I am FT worker and just discovered holiday clubs are not open 2 weeks in August!

[confusedperson]

My DS1 will finish pre-school in July and start Reception in September. I just made a horrific discovery, that none of holiday clubs around us operate during last two weeks of August! I could look for a childminder to take him for those two odd weeks, but is this going to be my nightmare during the next 10 years? (I have a 2yo as well).
If you in a similar situation, what do you do?

Annual leave? Dependents leave?

quit my job and now earn minimum wage in a job that fits round the kids

not what you're wanting to hear I know

have no family back up, asked for unpaid leave and got laughed at by 2 bosses (women) who had mum and MIL regularly babysitting

its shit hopefully someone with better experience will come on with an answer

Hi Confusedperson

A few options occur. Find out if other mothers at the nursery with children of a similar age are in the same boat - maybe between you all you can share out the child care over that fortnight.

Look around in the area - often there are clubs running in the summer. Check with the school if you aren't aware of anything. Check with the school's after school club - often they run summer day care and sometimes will take children about to join the school. Also check with the nursery - they may be aware of other options for you.

Find out if you can temporarily place your child with a child minder for these two weeks. (It may be worthwhile to find a childminder if during the first term the reception class is only part-time because you'll need help with caring for your child during this period as well).

Do you have family or friends who may be able to help out during August. For instance could your child stay with a grandparent or an Aunt or Uncle? If you have a stay at home Mum friend who is looking after a child of a similar age to your own, she may not mind having to also look after your child - especially if you offer to help for treats (like paying for them all to go to the zoo, the movies or a museum).

This is a juggle and a logistical nightmare but you can find a way through it - unfortunately it just wasn't expected and you haven't had a lot of time to organise something - but you'll get there.

best of luck

Since your LO is still preschool age, maybe ask around the day nurseries in your area? They are open all year round except christmas, and your LO is still young enough to be covered by them.

I don't look forward to all the school holidays either. And I have no family help around. I think people mainly use both annual leaves of both parents and holiday clubs to cover the school holidays.

Now you know the situation I guess you can plan to take those 2 weeks as a/l in the future. I realise that doesn't help you this year.

Others have made good suggestions - get together with other parents, ask for parental leave/flexible working, see if extended family can help.

It's also worth asking parents of older children what they do - it must be a common problem in this area.

Where does your 2 year old go? Any chance they would consider taking your older child as well?

What chub said - can you and your OH (if you have one) take a weeks a/l each?

A day nursery is a good idea as they are likely to have places during August as other children will be taken out on holiday by their families. They can usually do a casual rate which is not much more than their normal rate. Or could you perhaps have a relative visit for one of the weeks to do some childcare? Good bonding opportunity for a grandparent / aunt or uncle...

Cheers for such quick responses. I admit - I am panicking! We are in the complicated situation. We are unexpectedly ditching our nanny who we wanted to keep until September, and therefore having to put DS1 full-time into his current pre-school and DS2 to a nursery. I thought everything will work out well because when I rang some holiday clubs they said they accept 4yo and they are open during summer holidays. So I thought it was fine. And then in the end of my latest conversation with one holiday club it came out "by the way, we are not open for the last 2 weeks in August".. "By the way!!" then I rang to check others and it is all the same!

To make it worse, I have booked holiday in the end of July - I booked at the same time when my nanny was going to go on holidays, so now I am screwed. Either I need to cancel or rebook for later but either is a financial loss.

I haven't looked very far away yet, but will do. Will check out on childminders, too, and DS2 nursery.

I don't have any family or friend-parents willing to help this year, but hopefully will be in a better position next year and will plan myself better!

You could also consider an au pair. There are plenty of au pairs who only want to stay for a month or so. If you don't have a spare room you may put the two kids temporarily together.

You can put an advert at your local Gumtree or go through an agency (fees for short term placements tend to be a lot lower) or Aupairworld (personally don't like that one, too much work, too much uncertainty that they actually turn up).

Good luck.

