Out of school child care for teenager?

Are you talking holidays or after school?

I have never NEEDED care personally, but am aware that the boys' school had a number of after school activities, including homework clubs, so that if it HAD been an issue I would have signed them for as many of those as they had let me.

Holidays I have seen various schemes for 11+, often run at private schools, but also at sports centres. Not cheap ...

I suggest that you think about how much you absolutely need. Could you each take a week's leave at a different time to the other in the summer, for example? Still leaves some time for a family holiday.

Or could you 'make do' with some odd days, so that your child isn't alone all day every day?

On the 'alone' days, are their friends nearby they could spend time with?

A lot depends on the child, of course. Once I was at secondary school, I had some holidays at a different time to my siblings, and really enjoyed being 'home alone'. Sometimes I would catch the bus to meet my mum for lunch, which broke the day up. Sometimes I'd even go in and help her, say if she had lots of envelopes to stuff! But nowadays you'd need to check employer was happy, which they often won't be because of insurance, Health and Safety etc.

Some children, however, either couldn't be left at 11, or wouldn't be happy. Although it's worth working on strategies to overcome that.

Oh, and if there aren't out of school clubs in your area, have you looked at the area where you work? It would be a long day, but perhaps worthwhile.

Finally, is there another childminder who would take an 11+ child? I'd only suggest that if a) your child was happy and b) there were older children there rather than just babes. You have to remember that once they reach secondary school they do a LOT of growing up, and things can change fairly rapidly. I found when I was running after school clubs that by year 6 many children preferred to be allowed to go home than come to us.

The only places I knew around here, that took a yr7 plus child in school hols, were sports centres one was ofsted registered childcare, but I have a feeling it may have closed since (or I've been taken off mailing list). The other is a sports camp type place, but it only runs a few days each hol, not all week, and not all day either.

As for term-time, there isn't anything here once they get to secondary school.

My neighbour just had a word with me if her son could come to me in an emergency, when he started secondary school.

Has your childminder said definitely no? As a childminder myself I know I wouldn't turn any of the children I care for away just because they had gone to secondary school. I have the NCMA's public liability insurance and that covers you for children upto 15 years of age. The only thing I would insist on is that the child made their own way to my house, however that's not such a big issue with my parents as the secondary school that my minded children will go to is only 10 minutes walk away.

Have you tried a company called 'supercamps' - certainly not cheap but do go upto the age of 14.

Our local sports centre (Medway) have day camps during most of the school holidays it usally about £12.50 per day (8.30 up to 6.00). During term time the local high school has a nursery on site which dose an after school club, which ment they met the kids from school took them to their building in the ajoining school and they could stay up to 6pm thid cost about £5.50 but that was about 4 years ago when my boys went their. try contacting the childrens services deptment at you local council they may be able to point you in the direct of some suitable child care good luck.

CC