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Original poster

Prep school offering 6am - 8pm, 51 weeks. How quickly is that going to become common then?

241 replies

EBDteacher · 25/03/2012 15:26

I've just been reading an article in a local 'services for kids' type magazine about at prep school in the area that is going to offer fully integrated care from 8am-6pm 51 weeks of the year, with optional sessions 6am-8am and 6pm-8pm! It's going to be charged monthly at £500pcm (for the whole lot- not just the wraparound) like nursery fees.

The school terms are also going to be different to the state sector so parents can take family holidays outside peak times.

Wouldn't suit us as DH and I are both teachers but I can see it appealing to lots of working families. If a few schools start offering services like that how long before they all will?

OP posts:
eastnorth · 28/03/2012 22:15

Thanks mrz for the daily mail link. I think the trouble is every working mum feels guilty and there a lots of people on here tryingtojustify leaving their children me included.

Talkinpeace was only saying her point of view I think you was a bit harsh jalapeño. Also if it is so great why don't you want your ds to go all the time?

It's hard to know what is the right way to go really I think I will try and cut down my hours.

IndigoBell · 28/03/2012 22:25

mrz's link doesn't tell us very much, because we don't know what childcare is like in Canada.

The only thing all us mothers have in common, is that we all feel guilty.

Everyone feels guilty. Whether they work, or they stay at home, or something in the middle.

TalkinPeace2 · 28/03/2012 22:31

Indigo and everybody
Please do not feel guilty
it will do neither you nor your children any good
what you have to do is make the best of every moment
either at work being damned good at what you do
or at home being a human diving board, bag carrier etc
and accept that life is a balance, but you balanced it to the best of your ability taking into account the feelings of all other stakeholders in your choices today and into the future
(that was the bit missing from my childhood)

blackcoffee · 28/03/2012 23:00

I tried to pick my two from afterschool club early today but they wanted to stay til the usual time! am v lucky cos it opens at 7.45 which is a big help, I'm like you las holding it all together
agreeing ... I agree with annie
and indigo - I don't like being a mum much either - I do like the dc of course, it's the pay and conditions that get me down

Portofino · 28/03/2012 23:29

And it is all about MOTHER'S feeling guilty too - never about fathers.

jalapeno · 29/03/2012 16:30

I don't want DS to go full time to our particular ASC because he has allergies which means he eats a packed lunch and then all he can eat there is plain pasta. If they provided food and there was flexibility for earlier or later pick ups I'd have him do it full time happily. My younger DS was in full time nursery and I was happy with that as he could eat well.

I also hated my job and my 2 hour commute which helped my decision Grin

Sorry if I cyber shouted talkinpeace but the assumption that my children will one day hate me for working and having to use wraparound care riled me somewhat. Of course I felt guilty at times but I always knew I would have felt worse if I had stopped my career (not easy to get back in) and our income had halved. We live in Greater London so for a modest house in a "nice" area we need two salaries. I don't have to justify that to my children , they benefit from living in our area too.

The throwaway comments of "your children will feel the same no matter how you rationalise it" are hurtful and just plain daft because for every child feeling neglected will be a perfectly happy one. I can criticise my mother for many things but I've always been proud of how she provided for me on her own and made sure I had a lovely home in a nice area and a good education. It's all about balance, just because parents work doesn't mean they never see their children or their children aren't grateful for what their wages provide. In fact I've met some spoilt, ungrateful DCs from families with SAHPs in my time, if children want to be pissed off with parental choices they will be, you might as well earn a crust at the same time Grin

My mother was unusual too as a SP in the early 80s, I was the only "broken home" and only child in my entire school at one point!

jalapeno · 29/03/2012 16:31

I can see you've said about balance above so essentially we agree. Huzzah! Wine

TalkinPeace2 · 29/03/2012 16:45
Brew
Colleger · 01/04/2012 09:36

Not read it all. Got through the first 1.5 pages and couldn't believe how dense half the posters are. What's not to understand? 51 weeks is optional and who is going to take all of it? Then smug posters came on saying how they gave up their job for their kids. Well we're all so thrilled you had a partner and he earned enough! Hmm I would have wanted a school like this as I don't want to ship my kids off to different people in the holidays. Having moved around a lot I never knew anyone well enough to ask for emergency pick ups. I remember one prep where the nursery shut at three and the main school shut at 8pm. I was so ill one day that I asked if they'd keep DS until OH got home as I couldn't drive the 34 mile round trip to pick up. They said no, I had to get in the car and I had an accident. I'd def opt for such a school and would rarely use any of the extra weeks.

