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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Breakfast v Afterschool Club

17 replies

sian05 · 04/10/2018 11:16

My DD will start school next September and my DS will be going into yr2. I work three days a week and at the moment my DS does two days of breakfast and after school club and one day is taken in and picked up by grandparents as they look after DD that day.

When DD starts next year they will both be doing 3 days of breakfast and after school club. At the moment the mornings they go to nursery and breakfast club are always a rush, I usually have to wake them both up as we need to leave early so they are a bit tired and grumpy (and slow!) and I have to try and eat something quickly before we leave.

I was thinking about changing my hours at work next year so that I can start a bit later and be able to take them in each day. The downside of this would mean I would finish later and they would be at after school club an extra 45 mins til nearly 6.00 which would also mean them eating late. (They get a snack at after school club but still need tea/dinner)

Just wanted advice/opinions on what people thought would be better? A more relaxed morning but longer stay after school. Or rushed morning but more time in the evening?

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Solasum · 04/10/2018 11:19

How long would it take you to get home from after school club?

Original poster

sian05 · 04/10/2018 11:43

Only 5 minutes - it's on the same site as the school so not far from us at all

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georgedawes · 04/10/2018 11:52

I'd say morning club is better than after school, particularly for your younger one.

HolesinTheSoles · 04/10/2018 12:17

I'd probably go for breakfast club - small point don't they get fed at breakfast club? Why do they need to eat before hand? I would just try to get them to bed a bit earlier. I think 6:00 is just so late to get home, for a 4-5 year old. It will also make things like doing reading a struggle if she's exhausted.

gnoomi · 04/10/2018 12:28

If your kids are struggling to wake up in the morning I'd go for after school club a bit later. My DD (and lots of her friends) take in a packed supper, rather than just a snack and that means the evening when we get home is easier too.

Waggamamma · 04/10/2018 12:41

I really struggle with late pick-ups, by the time you cook something realistically you're eating at 7pm (mine usually go to bed at that time). It means dc can't do after school activities as there's nobody to take them, everyone's over tired and the evening doesn't go well.

Original poster

sian05 · 04/10/2018 13:15

They do get fed at breakfast club it's me that needs to eat before we go as I go straight from there to work and can't eat there.

Good point about trying to get reading done if it's too late and a realistic idea of when we would eventually eat/do bedtime. But I do like the idea of being to take them in every morning and them waking more in their own time. Maybe it's just a case of which is the lesser of two evils - tired in morning or after school?!

I've got a bit of time to think about it - we just had a bit of a bad morning today which is why it's on my mind

It really helps posting here to get other thoughts and clarify my own!

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JurassicGirl · 04/10/2018 13:24

Would your parents be able to pick them both up once a week? At least then they're not at after school club all 3 days.

My ds's have to do after school club once a week (depending on DH shift) & that finishes at 5.15pm, to enable me to take DD to an activity. They are 6 & 8 and although enjoy it are pretty tired when we get home.

malmontar · 04/10/2018 13:46

In all honesty I don't think 30mins in the morning will be that much different. They will be tired either way, all kids are slow and moany in the morning and I'd much prefer to come home early. I remember my school changing our times of day to 9:20 as a trial for 'teenage brains' and I was just as tired, I just didn't like waking up. Also makes doing stuff with friends much easier if parents are on hand soonish after school.

Bluebelltulip · 04/10/2018 13:50

Would you getting up and getting yourself ready before waking the DC help, then you can concentrate on getting them ready without worrying about your breakfast?

pitterpatterrain · 04/10/2018 13:53

My DD goes to afterschool club 3x nights per week with a club before (reception) - she may only have a snack there but we don’t bother cooking a full dinner when she gets home - some toast and fruit or something light only

For us we find this makes mornings pretty relaxing as we are targeting 8.30 not whatever breakfast club would be - and frankly she enjoys the school clubs and afterschool club - I got told off the other day for picking her up too early ...

onemouseplace · 04/10/2018 14:08

Also, presumably if you they are both at school, then you won't have to do nursery drop off as well, which should take one thing out of the morning rush? Unless it's school nursery so then ignore what I've just said!

I suspect your morning won't end up being that much more relaxed - I find that we fill the time we have and a later drop off just means we get up later and it's still a rush.

RedSkyLastNight · 04/10/2018 16:13

I would pick the extra time in breakfast club every time. I suspect getting up slightly later will make no difference to your mornings, and you will really notice the later evenings. Being in after school club till 6pm will be especially hard on your Reception child, who will probably be shattered! Plus you'll literally be getting home, having tea and putting them to bed - you're more likely to have quality time in a more relaxed evening, than in a more relaxed (if it is) morning.

suitcaseofdreams · 04/10/2018 19:31

Depends on the kids I expect. I’ve tried various combinations over the years (my twins just started Yr 3) and breakfast club is not good for us - they hate getting up early and I find it super stressful getting them up and out and me to work on time. So I do more later pick ups than early starts but you may need to test out a few options and see what works best for you

BackforGood · 05/10/2018 01:30

I think whatever time you leave in the morning, it is stressful. If they don't have to go until 40 mins later, or whatever, you just tend to get up later, so the amount of time to get ready and get out is still the same, but you have to feed them as well, which adds in more stress.
When mine were younger they did breakfast club 3 days (when I worked) and the 2 days I didn't were FAR more stressful than the ones where I bundled them out of bed, into clothes and tipped them out at breakfast club.
Could your dh do the drop offs or the pick ups, or some share of them to make things easier ?
Or maybe your parents might like to collect them from school one day a week (and maybe even put tea for you, as they ere cooking anyway ? [wink )

Original poster

sian05 · 05/10/2018 10:47

Thanks for the responses - I was swaying towards later after school but now reading these I think it will be better to stay as we are and do the earlier mornings.

Unfortunately my DH can't do drop off/pick up as he is a teacher - but on the plus side it does mean we don't need childcare for the holidays! Thinking about it as well it will be better for me in the school holidays as I'll be home earlier.

It's my in-laws that currently do one day a week but I might ask them if they still want to do pick ups once a week and get some quality time with their grandchildren

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gallicgirl · 06/10/2018 12:43

Definitely go for breakfast club. I work 2-3 days a week and as much as it's difficult getting kids up and dressed on time, not having to feed them too takes a bit of stress out of the process. I also find afternoons more productive, easier to do homework or activities. A later finish just means a mad rush to get a grumpy child to eat and then into bed.

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