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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

Chilminder vs After School Club...

13 replies

breeminor · 15/04/2009 23:36

My DS is in reception and will need to go to the After School Club (till 5:30) or a childminder for 4 days a week. I am not sure which option is best.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of both options. I'd be keen to hear your experiences. Thank you..

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TheFallenMadonna · 15/04/2009 23:39

Mine go to after school club. It suits us because they can go to school-based clubs without any bother, and quite a few of their friends go too.

Also I only have to pay for term times (I am a teacher).

cat64 · 15/04/2009 23:45

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Original poster

breeminor · 16/04/2009 01:03

Thank you cat64 and TFM you've both given me more food for thought ;-)

OP posts:

cory · 16/04/2009 09:24

The advantage of a CM to us is that she will also have them on inset days and school holidays. With two children in different schools, inset days alone would take a heavy toll on my leave. Also, times are more flexible (we don't collect from the CM until 5.30, whereas the after-school club finishes at 5). Also, CM has a wide contact net of other CMs who will step in if she has an emergency/can't have them on a specific day. If the after-school club is closed it is closed.

Lostmykeys · 16/04/2009 09:29

My DD is in reception and goes to an after school club 4 nights a week. They have chill out time from school and get to do a lot of activities that I would offer at home - play outside, watch telly, craft and she gets her tea. She absolutely loves it there and hates it if I pick her up early. There is good interaction with the older ones as well.

hellywobs · 16/04/2009 11:49

Why not do both - 2 days a week in each?

Picante · 16/04/2009 11:58

CMs are definitely more expensive, but imo far superior (and yes I am a cm!). As someone else mentioned it's great for children who are still quite young and need to have a more chilled-out home-based environment.

I also take my after-schoolers to different parks, whereas after-school clubs (if they do got to parks) are limited to ones within walking distance.

We also do other things such as trips to local garden centres, soft play centres, libraries, bus trips to town etc - it's just a lot more varied. They also get to 'look after' the younger children that the cm might have - and usually they love that role.

You could always do both as hellywobs suggested.

TheFallenMadonna · 16/04/2009 12:07

Honestly, it depends on the childminder, the club and your child. Check out both options.

Libra · 16/04/2009 12:10

We went for a CM too.
At the moment DS2 is with her while I am work - after-school club would not cover holidays.
So far this week, they have baked, gone to the beach, played, chilled out and made dinosaurs.
It's a family home rather than staying in school.
She helps him do his homework and hears him read (we do too, but it really helps that she covers it too).
She can offer cooked meals if I want.
He loves playing with her little boy (and on her Wii).

Original poster

breeminor · 16/04/2009 12:24

I should say I am fortunate that I have both the CM and AFC ready and waiting.
DS wants to go to the ASC because some of his friends go there as well.

I like the sound of doing both as I can then use the CM for holiday cover too.
As TFM said I'll probably just see how DS gets on with whatever option we go for.
Thanks again everyone, you've all been really helpful.

OP posts:

underpaidandoverworked · 17/04/2009 00:46

CMs have fewer children in their care also so there is more 1-1 attention, which can work better if a child is timid or shy. As a cm I've had that scenario in the past - child wouldn't interract at ASC, but was totally different when they came to me as I only had 3 children around. Cms may also provide meals if you want them too - not sure if ASC do that.

Doing both can work too - good luck

mamadiva · 17/04/2009 00:55

I was a Playleader in an after school club for 2 years and loved it!

I also attended after school clubs from the age of 4 until 11 and loved it so much I was determined to work in one!!!

Of course there are perks with both and both ahve their drawbacks but I have to say I personally would use AFC everytime based on my own experience.

I have seen incredibly shy children turn into outgoing youngsters because there are so many children around them and always an activity that suits them, a good after school should have a chill out area too it is actually one of the things that they look for when inspecting. We did'nt have the biggest space but there was a little area with loads of beanbags and books cordoned off where they could sit and chill with their friends.

Good luck

MollieO · 17/04/2009 01:01

We've done both. CM okay if they have older children. Ds's preferred younger children so he was the oldest and bored (at aged 4). He loves going to asc and holiday club and gets annoyed if I collect him early. It will also work better when he is older as he will be able to do after school activities and asc, whereas if he had stayed with the CM I would have needed to negotiate different collecting times.

Most evenings that I collect ds from asc I find him 'helping' the older boys with their homework and it is lovely to see the interaction between the different age groups.

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