Page 2 | New to the UK school system - wraparound care/extra curricular activities questions

user1471523870 · 2023-04-17T14:14:30+00:00

As per the title, I didn't grow up in this country and my son is starting Reception in September. Today we got accepted into the school we chose and I spent MORE time trying to understand how everything works! We are both full time workers in 9-5 jobs, with some flexibility around working from home. However, for his first 4 ish years our son has attended nursery full time and our routine is based on that security. No matter what, nursery is there and is open long hours. My understanding now is that school ends at 3,15 and then we either pick him up or we book him into one of the extra curricular activities offered in situ, or into an after school club. By looking at the offering I think I could book him in for sports (ending at 4,15) on 2 days , for the after school club (ending at 5,30) for another two days , and then pick him up at 3,15 on Friday and keep him at home with me until I finish work. Does it seem ok? What other parents generally do?

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MotherOfGreyhounds · 17/04/2023 19:57

Have you asked them if the ASC places are in high demand? We picked a school with breakfast and ASC that suited. What we didn't realise was that the number of spaces was much less than the number of families wanting them. So every term is a mad scramble to return the form for the next term. If you are late with your form you are highly likely not to get all the slots! It's a bloody nightmare. And such a shame as we love everything else about the school.

In reception I personally wouldn't bank on using extra curricular clubs, at least for the first term. My boy started school age 5 and 3 months (Summerborn) and he was knackered and emotional after school. Even ASC was a struggle for him some days. I work part time too, so he doesn't have to go every day.

If you have a local childminder with space who could pick up, I would 100% go with that option personally. Unfortunately they are like hen's teeth around here.

Original poster

user1471523870 · 18/04/2023 09:38

MakeItAll · 17/04/2023 17:05

The other thing that caught us out when moving from nursery was that some schools only do half days for the first few weeks. Caused us huge issues

Oh! Half days...for weeks... Thanks for the heads up!

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Original poster

user1471523870 · 18/04/2023 09:40

ZebraKid71 · 17/04/2023 17:21

Depends how flexible ASC is - at our school you can book either for the term or ad hoc, so parents can book in for the days they need around their work and any temporary clubs that come up. Reception is exhausting for them, so wouldn't be the worst thing to have him home for a few hours after school on a Friday for him to relax and watch TV. Good luck!

Thanks! Yes, I agree it's not the end of the world a bit of TV now and then. I just don't want it to be the regular thing every single day.

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user1471523870 · 18/04/2023 09:47

Phineyj · 17/04/2023 19:14

Research holiday clubs. They sometimes don't take children till age 5. I got caught out! Barracudas does take 4 year olds if you have one locally.

I see a previous poster warned you about staggered starts in September. Do not, repeat, do not, give notice at nursery till you know exactly what the plan for September is!

Great suggestions, thanks. My son will be 5 shortly after school starts but I am not in fact planning to use holiday clubs at least until summer 2024.

This morning I got a reply from the ASC run by the nursery attached to the school. They pick up the children directly from the school and they run until 5,30, but there is a limit on the number of children they can take so they advice to book them as soon as possible.

Good point about not cancelling his current nursery too soon! But I will need to understand if 1)they will accept to keep him for September (obviously I will have to pick him up from school and drop him off at nursery every day until he attends full time) 2) if the ASC will accept my son from the date he will start attending full time.

I will also explore the option of a childminder.

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Original poster

user1471523870 · 18/04/2023 09:50

LIZS · 17/04/2023 19:22

And is your employer accepting of their employees doing childcare and school runs in the working day?

Yes, both our employers are absolutely ok with it. We work in a 'hybrid' environment and the nature of our jobs means we have the flexibility to disappear for short period of times in the middle of the day if we have to. We just adjust our schedules.

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user1471523870 · 18/04/2023 09:57

ChocChipHandbag · 17/04/2023 19:42

Just to add that for a child who has been in a private nursery until 5 pm every day or later, after school club should be no problem. The ones who struggle with it and maybe need the more "family" environment of a childminder tend to be ones who are not used to longer childcare hours.

My DS went from nursery till 6pm 4 days a week ( which he started age 1) to ASC til 6 4 days a week from day 1 of Reception. He has managed fine (Year 1 now, is really fond of the ASC leaders and has all sorts of elaborate regular games he plays with his fellow clubbers). I don't work on Fridays so collect him at 3 then. He sometimes tells me he's sad to miss it on Fridays!

