breakfast clubs and after school clubs

[StrawberryDaiquiriPlease]

How should I write a letter to my child's school asking for after school clubs which are consistant and helpful to me as a working parent? What should I say to the head teacher?

Our school only provides after school care on certain days and then doesn't start straight after holidays and has lots of breaks. It is in Tower Hamlets and does not support or encourage working parents!

AFAIK the school's only obligation is to signpost you towards wrap around care. Eg give you a phone number for the family information service or perhaps a list of local CMs who offer after school care. There is certainly no obligation for them to provide after schools clubs to meet your childcare needs I am afraid.

DD's school last year offered clubs one term at a time, one day a week, they finish at 4pm. And were cancelled fairly willy-nilly!

Though you could certainly suggest that they offer more clubs, perhaps suggest things your DCs would be interested in. I do understand your gripe, it's crap. But it isn't the school's fault.

I think this is the sort of thing where, as a single voice, You won't make much headway. But in which a group of parents you could be very persuasive.

You will need to show there is demand, and that the club/s will at least break even financially.

Is there an external provider for the current arrangement? They are usually much readier to see the £signs and extend to meet demand. If it is on staff by goodwill/overtime then it is trickier.

By after school clubs do you mean the clubs teachers run after school, e.g art and gymnastics? I don't think you can insist that they run all year as they are taught as voluntary unpaid overtime by the staff.

If you mean an after school childcare provision the school should be able tell you what is available either at the school or by other providers.

It is Tower Hamlets, the after school clubs seem heavily subsidised, the 'teachers' of the after school clubs are not school teachers and sometimes not even TAs but someone brought in from outside.

Out of the school's hands then. The clubs are bought in so they can't dictate that they are childcare, they are an activity.