After-school childcare – what do you do?

[Frieda]

Ds will be starting school in September, and I work 2 days a week. Until now he's been at a nursery, so I haven't had to think about the short school day, school holidays, etc. I'd be interested to hear what other people have done about after-school/holiday care, what they might recommend and the sort of pitfalls they'd recommend avoiding.

We will be looking into a childminder for our ds, Frieda, when he starts in September. There seem to be several local to us who do pick-ups from named primaries and also offer half-term care if required.
If looking at after-school clubs, I would guess you need to know who manages them and how the supervisors/playleaders are recruited. My personal view is that at 4 ds will be tired after a day at big school and might be happier sitting quietly with a glass of milk in a comfy sitting room and watching something suitable on TV.
If there is an on-site after school club at your ds' school, that might be a better option. Our ds would have to be walked to his and there would be children there from other schools whom we would not know from Adam. When he is older, perhaps.

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DD's school offers after-school care on site, run by the school itself and only for pupils. We use it every Monday and the occasional Friday (1x/per month). They don't have to do anything too taxing - there is colouring on offer and games. They can even veg out in front of a video. They get a drink and a biscuit and it's available until 6pm.

One particular local nursery (daycare) offers before school, after school and holiday care and the people I know who use it are very pleased. They have a fleet of people-movers which ferry the children to and from school.

My SIL has used the same childminder for years and that works very well.