). I'll look into CMs again although would be ideal to have them brought back to my house (not that I want everything my way eh?!). As I don't want to employ a nanny, I think that CMs may be my only option.

I guess the list from the counil is my best starting point there ?

PS - if I now don't reply for ages, I'm not being rude, just trying to get kids sorted to go away for the w/e !

Sorry, just re-read Pippin26 for advice on where to find CMs...