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Original poster

Does anyone child attend breakfast club before school?

53 replies

ToFleaOrNotToFlea · 13/07/2015 20:16

Hello all,

I have been offered a new job and it would mean going from part time to full time but with one day at home. Still debating whether to accept it.

The only way I could possibly do this would be if DS - aged 4, was to go to breakfast club beforehand. I do feel a bit guilty about this but realise that many people send their children to breakfast club.This is why I am on here to ask, if your child goes to breakfast club - do they enjoy it? How does it affect them? Is it too long a day?

This may influence my decision on taking the job!

Thanks

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SweetCharityBeginsAtHome · 14/07/2015 16:39

I had real reservations about after school club for my DC ( just that particular club and those particular DC) but breakfast club was absolutely fine.

Galena · 14/07/2015 16:54

DD has incredible choice at breakfast club - something hot, something cold or cereal. Often over the week she has pancakes, crumpets, brioches, egg/spaghetti on toast, sausage sandwich, toast with chocolate spread, etc. all for £1-1.25 per day.

JadedAngel · 14/07/2015 17:00

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ThomasRichard · 14/07/2015 17:02

My DS is in Reception and goes to his school's breakfast club 4 mornings a week. It's held in the attached pre-school so there are plenty of craft-type activities, building blocks, iPads and outdoor play equipment. He seems to like it: he asks to go on my day off and sold it to his best friend, who begged his parents to send him too. I found out this week that he's been playing the system, telling me that he didn't like the breakfasts so I fed him at home, then telling the staff that he hadn't had breakfast yet :o

suitcaseofdreams · 14/07/2015 18:33

My 4yr olds regularly have two breakfasts - cereal and cold milk at home with me at 7am followed by porridge at the childminders at 8.15am...and sometimes toast after the porridge apparently - they are both skinny as takes so I don't know where it goes! Am sure once they start school and breakfast club they will continue to avail themselves of double breakfast ????

MargoReadbetter · 14/07/2015 22:23

£1-1.25 for breakfast club? It's £5 around here.

FieryWill · 14/07/2015 22:29

We are very lucky in having a free breakfast club here. DD aged 5 goes every day and loves it. They feed her, what's not to like?! (she loves her food)

Galena · 14/07/2015 22:31

Yeah... we pay £1.25 per session, but if you pay for the whole week up front on the Monday, you pay £5.

It's very cheap, for an hour's care and a pretty good (if high in sugar) breakfast. However, the school has a large number of children who live in high-deprivation households so it may be the only way of ensuring they have breakfast and that they get to school.

It isn't well resourced in terms of adults (2 for 20-30 children) or in terms of activities - they have paper and coloured pencils, a few board games and the hall - but the children seem to enjoy it.

Allice · 14/07/2015 22:32

I work in a breakfast club at a school. I can honestly say that the kids love it, they have breakfast, play inside and normally have half an hour playing outside too if the weather is ok.
I think it helps the kids to get to know others that aren't in their class or year, confidence seems to really increase really quickly.

CrockedPot · 14/07/2015 22:33

My two go twice a week and though the older one doesn't love it (he has to get up earlier) they don't mind it, and they get to eat white bread toast, which they don't at home! Seriously, it's fine, don't worry about it.

AliMonkey · 14/07/2015 22:45

My DCs have both gone to breakfast club (and after-school club on the same day) since reception, for three days a week (so that's now six years for DD).

They enjoy mixing with children from other years and the better choice of breakfast than they get at home. They don't enjoy having to be up half an hour earlier than they do on my non-working weekdays. I would say DD quite enjoys it and DS is OK about it (but enjoys it on days when his friends go). Both like it when there's the occasional day when they don't go, but actually if they didn't go at all I think would miss it and moan more about my breakfasts!

I suspect they would also be more enthusiastic about it if they weren't also doing after school club as they use the same room and facilities so the toys etc aren't such a novelty as if they were only there in the morning.

But I would certainly say that you shouldn't feel guilty about using it, as there are lots of positives about it, and it really is only a small part of their day anyway.

