Managing childcare before and after primary school

[Catchingtrains]

The local school doesn’t offer wraparound care, and we don’t have childminders locally.

Our options are:

Look into a different school - not sure if we’d get in
I stay part time but compress my hours (not sure if work would agree but could try.)
Opt for private?

What do others do, out of interest?

I moved mine private and the infinitely better wraparound is an advantage - you've been unlucky to have your school offering no wraparound at all.

I'd put in a case for another state school with wraparound and cite that as the reason. I assume holiday club provision will be poor also at this school?

I work in education so holiday clubs isn’t really a problem, it’s the wraparound that’s an issue.

It's a big issue - have you tried asking the pta if there are any clubs picking up from the school that you maybe haven't heard about?

Do you have a partner? If you have any flexibility in your hours, you can possibly manage it by one of your starting late and doing drop off and the other starting early to finish early and do pick up.

What do other working parents at the school do?

Not sure - I imagine they have flexibility in their hours! Or have family who could help.

DH sometimes works away and I work in a school so that’s when wraparound is problematic.

We've opted for private (our local state school does offer wraparound care, though). Both DH and I are teachers. DS will be at my school when he starts Reception this summer, so before and after school supervision as well as holiday clubs (if needed because I'm working) are covered by my employer.