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Original poster

After school clubs - Pros and Cons

27 replies

breeminor · 14/02/2008 14:30

My DS will be starting in reception in Sept and I am considering what option to go for with regards to after school care as I currently work full time.

Please can I have some views from those of you who have used after school clubs especially from such a young age.
Do they enjoy it, is it too long a day etc, etc. My DS is currently at full time nursery from 8:30 to 5:45

Thanks

OP posts:

avenanap · 14/02/2008 14:35

I think school's alot different. They have to sit and listen. For some of the little darlings this is really hard and can make them really tired. My ds used to go to an after school club. We didn't get home until 6:30. By the time I'd cooked tea, eaten, helped him with his homework it was time for bed. I had no quality time with him in the evenings. I think he found this quite hard. I like collecting him from school. He's happy to see me, which is nice. He's 8 now but went to afterschool club when he was 5.

Reallytired · 14/02/2008 14:48

My son loves his after school club. He gets to play with friends and has the opportunity to do Art and Craft, play outside games and sometimes the LSAs who run the club get him to do homework.

Unlike childminders a lot of after school clubs you only pay when your child attends. For example with our after school club you can get a refund if you give the school 48 hours notice.

An after school club has at least two members of staff. One of the ladies in our afterschool club has an NVQ level 3 in childcare and the other lady is a qualified nanny. They both have done courses in first aid and they are very hot on health and safety.

I think an afterschool club is a better option than a childminder.

marialuisa · 14/02/2008 14:51

DD went in "after school club" (and early care) from nursery age, I think the clubs vary a lot TBH. The one she attended age 3 was just kids playing in the school hall/watching TV, she was fine. Her current school aftercare is much more structured; they get to play for 20 mins or so (usually outside)or watch TV if it's miserable then they get given sandwiches and the older ones do homework for 20 mins and then more play/art activities. She's now nearly 7 and it works really well, I think the snack/homework thing is really important though. If she had to do any homework when we get home things would collapse!

cornsilk · 14/02/2008 14:54

It depends on the club and on the other children. Would he be better off going with a childminder for that short time? Mine both do that, it's much more personal.

cornsilk · 14/02/2008 14:55

Best thing to do is check it out for yourself.

Original poster

breeminor · 14/02/2008 15:09

Thanks for all the views so far. I am still so undecided but it is comforting to draw on the experiences of others. In my ideal world I would be there to pick him up at 3:15 everyday. Going part time is not really an option for me at the moment.
Although maybe I could get away with it one day a week.

I have thought about the childminder option and worry that this would be another new person to get to know and a new set of rules to adhere to. At least for the afterschool club it will be the same environment. Do they have childminders that mind in your own home?

I might try it out for a term and see how my DS likes it. I?ll try and keep an open mind and be prepared to change things around if necessary.

Trying hard not to obsess about it but as my name 'breeminor' suggests I am not doing too well. And this is just Feb! Please keep all your views coming. Thanks

OP posts:

coppertop · 14/02/2008 15:18

I had to use the after-school club for ds1 in an emergency once. He enjoyed it so much that I was badgered into letting him go once a week. Now he wants to go twice a week.....

Reallytired · 14/02/2008 16:12

I think with childminders its a pig in a poke. If you have a good childminder it can work well. However some women become childminders because they are incapable of doing anything.

I still think a child minder would struggle to offer such a good enviromnent as the afterschool club my son attends.

LittleBella · 14/02/2008 17:21

DS hates his after school club, DD loves it. DS hates it for the following reasons:

It's in school. Therefore he feels like he's still at school.

He doesn't get fed there, except a snack, so has to wait until really late for dinner.

He can't watch TV.

He isn't surrounded by his own things (but that would be the case at a cm's too.)

DD loves it for reason 1 and 2.

Reallytired · 14/02/2008 17:43

I think that reason 3 is an excellent reason for choosing the afterschool club.

I don't think its fair to discuss the rights and wrongs of putting children in childcare on this sort of thread.

My son loves afterschool club.

There is lots to do.
He gets to play with his friends.
There is someone other than his nagging Mum to help with homework.
There is lots of space to run about and he can get to go on the school climbing frame.

Reallytired · 14/02/2008 17:45

I love it because.

a) Its cheap.
b) Its flexible
c) The staff are qualifed and I know the care is of a good standard because the head teacher has appointed them.
d) The children are safe!

Fennel · 14/02/2008 17:48

my dds have gone once or twice a week to after school clubs, including dd3 who is 3 and at preschool on the school grounds. My others went when they were 4 and liked it, they got petted by the older children and made friends with children further up the school.

the club is based in the preschool so dd3 gets joined by her big sisters and they all play together. They like it. They do craft, there are loads of toys, the staff are the preschool staff so well trained and low turnover, and they play outside in summer.