Obviously I don't know yet, but knowing my son I don't think he'll get this level of exhaustion. He's very full on from morning to evening, always been. He hasn't napped since he was 1,5 year old and when I pick him up from a full day of nursery he's still very energetic. We often have to take him to a park AFTER a full day at nursery to burn energies. I am in fact worried he will not have enough chances to be active at school, so I'd rather him having access to a nursery garden than go to a quiet and relaxed childminder's house. But let's see, I might try both and decide....

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EllieQ · 18/04/2023 10:05

Second the advice to book ASC as soon as is possible, and check if reception has a staggered start in September before you give notice to nursery.

Also think about how you will cover inset days, potential strike days, illness etc. For example, at my daughter’s school the holiday club is also open on inset days, but this isn’t the case everywhere.

Reugny · 18/04/2023 13:22

user1471523870 · 18/04/2023 09:57

Obviously I don't know yet, but knowing my son I don't think he'll get this level of exhaustion. He's very full on from morning to evening, always been. He hasn't napped since he was 1,5 year old and when I pick him up from a full day of nursery he's still very energetic. We often have to take him to a park AFTER a full day at nursery to burn energies. I am in fact worried he will not have enough chances to be active at school, so I'd rather him having access to a nursery garden than go to a quiet and relaxed childminder's house. But let's see, I might try both and decide....

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Don't know where you are but a CM can have a decent size garden he can play in if he wants.

My DD goes to nursery and CM on different days.

At the CM's one of the older school age kids are often playing with her when I come to pick her up.

SpringBunnies · 18/04/2023 13:38

DH and I work full time and we used to have a childminder. She did drop off and pick up and provide holiday care. Look around your school if there is a company or individual childminder who do this. You can also book seperate school drop off/pick up care and then use a holiday camp for the holidays.

Our childminder was a god send during the years when we both worked out of home. She's so flexible and accomodating when we got stuck in traffic. Holiday care can be arranged last minute with no issue with availability.

SpringBunnies · 18/04/2023 13:41

user1471523870 · 18/04/2023 09:47

Great suggestions, thanks. My son will be 5 shortly after school starts but I am not in fact planning to use holiday clubs at least until summer 2024.

This morning I got a reply from the ASC run by the nursery attached to the school. They pick up the children directly from the school and they run until 5,30, but there is a limit on the number of children they can take so they advice to book them as soon as possible.

Good point about not cancelling his current nursery too soon! But I will need to understand if 1)they will accept to keep him for September (obviously I will have to pick him up from school and drop him off at nursery every day until he attends full time) 2) if the ASC will accept my son from the date he will start attending full time.

I will also explore the option of a childminder.

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From this, I suggest you book the after school club at the nursery as soon as possible. Unless you can find a childminder with availability quickly.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 18/04/2023 13:48

What others said. I have a R child at a school with a similar setup. They weren't eligible for clubs the first term (Sept-Dec), and even when they were the clubs were/are oversubscribed. I wouldn't rely on them. I would do ASC / a childminder.

jannier · 18/04/2023 14:00

user1471523870 · 17/04/2023 16:33

I literally just emailed the after school club at the nursery!
We never used a childminder and I am not sure what to expect. My son is VERY active and tends to run away. It's probably irrational and anxiety-driven, but I am afraid a childminder who has to pick up multiple children wouldn't be able to keep him safe. He's also very much used to the nursery environment as he's been attending full time for almost four years now.

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Childminders are more used to keeping children safe on roads it's something we often notice is not taught at nurseries probably because outings are limited.
It's normal to keep new children by your side and holding so they don't get the chance to run. My borough has 700 childminders nobody has run off or been hurt yet in 30 years. We are updated on any incident in any setting as part of our safeguarding

Original poster

user1471523870 · 18/04/2023 14:02

All your input has been so so helpful. I am now in the ASC mailing list and they will alert me when they start taking bookings for September. They added that they also cover the short half terms, which is very helpful.
At least I am working towards one option!
I will also look for a childminder, as it seems you all recommend it and might be even more practical. In the meantime I will also explore the option with his current nursery for filling the gaps in the first weeks of September.

Again, thank you for all this incredible help!

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jannier · 18/04/2023 14:25

Childminders are regulated and inspected by the same inspectors as nurseries and schools.....Ofsted... and must meet the same safeguarding requirements....often doing more than schools. They get booked up quickly.