School run

[Danini]

My DD is only 3.5 and won't start school until next September, but I already stress about the school run, homework and not having time with it all. I'm working full time, my DH as well, we have a 45-60 min commute. I am able to WFH 3 days a week. I would love to walk her to and from school, but then I'm not at work until late/need to leave too early on my office days. What does your daily schedule look like? Would love to get some inspiration.

My DCs school opens its doors at 8.30 so I can drop DC off and be home for 8.40 on work from home days. We use after school club on the days I work.
Homework doesn’t normally start in reception so you’ve got a while and reading can be done at bedtime when you’d be reading them a story anyway

I also WFH three days a week and have a long commute on my office days. DH works from home 4 days a week which is a big help.

I do drop off on the days I am WFH and I skive off work early on a Monday for pick up. Tuesdays to Fridays we have after school club so we collect at 6 (DH does this on my London days). DH also does drop off on my office days.

So basically we split the drop offs and pick ups evenly, but we do use after school club. There are breakfast clubs as well which are very popular where we live (commuter town!) but we haven't needed to use them yet.

I WFH two days a week so drop off and collect from school on those days using my hours lunch break and then do a few hours work once the kids have gone to bed.

On my three office days I have to drop off at breakfast club for 07:30 then pick up from afterschool at abound 17:30.

If you can't cover it all from both parents over the week then this is what wraparound care is for! Breakfast clubs, afterschool clubs, childminders who do school runs, sometimes local nurseries/preschools will also do wraparound care, swapping with other parents in a similar position so you cover each others in-the-office days, grandparents or family who live close if you're lucky.

Ask about breakfast club. Ours opens at 7.45 so I can walk to school and be home by 7.55. I can log on at 8 on WFH days and be in the office by 8.30/8.45. She will make friends in other years also. My youngest has a very active social calendar of bday party's of children in other years. Made for a fantastic bday party for her this year 😊