MichelleField · 03/04/2012 13:54

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

WizzyBizzy · 03/04/2012 22:17

Eveline Day School in London already does this (may have been mentioned up thread, sorry if so but I haven't read through everything). It's not really so different from sending your kids to holiday clubs etc - just that they are hanging out with their friends all year round. My DCs don't go there but I know some who do and they really love it.

WillowFae · 03/04/2012 23:04

Collager you are totally right. Mine can do 46 weeks a year, but they don't. I'm a teacher so lucky enough to have time off in the holidays. However I DO have to work during the holidays (May half-term is a nightmare as I have 300 reports to write and 200 end of year exams to mark) and this arrangement means that they can be in playscheme if I need them to be, or I can spend time with them. To be honest, a lot of the time they choose to go in as they do fun trips and activities and their friends are there!

Vicky2011 · 03/04/2012 23:18

Sounds amazing value. If I needed childcare for 5 days a week I would be paying £1000 a month just for the wrap around care -7.15-6.00. I do wish schools were forced to provide breakfast and after school clubs. Though I must admit £500 for the childcare AND the school fees sounds a bit, well, too good to be true!

scottishmummy · 03/04/2012 23:58

fantastic.I'd bite hand off for that
what locations!?

scottishmummy · 04/04/2012 00:00

and just to clarify,I've never felt guilty working ft
why would I?
good role model,solvent,hard working...Gosh that bring tear to glass eye

awinawin · 04/04/2012 09:55

it sounds bargainous. Although 2k a term isnt THAT uncommon in yr 1. Ours ramp up the fees for yr 3 onwards.

awinawin · 04/04/2012 09:56

and I work long hours and travel abroad. As does dh. So full time private care would be excellent and I would want it in the private school sector rather than a local childminder.

Tearsofthemushroom · 04/04/2012 20:22

Just had a look at the Ofsted report for this school and it only has thee Shock children in key stage 1 unless I am reading it wrong. Also only had a satisfactory rating on a lot of headings. Might be a reason why it is so cheap!

www.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/1720585/urn/110154.pdf

mrz · 04/04/2012 20:43

There are only 3 children in KS1 & 2 combined Tears Hmm no wonder they are desperate diversifying

Tearsofthemushroom · 04/04/2012 21:28

I am trying to imagine a whole school with three children. At lest they get personal attention Wink

noddyholder · 04/04/2012 21:30

That is way too long to leave a child. No matter how important you think your job is Sad

scottishmummy · 04/04/2012 21:32

my kids did 8-6 nursery 46wk year
I'm not seeking approval or approbation
it suited our needs

mrz · 04/04/2012 21:33

to be fair there are 111 in nursery and reception Wink

Xenia · 04/04/2012 21:55

Plenty of mothers don't feel guilty. The guilt thing is just a myth to keep women down. Most of us know we do a great job. Working mothers are some of the best in the UK. We aren't all sitting there crying into our pillows. We know we do heaps better than most housewives with our children and the results are there to be seen in the children. Housewives "abandon " ". leave" "delegate" and all those silly emotive words thsir chidlren to schools for hours and hours and hours every year and no one criticises them and men delegate childcare to women every day of the year and no one criticises them.

As is really clear parents decide the hours. Children want happy parents and a stable regular life. If they have that they adore routine, knowing what will happen when.

Our children had a daily nanny 8-6 and two loving parents. It's the perfect solution and much better for all. We all saw the new survey last week about levels of depression amongst housewives who follow the unnatural model of being with chidlren all the time. It's very damaging to all and best avoided.

scottishmummy · 04/04/2012 21:58

yes guilt is a construct to keep women down
the assumption that the mother has failed by work and parenting s erroneous