What childcare options are available for ds/dd childcare when they go to secondary school?

[MrsS01]

As they're too young to walk home and stay on their own whilst you're at work and after school clubs are sporadic - what childcare options are availble?

Not a lot. Is the library at the school open until late? Ds's closes at 6.

Maybe a childminder? But ours don't do childcare for over 8's.

DS1 gets the school bus home and stays by himself until we get in 2 nights a week and DS2 will be doingthe same from Tuesday when he starts secondary.

I am not sure there are childcare options when they get to secondary school.

Au pair

Not all 11 year olds are mature enough to do this Mutt.

ILoveTiffany - that's the problem struggling to find one near that takes over 11's.

Mutt - 'cos its a long walk not particurly safe, soon in the dark, then on their own for a few hours before mum gets back from work. Not happy to let them do it just yet.

Them? Is this twins or an older sibling?

Thanks Belle - exactly, one DS will be fine with it, but this one won't!

Can you get a cleaner who works in the evenings? She could supervise your DC from a distance and prepare your supper as well as cleaning/ironing? Could be a nice job for an older lady with an empty nest?

ILoveTiffany - sorry for the confusion, it will be just one - the eldest one.

Bonsoir - I like that! Still the problem of getting him on the long walk home in the dark though

Can you finish work earlier?

Lol bonsoir
A cleaner/childminder and cook? That's an au pair isn't it?

Why has he a long walk? All our secondary schools provide buses

What time does he finish school? It will be dark about 4.15. Surely he will be home before then.

bella - no, that's not an option :(

MrsSO1 - advertise the role and see what you get. It's not a usual job description in the UK, AFAIK, but it's a perfectly reasonable one - you might get someone who has had their own children and really understands the after school thing - that children don't need lots of supervision but do need a kind presence. And you would get home to a clean house and supper on the table!

What counts as a long walk?

The person could pick your DS up?

My sister has a lady who comes and looks after her 2 for a couple of hours every night. She makes them encourages them to do homework, cooks supper and will do any bits of ironing. The Dc are now 13 and 16 and are probably old enough to be by themselves but they actually like having her there.

I like bonsoirs idea too though I'm not sure how easy it would be to find this house angel (I want one!!) This perfect person could walk your son home and possibly look after your other children too! Maybe put an advert in the post office / gum tree advertising the hours and the role? Nanny agencies sometimes have empty nesters who fill mothers help roles though the hours may not be enough - might be work asking though.

We used to have an A-level student look after younger children after school a couple of evenings a week, though I'm not sure how that would work with older children.

anhh - its a good 3 miles from the school bus drop off.

Thanks for all your ideas x

crikey are you in the UK?

a 3 hour walk after bus drop off seems odd

how do they get to the bus stop in the mornings?

3 miles Woof, not 3 hours. Would take an hour?