Juggling school pick up during working hours

[PotatoRasta]

I work here in the UK but most of our clients are based in the America therefore most work calls tend to be around that 2-4pm time slot which conflicts with my 4 year old DS school pick up.
Parents in similar situation, how have you been juggling this? Is after school club the only option?
I work from home whilst my husband is office based so pick up falls on me. Paren

We used a childminder

Yes - after school club. My DD has been in until 6pm since she started pre-school at 3. I’m lucky in that we have this option and it’s not hideously expensive (though prices keep going up each year!).

We use after school clubs on my work days, although usually the activity clubs as I'm able to pick up at 4.30pm, and dd prefers those as she gets to do things like dance and football. DH is office based but comes back from the office early on one day to do pick up and continues to work but from home.

I also work a lot with the US and work till 5.30. My calendar is blocked out after that. It does mean I occasionally have to have calls after 9pm
once DD is in bed - particularly if I need to speak to the West Coast.

Why are you working from home with a 4 year old around anyway?
Regardless of calls, I’d imagine that most parents of 4 year olds are using some sort of childcare during their working hours.

We have a childminder for one pick up and after school club on another day. I only do school pick up in an emergency, even though i work from home often. I work a lot of extra hours and I’m senior leadership team but personally I don’t use work time to collect my child from school.

I'm amazed by the number of parents who juggle work with pick ups. Maybe they have very placid kids or watch a lot of TV. I'd say you definitely need childcare while you are working.

If you're working you need to use some sort of childcare. It's likely that after school club or a childminder will be your best bet. You could also look at getting a babysitter. What are you planning to do in the school holidays?

why wouldnt you use after school club

I usually start work at 8 and finish at 4 on most days so I don’t need anyone to watch him since he gets home at 3.30 everyday. My job is flexible enough to allow me pay back the hours so I do around 1 hour of work after he goes to bed at 7. I was looking for days where I need to join meetings and can’t do the school run. I like the idea of getting a childminder to cover those so thanks everyone.
School holidays will be covered by the grandparents where needed.

You are less likely to find a childminder who can do flexible pick ups on days when you want them. Many after school clubs will offer this level of flexibility.

It will probably be hard (but not impossible I guess) to find a childminder happy/able to do ad hoc days as and when you need them.

Check your school’s after school club. Ours you can book up to the day before for one off sessions.

After school care. We couldn't leave work at pick up time all days of the week.

I doubt you'd find a CM able and willing to do ad hoc days when you happen to have meetings.
But you need childcare anyway for a 4 year old.
You say you are contracted to work 8 - 4.

After school club for sure. It’s going to be cheaper and more flexible with adhoc bookings than a childminder. Which I think would be a really odd and overly complicated solution when there’s a simple one where he already is. He’ll also be there with friends rather than random babies or toddlers. Mine has done it since reception and he loves it because it’s free play with mates and a jam sandwich for tea time snack.

But instead of rushing out to get your child and then having to go back on later - you could leave him there until 4.45/5 at after school and then no going back on to work later so you’d have a nicer evening 🤷‍♀️

If there are any parents nearby with kids in same year you could offer a reciprocal agreement where you do some pick-ups and they do others, if it’s more of an as and when thing. I sometimes take my friend’s daughter and drop her off at home if her mum has a meeting.

Or be like my pal who just has her meetings at the school gate on her headphones

Yes, you need some sort of childcare in place. When they are 10, it’s possible to work without them needing much from you, but at 4, that’s just not possible. Dh and I do a mix of arranging our hours so one of us is always available before and after school. Whoever needs that time, works, and whoever can be free, does the school run. I’ve mostly always worked PT and quite flexibly and Dh is self-employed, so it’s easy to do.