Working Mum: Club rules
Working Mum
Monday, August 11, 2014
Lack of suitable out-of-school provision presents difficulties for parents forced to juggle responsibilities, says Working Mum.
My four-year-old is extremely excited about starting school in September. While I share her enthusiasm, I'm also apprehensive about juggling school hours with my work.
I'd hoped for DD1 (Dear Daughter 1) to attend nursery school last year, but had to turn down the place when I couldn't find a local childminder that could accommodate caring for DD2 (Dear Daughter 2) and doing drop-offs and pick-ups for my elder daughter. I thought that my biggest problem when DD1 started school would be dropping children in two locations before dashing to the train station. Unfortunately, I hadn't anticipated the lack of support that our three local primary schools give to working parents.
I found that one school does not offer out-of-school care because, I am informed, the headteacher is 'ideologically opposed to it'. He believes that children are in school for long enough hours. I agree with his sentiment, but as a school that proclaims it has an 'ethos of inclusivity', surely it should also consider how best it can accommodate the children of working parents?
It is not a case of children spending all their time in formal learning while on school premises. There are other options than corralling pupils in their classrooms until parents get home from work, such as a separate 'club' room.
The school provides various interesting sports and music clubs, but parents have to collect their child and then take them to the session. This means that my daughter would also miss out on the extracurricular activities that her friends with non-working parents, nannies or au pairs can access.
DAILY UPHEAVAL
Another school does provide a breakfast and after-school club but doesn't allow Reception children to attend both of them. There is no consideration of the Unique Child or listening to parents' opinions. DD1 has coped well in daycare since she was ten months old from 8am until 6pm and I feel the hours would not faze her. I'd love to shorten the day for her, but unfortunately for our family that's currently not possible.
There is a local nursery that offers out-of-school provision, but I wonder how unsettling it is for a young child to make the transition between nursery and school and also to acquaint themselves with an additional new environment?
Also, there would be the daily upheaval of her being dropped off in one place, taken by minibus to school less than an hour later and then the process repeated in the evening.
Thankfully, the school that DD1 has been allocated does have out-of-school care provision. The activities that it does with the children sound great and the children are also encouraged to participate in any clubs running after school. Wonderful! But ... it can't confirm that DD1 will have a place until the first week of term.
The manager of the club did not seem to understand why this may pose a problem for us. I know my situation is not unique. I'm surrounded by households where both parents work and don't have the support of family nearby. But I feel many people working in schools, with their short days and long holidays, are still not tuned in to the struggle that lots of us are facing.
DD1 is currently loving school role play as she prepares for the next big stage of her life. Meanwhile, I'm playing a nervous waiting game and trying to find a joined-up solution.
Out of school changes - a guide
The revised EYFS, due to come into force next month, includes changes designed to simplify regulation and encourage schools to open for longer hours and provide more out-of-school provision.
The moves follow a Department for Education consultation on the regulation of childcare and calls by former education and childcare minister Elizabeth Truss for schools to change current perceptions of the length of the school day. Critics, however, have argued that the changes ignore the well-being of the child.
Revised EYFS
Under the revised framework:
- - 'Where the provision is solely before/after-school care or holiday provision for children who normally attend Reception class (or older) during the school day, there must be sufficient staff as for a class of 30 children.'
- - Providers now determine how many staff are needed to ensure the safety and welfare of children, 'bearing in mind the type(s)of activity and the age and needs of the children'.
- - They also determine what qualifications, if any, the manager and/or staff should have.
- - Providers do not need to meet the learning and development requirements of the EYFS. However, practitioners should discuss with parents and other practitioners or school staff about support they intend to give.
MORE INFORMATION
The EYFS changes are just some of the elements of deregulation first set out in the Regulation of Childcare consultation. For more information, see:
