Meldreth Primary or Fowlmere Primary - any childcare services?

[hatinghousehunting]

So after many (many many many) house viewings, we have a short list of three possible properties, two in the catchment for Fowlmere Primary and one for Meldreth Primary. Our daughter will be starting primary in Sept 2015. As we both work full-time we'll need out-of-hours care, probably both breakfast and morning. Anyone got any recommendations for childminders who cover either of these schools? Any other wrap-around care options available?

... that should be 'both breakfast and after school'. I need more coffee.

I know a friends child at fowlmere used to be transported to Thriplow for after school club. This was a year or do ago

Barrington has a before school and after school club

Could you apply for Melbourn primary and use their before and after school club? Or do you want her to go to the nearest school?

There is a directory here. I assume that it is exhaustive as childminders must need to be registered.

The Fowlmere school website says they still have the arrangement with Thriplow, though this might just be after school.

Our neighbours seem to have opted for a before and after school nanny who brings her own child. That might be an option, though it would be quite expensive.

If you are thinking of going out of catchment you would need to has a back up of your catchment school . I'm fairly sure Melbourn were over subscribed this year . Good luck, I would say my experience is it will all work out in the end

I didn't check that. It appears on page 147 that only children in catchment got into Melbourn primary. And none of the appeals were accepted.

Brilliant, thanks for all the info! After much deliberation we have gone for a house in Meldreth - sounds like it won't be the world's most convenient location for childcare, but it's great for pretty much everything else.

Interesting idea to get a before/after school nanny... I had no idea that existed. Probably hideously expensive compared to finding a childminder who does pick up for that school. Unfortunately there's only one registered childminder I can find who lists Meldreth Primary as a pick up location... oh well, at least we have a couple of years to try to sort it out!

Great to hear that you've found something to suit you. PM me if you fancy meeting up when you've got here - my daughter sounds to be the same age as yours. Also, if you want your DD to do rainbows, brownies etc the it is worth getting her name down now as the waiting lists are years long.

Thanks cammel, will PM you once we're in the area!

Can I add another note of caution?
The after school provision at Melbourn is full on Wednesday and very busy on other days. Also the breakfast club's near capacity.
There's also no holiday provision so you need to allow fpr this.
Good luck.