opinions needed about morning lateness...

[globalmouse]

ds is starting school in september, and it's all a bit of a nightmare as far as childcare is concerned. He goes to a childminder already when I work, but she has other school drop-offs to do, and so he would be late on the 2 mornings she childminds him. Only by about 10-15 mins, but still late.
I am looking into a new childminder, but there aren't any with vacancies around here! I don't know any other mums he could go with, and to be fair, I can't expect another mum to have him from 7.30 2 days a week anyway.
They don't run a breakfast club.
So he will get a late 2 days a week. Do you think this matters??

Just another suggestion; You could look out for a lift share with another fmaily. Some schools have database of parents who would like to do this. LOADS of people do it at my DC's school. So, the 2 morning you work, you drop him off with the other family on your way to work, and he does into school with them. Then 2 other mornings (or afternoons) you offer reciprocal care and take their DC/s to school.

Might not be easy to find until he's started there (though worth asking the school), but if you do end up paying a different CM/MH or whatever then don't commit to too long a contract, in case you find a good lift share once he starts there.

globalmouse - I was in the same position as you 2 years ago when dd started school. There was only one childminder that the school knew of but she wasn't registered. I phoned the 30 closest childminders to our house and the school and not one of them took children to dd's school or was able to do so. There was no breakfast club, no nurseries that took children to the school and I didn't know any of the other parents. I was lucky that my sister lived locally at the time and could help out for the first few weeks. I spoke to the school and they suggested contacting my local childrens centre (Surestart I think) and they were able to ask around at a local childminding group. Luckily they found someone. They came to my rescue again when the childminder told us just before the summer holidays that she couldn't have dd any more.

Good luck!

I know it is not ideal, but you wouldn't necessarily need care from 7:30, would you? Could the childminder not have your child as normal, and then drop him off with someone who can get him to school?

I know it is not ideal, but if it is just short term and WORKS?

Just thought of one more option - does the school have a Walking Bus? Our school has one which collects children from 8am.

Ahojj Tue 17-May-11 07:20:35
Telling the school "THEY WILL BE LATE until you run a breakfast club" will not work, as you will simply get an education officer involved investigating and taking action about the lateness. This is on the parent to sort out, not the school - especially with funding for pre/after school clubs being slashed.

Find it hard to believe the OP has no friends who can help out AND get the children there in time. But lateness is no excuse and disrupts the learning of the first session of the day (which can often be the most important/most useful), and that of all of the other children. Pretty selfish.

You obviously live in a different universe to some of us then Ahojj. What is the OP supposed to do, please do enlighten us. Every child who lives in my street goes to a different school (4 primaries, 2 secondaries) and I don;t know the names of most of them just see their uniforms much less know their parents well enough to ask for childcare from 7.30am.

The OP is not saying this will be a long term thing and she is doing her best to find childcare but she can't make pigs fly. Or is she supposed to give up work in a valuable professions and live off benefits?

As a temporary measure, could you take your ds along to work with you and send him to his school in a CRB checked taxi?

are there spaces for him at your school maybe?

I don't think my ds's school would have a problem with your ds being dropped off a little early though, as a temporary fix.

I think that the solution is to book the childminder, but to arrange for her to drop him with another parent, either at their home or in the playground. That way they are only responsible for him for 10 - 15 mins and it does not become too onerous. You pay them or reciprocate on other days of course!

Find this parent by:

Advertising at the school - parents' notice board? PTA? Newsletter?
Going to the pre-Reception meeting and handing out slips of paper to all and sundry.
Going to the summer fair and handing out slips of paper to all and sundry.

Try advertising in newsagents within a reasonable proximity of the school - that may be the best way to get a retired person.

Keep asking everyone you meet!

Would your son not be able to go to the school where you teach?

I don't think anyone has suggested it yet but have you tried posting on the childcare board on Netmums?

DH and I are both teachers; he leaves the house at 6.30am to get to his school (which starts earlier than most). I work a 10 minute walk away so dash out of the door when our nanny arrives to look after DD1 (school age) and DD2 (baby).

Before DD2 was born DD1 was given a place in 'my' school nursery. Initially she would walk to school with me, potter around in the classroom and be delivered to nursery by a couple of older children. She was collected from school by a childminder who didn't really do a school pick-up from my school but, with agreement from the nursery teacher, collected DD1 a couple of minutes before the end of the day so that she could go to the next school which was in the next road. After a while the breakfast club staff (TAs from the school) offered to have her in breakfast club - she was the youngest by a long way but they did it as a favour to me as it meant I could also attend morning meetings/briefings.

You may find that a local family has an au-pair who might be available to help you out or that another family may be willing to let you share their nanny for the before school time. Cafes, churches, playgroups, Brownie/Beaver packs, gyms etc. would be good places to consider placing an advert or perhaps a local community forum/Gumtree?

Good luck!

I really don't have any further advice to offer but just wanted to say that parents who would help you out by having your ds from 7.30 2 days a week do exist, I would do it for somebody who really needed it and I can't be the only person who would, hopefully you will either sort out official childcare or when he starts school and you meat some of the other parents you will find somebody who will either have him from 7.30 or have him from say 8.30 if your current CM dropped him off before she took the other children to their school. Have hope, there are people who are willing to help somebody in need.

Me too bunny, especially if i was offered 'time off' a couple of school runs on different days