After school Childcare? are there any companies that collect children from school as their parents are working

Question

Hi

After school Childcare? are there any companies that collect children from school as their parents are working.

I have a 4 yr old boy in reception class in the Prestwich area of Manchester UK. His Mum wants to start work and will not be able to pick him up after school at 3.30pm weekdays, are there any companies that would collect him and look after hime for 2 1/2 hours after school or even deliver him to a relatives house? I work night shifts so can't collect him myself at 3.30pm.

Any ideas or advice much appreciated.

Thanks

Answer 1

If you work night shifts, why can't you collect him at 3.30pm? My husband works shifts and his night shifts don't start until either 5pm or 7pm so either way he can collect our daughter on nights.

I made the decision to take a salary cut and reduce my hours even more when my daughter started school so that I could finish work in time to pick her up from school. Why can't his Mum get a part time job?

If there is no other option - and if the school itself doesn't have an after school club (a lot of schools have these now), then your best bet is a local childminder that has a vacancy for a child after school. At least that way your son would be collected and taken to someone's home and looked after in a home environment. Childminders are registed with Social Services and inspected by OFSTED so you know that your son will be in a secure environment and looked after by someone responsible.

A 4 year old starting school will get incredibly tired and need a rest and snack after school and time to just unwind, so you need to bear that in mind. I would not let my child be "taken" anywhere by a "company" delivering him somewhere - he's not a parcel!

Answer 2

That's funny, our local daycare, I found out, is sometimes not even open during those times! Go figure. Somehow around holidays and such, when school is not in session, they post notes saying there aren't enough kids signed up to attend and for them to be open on those days! Luckily, the one time that happened, my mom had the day off too and was able to watch my daughter. We personally have a regular sitter who watches my daughter. She lives up the road from where I work, so it's very convenient. And she has school age kids so I know she's home to take care of her own kids when they are out of school. The daycare we use only on an as-needed basis when the sitter is not available for whatever reason. Childcare is expensive, but by having a friend or neighbor babysit, it's a lot cheaper than a registered facility. I only pay $20 a day for a sitter, as opposed to $34 a day for the daycare. My daughter is 3 yrs.

Answer 3

don't know about Prestwich, but there are childcare companies, like KinderCare, who pick up the kids after school and take them to the childcare center. If you don't have one in Prestwich, maybe it's time to start a company to do that?

Answer 4

Yes, that is how after school childcare works.

Consult the phone book or the paper.

In the U.S. there are long waiting lists to get into the good ones, hope its easier there.

Answer 5

You don't need a company, you need a childminder.

Ask your local council for a list of registered childminders, or just ask around the other parents of kids in your son's class. Chances are, some of the people outside the class who you are assuming are mums are in fact childminders themselves.

Answer 6

What ever happened to actually being there for your children after school?
You really want to hire a stranger to "collect" your 4 year old child after school? That's insane.

Answer 7

you can advertise and interview people yourself if there are no agencies, they can pick up the child and then take them home and make tea. Just ask the person you employ about childcare experience and asked if they have ever been police checked or had a disclosure form done. Then that way you can interview and find the ideal person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck.

Answer 8

"Child's Place" after school clubs in Leeds do pickups (and are based in schools). Most childminders will do school pickups.

Ask at the school, ring your council Under 8s service. Ask around the other parents in the school yard.

Answer 9

I would ask at your childcare facility. They probably know other parents who use a similar service, and can probably refer you to someone who already picks up children at their school.

Answer 10

Yes, just contact a few of your local child minders and find out which ones do school pick up.