Should school run after school care be something you can rely on?

[Hulababy]

Just something that came up on another thread and I am curious.

I have always assumed that ASC is supposed to be, where provided, a form of childcare that you can rely on, that you can chose to use instead of a childminder or a nursery collecting your child.

I thought that was the whole point of schools providing wrap around care.

Does it make a difference if you pay for that care?

Does it make a difference if the ASC is run by paid staff or volunteer staff?

I dont know any run by volunteers so cant comment on that side. Staff have to be qualified so I cant see many being run by volunteers.

Our ASC is run by a business but on the school premises, its fab and I'd choose it any day over a childminder. Its definately reliable and available every morning and afternoon and has never let me down in any respect.

Are ASC is run at the nursery part of the school which provides cover 7.30am to 6.30pm. It is at the girls school site so boys are bussed there. BSC is available either at the nursery or at the school. Run by the school in both cases. £1.50 for BSC and £2.50 for ASC.

Very reliable and runs every day that the school is open.

What's the other thread?

Other thread in AIBU

I think an afterschool club that you pay for from 3.20pm until 6pm like ours is being confused with
after school clubs like footie which is run by volunteers or teachers

afterschool club is often held on sch grounds but with independent staff

I think if it's after school care as described in your OP, paid for and run by paid staff then it should be available in all but the most exceptional circumstances.

It's not clear from the other thread whether that is what is being referred to or whether it's an after-school club run by staff on a voluntary basis - in which case it may be cancelled if the staff member is not available & a substitute can't be found. I think this sort of club should be seen as an extra enjoyable activity for your child, not a form of child care.

Read the other thread, sounds more like an activity rather than after school childcare which is totally different. I'd personally never rely on an activity club as childcare.

Maybe I misread the other thread then. I assumed it was ASC.

Mind you we py for our after school clubs/activities too, so same would apply really.

An After School club that is childcare is separate to the school, the staff get paid. They have their own Ofsted inspections. They are on school premises, they are not part of the school.
Teachers and other staff run after school clubs for the children because they are nice, generous people! They do not get paid. If people start making waves and saying that they can't cancel if they are ill or busy-they will withdraw that good will and not hold them. The DCs will miss out. Do not knock it-you are very lucky to have staff who do more than their job!

piscesmoon - as I said, I misread the other thread OP.

But for our school arguement would still stand really. TAs and external, agencies are paid to run some of the clubs, other done voluntary by teachers. Parents pay, up front per term, for x number of sessions. If cancelled we get money back, and if done last minute we have the option of putting out child in the ASC instead at same cost.

a paid thing yes - like a breakfast 'club' and afterschool 'care/club' run like a business yes

not for a club that is staffed by volunteers - parents shouldn't rely on that in place of 'childcare' because they ARE sometimes unavoidably cancellled

Some staff DO get paid to run after school clubs BTW. I get paid to run a before school club. Some of our TAs run extra currciular clubs and get paid for their time.

As a teacher I never got paid for clubs, but then I refused to do after school ones as had to collect DD.

If the ASC is like a playcentre, then yes, I think you should be able to rely on it.
If its an after school activity, then as long as enough notice is given, then its perfectly acceptable for the school to cancel even if it is annoying!

Some schools get outside agencies in to run a club after school such as tennis. If the person phones up to say they are ill etc then there is nothing the school can do except cancel.