Secondary school - kids with working parents

[damzel]

Primary school kids are fairly easy for working parents - after school club or child minders can look after them until 6pm. During school holidays, we are really lucky to have so many great holiday clubs available in this area.

None of the above is available for secondary school children though so what do Y7/8 do? It seems a bit young to be master of their own destiny for 3 hours after school and during school holidays.

My daughter is still a couple of years away from secondary but I would be very interested to hear what options are available when she gets there.

[flocker spotter]

When my son started secondary we still had an aupair, but when my daughter came to make the change both kids pleaded for us not to have another aupair. Our solution was for me to change roles (from teacher to HLTA) so that I could start later and leave earlier. This meant that they were home alone for a maximum of an hour and I no longer had to be in school during the holidays.

[Renata Hamvas]

Secondary schools tend to have a great variety of after school enrichment clubs (sports, study, drama etc) these take up 1-2 hours after school, also there are school libraries and local libraries. Year 7/8 tend to like to hang out with each other in the park, each others houses. Children seem to grow up a lot in the transition from primary to secondary. There are some activities for this age group, check the Southwark website for the up to date list.

Renata

[BeccaL]

Agree children grow up a lot. Depends on the child, but daughter happy at home from about 3.50 to about 5.30 (changed my hours to start and finish earlier when she went to secondary school, as she was leaving house earlier so I could get to work earlier). Still some holiday clubs but not as many as for little ones - try to get her to coordinate doing things with friends to get her out and about.

[damzel]

Thanks all, I feel less concerned about after school now. I think the school holidays will be a challenge though.

My daughter loves (non sporty) holiday clubs - it's a shame they don't cater for y7/8.

[Monkey]

Dulwich Holiday Drop Off takes kids all the way to 14. I don't think I'd like a year7/8 child on their own all day during the school holidays.

[Monkey]

Sorry Damzel, just saw that your daughter is after non-sporty activities... Dulwich is all about sports unfortunately.

[zobellina]

Lewisham Community Sports and Dog Kennel Hill Adventure Playground do holiday clubs for up to 14 years (I think DKHAP is older too), and it isn't all about sports!

I am a single full time working parent who quite often gets collared at 5.30 for a quick chat and as I have just accepted a promotion I feel obliged to listen.

I used to have a third year uni student who would meet my daughter off the bus or at the house after school and basically just hang out, but I haven't been able to find one this year.

I don't know many of the other parents, as I have always worked full time and never been at the school gate so asking if my daughter can hang out at theirs isn't possible.

Interested to hear other parents experiences too!

[Emily_L]

Why not let them go home with a friend who doesn?t have that problem thus letting you kid make strong friendships :)

[womanofdulwich]

Mmm.for some children this is quite an awkward time and we got an au pair until year 9 but depends on any other children too.

[Saffron]

Look at the performing arts clubs? Some of these take older children.

We are ED borders, so my daughter went to Montage Theatre Arts in Brockley last summer, but maybe there are other similar clubs around your specific area.

Montage, for example, take children up to 14 years. xx

[uncleglen]

Renata Hamvas Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Secondary schools tend to have a great variety of

> after school enrichment clubs (sports, study,

> drama etc) these take up 1-2 hours after school,

> also there are school libraries and local

> libraries. Year 7/8 tend to like to hang out with

> each other in the park, each others houses.

> Children seem to grow up a lot in the transition

> from primary to secondary. There are some

> activities for this age group, check the Southwark

> website for the up to date list.

> Renata

In the state secondary schools I've worked in Enrichment was compulsory- at least 2 after school sessions per week. A lot of students stayed every day until about 5.30pm. Some were compelled to stay if they were failing at core subjects and not doing Homework for example.

[SLad]

koru kids apparently pairs uni students with families for just this kind of afterschool care. Haven't used it myself but looks good.