Working Parents - What do you do for childcare once your child starts year 7?

[caramelchic]

My child is starting Year 7 in September and I’m wondering how other working parents manage the period after school.
At primary school I’ve always had after-school club/provision, but I’m assuming this is much less common at secondary school. Obviously they’re becoming more independent at this age, but 11 still feels quite young to be coming home and being alone for several hours, particularly when they’ve only just started secondary school.
For those who work until 5/5.30pm or later, what did you do when your child first started Year 7?
Did they come straight home and stay by themselves, go to after-school clubs, go to a relative/childminder, or did you change your working arrangements?
Also, did you find that your secondary school offered much in the way of after-school activities or supervised provision?
Interested to hear what worked for other families, especially during that first year.

Dd started going to my mums the first 2 weeks and then announced she wanted to be home.

Mum lives less than a mile away. My best mate lived next door (she has since passed away) so there were always people on hand.

But I also know some of her friends whose parents won't allow them to be alone and they head to y9 in September.

I think it all depends on what the kid is like in terms of maturity, being sensible etc

I guess we’re all different, as I remember loving that time to myself! I’d make myself a sandwich then settle down with my book for an hour or so until my parents got home.

Agree though that you need to start teaching independence and testing your child by trying short trips out alone and being home for an hour or two alone.

Yep. I was a relatively anxious child (though of course I didn't have the language to label it as that at the time).

I remember one day I was home alone and answered the door to a priest who said he was attached to the nunnery up the road and was visiting girls from my (Catholic all-girls) school. I can't remember whether I let him in the house or not, but he left fairly quickly when I told him I wasn't a Catholic - I remember that being an awkward conversation.

It seems unbelievable now from a safeguarding perspective. I'm fairly sure he said he got my name and address from my school, which these days would be a dreadful GDPR breach. I suppose its possible that he just saw me walking past the nunnery in school uniform. Makes me shudder now. 😬

But I also know some of her friends whose parents won't allow them to be alone and they head to y9 in September.

Crikey @Ihatelittlefriendsusan so those are 13yos – some could be almost 14? That's beyond odd. A 14yo (assuming no serious SEN) should be fine to be on their own. When will is be OK? They need to be used to coping by themselves before they go to uni aged 18.

Gosh, my DD has an EHCP and manages on her own for an hour or two.

It’s really hard op, for 11yo who’s still in primary there’s an afterschool program but it’s full most of the time and the place in town can take him one day a week so after that it’s juggling so myself or dh gets home early, or a relative picks up. I hate this aspect of work, people say they’re fine around that age but even my 13yo says it’s a relief when we’re home, or granny is there, that he hates being on his own in the house

Mine used to just come straight home and let themselves in. I didn’t even consider childcare in Year 7 😳

There are loads of afterschool clubs at most schools so she could go to that and then just have an hour home. If she's sensible she will be fine for a couple of hours chilling at home at thst age, she may like the wind down

School has various after school clubs including a homework club in the library until 5, so I rarely see my DS before then. This is his choice as I mostly wfh, but he is also fine for a couple of hours if I do have to go to the office. The only thing I didn’t think about is after school clubs pushed it late enough that he was walking home in the dark after half term, so he had a very quick lesson in that when I suddenly realised.

@caramelchic Bear in mind that at secondary school, attendance at after school clubs is voluntary. Unlike at primary, where teachers will make sure they get to their booked clubs, secondary students get there themselves, so if they don't want to attend clubs they are free to leave if they want to. They are therefore not equivalent to childcare.

Also, clubs that are run by teachers (rather than third party commercial clubs) will be cancelled at short notice if the teacher is unavailable or the room is needed for something else. E.g. sports clubs might be cancelled during exam season because the sports hall is needed for exams.

Key & mobile phone.
It was the school holidays thst were more troublesome (still!).

Check school mobile policy before making decisions. There are new government guidelines.

Secondary school libraries are also generally run by one, harried, sometimes part time member of staff so may not be open for the same lengthy of time/every day (ours is sometimes used for meetings too).

Same boat here but luckily managed to change my working hours so I’ll be home just after 5 and hoping most days dh will be home by 4 with a new job role too

I’ve got a child about to start year 6 so this is something I’m conscious about as she’s going from very solid after school care to more independence. Her school do a lot of activities and homework so I suspect she’ll be there until at least 4.45. It’ll then be her choice whether to get the bus back or wait for a lift.

I’m more worried about the school holidays for the first few years. I’m quite chilled about a few hours after school (someone would always need to be back by 6 for her younger sister) but if there isn’t childcare available and we’re both in the office, it would be a long and lonely day and I don’t feel ok with that. I will look at some sports camps for some structure. If I really had to, I’d think about a pgl type residential but it wouldn’t be ideal.

I was usually able to pick up my DC at 5pm or soon after (and then do a little more work at home). So they had the choice to either stay at school until 5pm, at a club or in the library, or leave school at 3.40, get the bus and be home alone for an hour. They usually chose to be picked up because they liked doing clubs (and didn't like the bus).

Supercamps go up to age 12 if that's any help.

First two weeks we were at home in the morning and two days after school so only after school. God DC used to that and encouraged them to not pack up and run out of school, but to chat and walk home with friends. Then next few weeks they did a bit more alone. By half-term they were alone 7.30 until at least an hour after school.

library was open after school but my Dc didn’t want to be there with no friends.

clubs mainly lunchtime.

Mine were used to doing extracurriculars after school most days at primary, so they continued with those (either at their school in secondary or travelling to their usual class by themselves). We're in London so travelling was completely independent on public transport. I never picked them up from school or clubs once they were secondary aged.

In holidays they continued with activity camps, mostly related to their hobbies, though these tended not to cover a working day.

I wfh sometimes and I tended to arrange it so I'd be at home on the days when dcs came home earlier, but I'd mostly be at my desk ignoring them.

I’m sure they will be fine. I use to love getting home from school and having no one to bother me! Maybe arrange to finish a bit earlier if possible for the first few weeks.
Get a key safe as a back up in case they loose their keys. We’ve found it very useful!
If you haven’t got a landline and school doesn’t allow mobile. Get a simple mobile that they can contact you when they get home.

Another who who just provided a door key and I got home at 6:10 most days. My eldest, DS, did go to several after school clubs, though not every day. He would get back around 4pm if no club and 5:15 if there was a club. He usually got himself a snack and did his homework before I got home. He really liked having the house to himself. DD joined him a few years later.