Mopmay · 14/07/2015 23:30

Ours is a big school there are 40-50 nursery reception and yr1 in breakfast club every day and another 150 odd in yr 2-6. There is also a nursery next door that has another 40 odd. They all love it

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 14/07/2015 23:32

Getting up 45 mins earlier to get to breakfast club = far less stress than doing breakfast at home, IME

BackforGood · 15/07/2015 00:31

All of mine absolutely LOVED their breakfast club.
Far more choice than I'd offer
FAR more for them to do
FAR nicer ladies than their stressed mother in the mornings
Didn't really mean much earlier getting up as we'd have to be eating breakfast here if they weren't having it there.
Mine would regularly ask if they could go on the day I wasn't at work.
Of course it's not too long a day.....well, you don't say how long they will be in after school provision, which might then make it a long day.

Original poster
ToFleaOrNotToFlea · 15/07/2015 08:52

Just went to the breakfast club for a free trial and it was an absolute nightmare. DS was crying hysterically the whole time through it and would not eat anything. I had to bring him home and give him breakfast and will now miss school nursery as a result.

Did your children react like this when they first joined? I am thinking it might not be the right time for me to accept the job, DS is quite young still.

OP posts:
MargoReadbetter · 15/07/2015 09:10

Mine didn't have a free trial but they already knew the setting and some of the other children.

MargoReadbetter · 15/07/2015 09:12

Reread your OP. I can see how you felt 'guilty' before even trying, so I think you've now been convinced despite other people's positive experience.

Original poster
ToFleaOrNotToFlea · 15/07/2015 09:59

I thought the club was really lovely, the children ate breakfast as they listened to classical music. They had all sorts of arts and crafts and toys, all the children were warm and welcoming.

Margot you are right! I already felt guilty and my son crying affirmed my reason for feeling guilty.

I know many parents do not have a choice about using these clubs but the thing I feel guilty of is that I do - so that makes me feel even more guilty as I am putting myself first, rather than DS IFYSWIM.

OP posts:
manchestermummy · 15/07/2015 11:03

Dd1 has been going this year as we've had a strange set up of having to be at two primary schools at the same time. She wouldn't need to ordinarily as we both have flexitime schemes where we work so can manage without. That said, she got into such a big grump about not going this next academic year that we've agreed she can still go one morning a week. They'll also both be going to after school club three/four times a week too.

I don't have a choice about after school club and feel no guilt. However, if for any reason I'm not at work I do pick up at the 'normal' time.

I do feel a bit Hmm about the parents I know who use both before and after school club five days a week even though one of them is a SAHP. That I don't get. I know they are concerned about what would happen if the SAHP did get a job (made redundant two years ago) but even so

MrsChiefTyrell · 18/07/2015 00:12

Why was he crying? He's there to wat and meet other children and play - nothing to cry about is there?

He is already away from you for the day so it's hardly like he would otherwise be with you.

Personally I'd be tough and say he will surely have a great time and lots of choice for breakfast and get to play with the older boys and girls and then just leave hm there. Tel him you're off to work anyway so won't be at home.

PeanutButterOnly · 18/07/2015 06:45

Breakfast club is great. Kids are not tired, neither are the staff. Everyone is relatively cheerful and is only for a short hour. At ours I can drop infants and junior dcs off together which is a bonus and they then get walked to their respective schools which are nearby.

SpottyTeacakes · 18/07/2015 06:47

I'm very Envy of all these schools. Dd's school has just started offering breakfast club two days a week. For 15 children. 20 minutes before school starts Hmm

wtffgs · 18/07/2015 06:53

Mine did until I changed jobs and now have an earlier start before the Club opens.

They loved it as it was a nice transition into the school day and they got to eat sugary cereal Wink DD went as a Reception child.

tumbletumble · 18/07/2015 06:56

I have a choice, OP - I was a SAHM for many years and we managed fine financially, so we could continue that way, but I wanted to go back to work so I did and I'm really enjoying it - I feel so happy and fulfilled now. We mothers are too good at putting ourselves last, behind everyone else in the family. Please take the job. Your DS will be fine!

FuckitFay · 18/07/2015 06:57

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