Can I ask how you manage after school care for Y7...

[2andout]

...if you & your partner work full time? My DD is in Y5 currently but the after school club in our area only takes primary school children and I am starting to wonder what we will do when she starts secondary. She will be too young to be home alone & we couldn't afford a nanny. If you are in this situation, how have you managed after school & holiday childcare? TIA x

Squeegle- could you say how much you pay for that please?

Squeegle- when I first started reading that I thought you meant the 6th former came to your house to be 'looked after' !!!
(Was glad to realise that wasn't the case as I read on).

The 'kids not getting on' is a particular problem, they might be fine home alone but add another into to mix and it's a different story.

DS went to three after school clubs in year seven, the STEM club, homework club and football so all free. We live only 3 to 4 minutes from the school. He would get home for 4.30pm I had arranged to start work at 8 am and also worked compressed hours.

I would not leave a year 5 child alone after school regardless of how mature they were.

Holstein, I pay him £5 an hour. It's easy money for him, and while my son doesn't think he needs looking after (he doesn't really), it is money I'm happy to pay. That way, I can then relax and get onwork and not be worried that hordes of 11 year olds are round at my house etc etc! He does have a bit of a history of experimentation so as I say it's a deterrent really!

Can you or your DH work earlier so you can leave earlier to reduce the time your DD is alone, if it is worrying you?
When my DC were younger, I'd work 9-6 and he'd work 7-4, so I'd drop off at school and he'd get back a little after they did in the afternoons.
That meant we could leave them from about age 8 or 9, knowing it was never for long.

Thanks squeegle.

Thanks all, obviously we will asses things closer to the time, but at present she detests being alone, is really scatty & accident prone. It's very hard to imagine her being ready for the responsibility of being at home on her own and the thought of her being alone for 3 hours a day 5 days a week makes me feel quite sad. So, I think a combination of tactics will probably be needed. It's such a huge step going up to secondary school, so I want to ensure she feels supported rather than abandoned!