LIZS · 14/02/2008 17:55

dd did it a few times a week after the first half term in Reception . It meant she could finish at 3.45 which was her brother's pick up time , rather than 3.10 and us wait around. It still made for a long day and tbh she was tired. 3 years on and she doenslt mind a bit, now stays until 4.15 in the After School club or does an activity .

wheresthehamster · 14/02/2008 17:59

To some children being in an institution from 9 - 3 is long enough. A childminder will provide that 'chill out' factor that some children need after school.

Some children love after school clubs and if it is a good one, lucky you. Some are run by support staff who have been in school all day and they may be flagging and only doing it because their normal pay is so poor.

One thing though - do you know that your ds will be doing full days in September? He may do half days for a term or half-term. Worth finding out first.

LIZS · 14/02/2008 18:06

What do you plan to do about holidays ? An after school CM may also be able to cover those .

hana · 14/02/2008 18:09

dd1 goes to the afterschool club for the 2 days I work and SHE LOVES IT! Gets to socialize with different students than just her yeargroup which I think is important, and she has a lot of fun there. They do the usual arts/crafts/sport and general chill out time. They get a light tea, and I pick her up at 6. It is a long day (she goes to the breakfast club for those days as well) but that' what happens when you have to work.
Ours isn't run by teachers or other school staff, they are independent and just use school premises

NoBiggy · 14/02/2008 18:13

My niece goes to an after school club in theory. In practice B and SIL are scratching around for someone to pick her up after school because it's not running (maybe because there aren't enough attending? Not entirely sure.)

It's a shame, as she enjoys it when it's on.

Reallytired · 14/02/2008 20:11

Generally school holidays are not too bad for childcare. In our area we have quite a choice of playschemes and activites. Its worth doing a search on the web to see what play schemes run in your area.

bozza · 14/02/2008 20:22

There is no way I would be able to cover holidays with play schemes etc. And also at age 5 that is more getting to grips with new enviroments, people etc than just having a childminder. DS went to holiday club today but it is 10.30-3. Now how much good is that as childcare? Especially when it is only 1 day out of the week. But he went to his childminder in the morning and she took him to holiday club. It cost me £2.50 (is a Church one) on top of already paying the CM so not really breaking the bank.

We don't have after school club so our only choice was a childminder. DS has been with her 2 1/2 years (3 x a week) and there are on various days several other boys from his class. She spends a lot of time with them on the rec after school. And this week she took them to soft play on Tuesday, then round a local museum on Wednesday am, then to local country park playing football and cricket Wednesday pm, then holiday club today.

Fennel · 15/02/2008 09:39

The holiday clubs we have used from age 4 up have been based at the school the dds used to go to. So it wasn't a new environment for them, it was the familiar setting and people. It is full days, 8-6 if you need it though we do less.

It probably does depend on your child though, my dds generally go together and they all like group activities.

Christie · 15/02/2008 10:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HappyMummyOfOne · 16/02/2008 21:33

DS goes to the afterschool club and is in reception - he goes 3 nights a week.

Its fab, I dont have to worry about him being picked up etc on time if relying on a childminder as he doesnt have to leave the premises. Also dont have to worry re sickness as there is always cover.

Its held in the hall and the staff are not part of the school but a business. There is an activity per night ie baking weds etc as well as free play. There is a projector screen for films and a game console as well so a good mixture for all ages. Huge beanbags for those that want to chill out with a book etc.

Its fab value for money and a great service. No holiday club but what I cant cover my SIL helps with.

alfiesbabe · 16/02/2008 21:46

Agree with last post. I used one because it was logistically easier - no picking up and travelling to CM and then home. As they get older, they tend to want to be with friends. A mix of structured activities plus 'free play' seems to work best. Children are all different - my dd loved the interaction and activities, whereas ds wanted to chill in front of the telly for a bit (this was restricted at their club, not just on all the time) and then do free play. Another advantage is that if the club is based at school, the facilities are probably better - eg mine had the adventure play area outside, plus indoor equipment.

spokette · 18/02/2008 09:20

My DTS will start school in September (boo-hoo) and I have registered them with a breakfast club for 4 mornings and an Afterschool club for one evening per week. I have spoken to parents who use the clubs and they are very happy with them.

My DTS are use to long days at nursery so I know they will adapt to the clubs with ease, especially as they are on the school's premise.

The caveat to all of the above is that they get into their first choice school[fingers cross].

MNersanonymous · 11/03/2008 08:47

Breeminor - sorry for the thread hijack but we chatted about local schools a while ago e.g. Lochinver, Lyonsdown, where did you decide to send your ds in the end?

I'd be really interested in any views on the schools you saw and the admissions procedures especially at LHS.

(namechanged by the way!)

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