Do you use your childs school's after school club? Help me with my research!

[furryroadster]

Some of you may have seen my post a few weeks back desperately seraching for Holiday cover as Rainbow Club (where my son attends After school club) has closed down its holiday provision due to poor demand.

Many parents were really helpful in providing me with alternative childcare options for the holiday breaks but what struck me was how few there were in East Dulwich and how few of them offered an 8-6pm day. It has led me to do more research into the whole child care provision for kids at school and I'm putting a little spreadsheet together - which I will share the the Forum when complete.

I do however want to ask a question of parents who are currently using the many After school clubs in Heber, Goose Green, Bessemer, Goodrich etc. I make the assumption that you use the After School club because you have working commitments that don't allow you to collect your kids at 3:15pm. What do you do in the holidays? None of the schools offer holiday cover.

And if offered a local provision, situated en route to the station that cost ?20/day from 8-6pm - why wouldn't you use it.

I'm trying to understand that with so many kids in our area, why aren't clubs like Rainbow inundated over the school holidays.

Would really like your thoughts on this.

Marissa

[ryedalema]

Hi there - we use Gumboots as Goodrich's after school provision. Gumboots hosted a holiday club across the summer, 8am - 6pm from the East Dulwich Community Centre. We alternated that with the Holiday Drop off, which is a sports camp out of Dulwich College (8am - 5pm for an extended day).

Our daughter is signed up for sports camp again during half term (Gumboots doesn't do half terms, but is I believe considering other holidays).

We would be interested in the provision you describe, but it would also depend upon activities while there. She absolutely loves the swimming, trampolining etc at HDO, so it's an easy sell :)

Btw - didn't know about Rainbow, did they proactively market?

[furryroadster]

Thanks Ryedalema

I have seen HDO and Gumboots. HDO looks like a really good service. Interesting you don't know Rainbow - but am guessing you are more GOodrich side of ED which is why it was missed! Also, they haven't marketed themselves well - so this is what I'm trying to ascertain for them. Thanks for your thoughts. Much appreciated.

[Vik]

What is Rainbow?

[Trish]

My daughter attends Gumboots during term time and did do a week or so at the summer holiday club they provided. But it is half terms I struggle with more than anything, but as you say, most of the other holiday clubs don't operate from 8am to 6pm. If there was one available then I would use it. I've had to take leave to cover October half term and Christmas. I have a little one at nursery and the nursery is closed for 2 weeks but they are a different 2 weeks to the school so I need to take 3 weeks off in total - which doesn't leave much annual leave for the remainder of the year!

I've not worked out what to do over February half term yet. She could stay at my mum's but she misses being with her family, and I miss her too. I don't see her for 5 days. It's far from ideal.

I'd be very interested to hear of provision over those half term periods for a full working day.

[furryroadster]

Rainbow Club is a breakfast and afterschool club, running out of the church hall on Amott Road, round the corner from St John and St Clements. They predominantly look after kids from St J&C during term time as they provide a pick/drop service from the school.

They have up till recently run holiday clubs covering all the half terms, Easter and Summer (sadly they close at Christmas) They have had to close their holiday provision because they weren't getting enough sign ups to cover their costs.

From your posts Trish and Vik, it sounds like they just haven't been publicising their club very well. My son attends the after school club and it has been a real grind to find something affordable, local and open 8-6pm over half term.

I am hoping to help them, along with the other parents who use the service, get the holiday club up and running for February 2013. Watch out for further posts and better marketing when/if the time comes!

Many thanks for your feedback

Marissa

[ryedalema]

Hi Furryroadster

Yes we're Goodrich end, but we also have a little one in nursery at Denmark Hill, so go past Rainbow's locale every day.

Thinking about it, there were a few 'ex Rainbow' parents at the last Gumboots parents' meeting. Did something happen to make them transfer? Did a service close or something?

HDO does all half terms and holidays in case anyone's interested. It's at Dulwich College which made us change our commute. But a quick 6 minute walk from West Dulwich station, which is blissfully quiet compared to ED station :)

[furryroadster]

That's interesting. They have only just closed their holiday club so couldnt' have been that. Wondering if they were unhappy with the service overall and hence changed. May need to dig deeper.

HDO has a lot of love but is an expensive solution for many parents who need full day cover.

Thanks for your help.

Marissa

[Fuschia]

I would send mine for a few days if Childcare vouchers can be used

[nikki73]

I'd also be interested but my daughter is only 3. too young? But definitely in the future.