After school club or nanny?

[RockahulaRocks]

DD is starting school this September and I’m currently trying to decide between after school club or an after school nanny (we’re lucky to have a small local agency that specialises in this as an option). If anyone has opinions or experience on what would be the best option, I’m all ears. Nursery fees are currently nearly £2k per month so either option is affordable as we’ll be saving on those fees.

DD is summer born so will be 4 and a bit when she starts reception. She’ll be attending after school childcare 2-3 days a week. Options are:

1. After school club until 6pm. Free play and tea provided and will pick up from school. Cost £200 a month. 25 minute walk from the train station when I commute into and 15 mins back home.

2. After school nanny until 6pm. Pick up from school, cost £400 per month, 10 min walk from station and will already be home when I get there.

I would go for a nanny, especially if they can offer you school holiday cover. After school club might be a good option from Year One, but I find that reception age children can be quite tired after a full day at school and having some down time at home can be beneficial.

I work part time in an afterschool setting and I would recommend a nanny. The under 6s I work with are all tired by 4.30/5 and desperately want to go home, some are not collected until 6.30 and are practically asleep on their feet. It's particularly bad in winter when they are coming to school and going home in the dark.

A nanny will give your child a more normal routine and more flexibility for you, for example, if your car breaks down or train is delayed.

The pros/cons are pretty straightforward. ASC is cheaper; nanny you call the shots. If you can afford a nanny, it comes down to how much you value the nanny benefits.

Bear in mind that unlike FT nannies, after school nannies are often pretty transient and you are likely to be frequently replacing them, unless you are lucky enough to find e.g. a NWOC who is happy just doing a few hours.

Nanny, definitely. Having tried both, a good nanny makes a parent’s life much easier and if there’s no cost differential it’s a much better option.

We went with after school nanny. DC appreciate being at home and can do homework and have play dates. I appreciate coming home to kids that have been fed and bathed and not having a frantic evening.

Only downside is it’s a high turnover position. Most people do it for 12 months max and I always feel like I’m looking for a new nanny.

What’s your plan for school holidays (13 weeks )?

In your case I would go with nanny, but only because of the time saving vs having to go from station to school. Otherwise ASC all the time. It was far more reliable and cheaper, my kids have always had a great time there.

Ours didn’t provide tea, but did do a substantial snack, and had a range of things to do, from hooning about outside to a quiet play tent. Mine were never particularly phased or tired after they started school; I don’t recognise all of these reception kids who are apparently zombified by starting school.

we have done both options with our children - and i would choose club again if you can. Whilst a nanny is great - if they are unwell or away for any reason then you are completely stuck. Lots of children go to after school club and your child will be with friends there. If he is already doing long days at nursery then school is no different.

I’d go for ASC. You are highly unlikely to get an after school nanny only 2 days a week that sticks around for the full academic year, as those hours attract people who are transient or who will continue to keep looking for more hours elsewhere. Meanwhile ASC will be consistent from day 1, no dramas or stress when if the nanny quits and flakes out on their notice. And it’s cheaper.

Nanny every time. She'll be looked after better, with more individual care, she will have a chance to rest and decompress etc. It's certainly what I would prefer if I were the child in this scenario.

Nanny sounds like a good option this first year if you are likely to be pushing the 6pm deadline- kids HATE being last to be collected from ASC! Although if only 3 days a week perhaps less impactful?

My ds made a lot of friends in Reception year at ASC and his new best friend has been a result of playing there this year so I’m a fan myself

but only because I try to ensure I’m there at latest 5.30 as he is so sad if he is nearly last to leave (but also sad if I’m early and he misses out on play time!)

I think as your child gets older switching to ASC is good - they have the energy and friends there and especially in spring and summer it is really good fun for them.

but for little ones often it’s better to be able to relax after a long day

Thanks a lot for all of the replies! We have school holidays covered for reception as our current nursery runs a holiday club until the term after she turns 5. Next year is a future-me problem, although this might be a pro for the nanny because the agency also offer holiday nannies too.

I’m currently looking at this as a reception year solution anyway - school has a lot of after-school clubs on site which kick in for year 1 so our needs might be different then anyway.

My main worry is the reliability of a nanny, as others have pointed out, although the agency does try to mitigate this if at all possible. I know the logical pros and cons on paper, but really am valuing people’s experience & perspective of the nuances I wouldn’t necessarily have thought of.