Just find a child-minder for the last 2 weeks in August. For next year, book your holidays for the time the holiday club is closed, or employ a nanny again. Don't know what you're worrying about tbh.

I'm finding it quite hard to believe that every single holiday club in your area is closed for the last 2 weeks in August.

I'm not in a huge city or anything but there are various summer holiday clubs here, most of which operate for some or all of the summer hols. There are also childminders who could possibly accomodate for a week at a time.

This is only a problem this year as next year, if there really is a complete lack of holiday schemes for the last 2 weeks in August then you'll have to insist that you are permitted to take your annual leave at that time and putting in a request now, over a year in advance should work in your favour.

You've got almost 2 months to sort some form of cover, stop panicking and get 'phoning round/talking to other working parents

Actually, I have just called all around the area holiday clubs. Mostly they operate on 4 week summer holiday basis, and the ones that operate througout the year, do not accept 4yo who will start school in September.
Also I find that lots of holiday clubs operate shorter than 8-6, which is a massive problem...

It's enough of hassle for me having to arrange preschool full time (9-3), afterschool club after preschool (3-6), holiday club after the summer term ends and something else for those 2 August weeks. So 4 different childcare for the summer...
Oh, and a new nursery for my almost 2yo, which would be not too much out of the way from DS1 school from September.

Childminders are out of question, as it is totally unaffordable. Unless for a very short period of time.

Anyway thank you, you are all helping - I am trying to stop panicking.

Does your local council have a children's information service you can call for advice/info? Most do.

Otherwise maybe call any local colleges who run childcare courses to see if they have any 'graduates' they could recommend who'd take a fixed term nanny role.

Why are you ditching your nanny? Are you on good terms? If so, has she got another job yet? If not might she do two weeks for you?

where abouts are you? i have worked on holiday clubs and lots are losing their funding, so have to cut back how many schemes they have to put on. it's annoying for staff too as they are left short.

Panic aside, I can see now there are few possible options. Thanks for pointing out.
nymets I am in South London.
goodygumdrops we are actually on very bad terms with the nanny and instead of her finishing next week, we terminated her today by mutual agreement... I don't have a childcare arranged for next week yet, but so relieved she is finally gone!!!

Also check out your local sports centres. My local one runs a day-long club doing things like football, mini golf, lunch and time on inflatables like bouncy castles, mind you, they only run from 8.30am-5.30pm, but they have got me out of a sticky child care situation in the past, got a friend to drop them off and pick them up for me, as they worked close to the sports centre!

I just realised this weekend that I am likely to have a more massive issue with the fact that Reception children often start later than the beginning of term and only half-days for a while. I think I am screwed. A temporary nanny would be ideal, but I cannot afford that. Ugh.

Legally they have to take them full time if you request it - the exact regulation is on another thread in the primary section, but I can't remember which one. It's one on the first page though.

I sympathise I really do but dont give up just yet:

• child minders are prob your best option as they will prob be most flexible, including the half days / late start issue. I dont use myself but they cant be that expensive as you are sharing the care cost with others. and they may be the best long term option for you going forward
• contact the school and ask for exact details of starting - each school varies
• again the exising pre school may be able to help - they can also cover school holidays for reception year
• look into kids clubs for the future
• can you do going home to pick up at lunch (or whatever) for a week or two if need be to drop off somewhere else? between you and DH
• another (expensive!) option is to take unpaid parental leave for a few weeks - a legal entitlement

(of course do all this whilst doing FT job....)

parental leave,you are legally entitled to it (unpaid) although they dont have to agree to give you those 2 weeks.

I don't think this is so weird, we're in a different bit of London with loads of kids clubs and playschemes but nothing at all is ever open in the last half of August. I was gobsmacked when I realised too. Hope you find something.

Gosh, we are so lucky where we live then.

Is it the done thing in London to be away at one's country/seaside holiday home in the second half of August ? Demand must be low for those 2 weeks otherwise there would be holiday clubs running.

Have you tried all the football clubs/dance schools/gymnastic clubs - in my area anywhere that does after school classes for children cashes in and does holiday care. Some wont take til age 5 though.