Gaelic School Nursery and Working Parent - Advice desperately needed

[Yoshi007]

Hello there,

First time poster on Mumsnet

My son will be commencing his placement at the Gaelic school nursery in August of this year and I have a real problem with regards to getting him to and from childcare as the placement is only 12h45-15h45. I have contacted nurseries in the area (as his current nursery is too far away) to ask if they have a run for the children to take them back and forth and unfortunately they do not. I have also contacted many childminders none of which perform drop offs and pick ups from the Gaelic school - maybe I'm contacting the wrong childminders

My son will be attending the nursery mon-fri and I can do three of those days (after faffing around with my working hours) but it is impossible for me to get back and forth from work twice and complete my hours.

I cannot drop my hours any more than I have done and as I work in a clinical setting I cannot just drop everything at 12h00 and say "right that's me off"

Thanks for reading and your advice is welcome.

It's rubbish isn't it? Council nurseries are definitely not set up for working parents.
Could you do a split nursery place? Keep him in private nursery on the difficult days and council nursery on the days you can do?
It's not ideal, but have this situation too and that's the way we're managing it. Know of others who have done it and seems to go OK.

Unfortunately as my son is learning Gaelic he really needs to attend for the five days to really absorb the language and catch up with the other children (he would really struggle if he only attended for three days). I am still contacting nurseries and childminders but feel like I'm getting nowhere, unfortunately, the system seems to be set up for either the unemployed or families where a family member can help with the childcare issue as no one can work for three hours a day and sustain a household.

Very few working parents use council nurseries for this very reason.

Why does he need to.learn Gaelic now? Can he do the weekend classes with you and then start learning in primary one along with lots of other children?

It was on recommendation from the Gaelic school themselves as they find that children who have not attended a Gaelic speaking nursery tend to struggle at primary level. I have contacted the weekend coordinator and was informed that my son and I could not attend until September as this is when they will start again but at least I've got the ball rolling.

A lot of children that start at the Gaelic school attend private nursery. Another option is Lyoncross, the council run south side Gaelic nursery, they have full-time children. There is also a private Gaelic nursery on the south side.

Or Mount Cameron nursery in East Kilbride? Depends where on the S Side you are.

Thanks for your replies. I have finally come to terms with the fact that I cannot get my son back and forth to the gaelic school. I live near Kelvingrove park, work in the west-end, do not have a car and therefore rely on public transport. I have contacted the nursery in Cathcart and will see how that might work as the nursery is right by a train station. Again thanks to everyone for their input - Where there is a will there is a way

Yoshi why did I think you lived in the S Side? Doh! Have PM-ed you ...