Childcare options - older kids

YORKSHIRELASS

I am not working at the moment and looking at various options to get myself back into work. My biggest difficulty is childcare in the holidays, particularly the school summer holidays. My children are 10 and 12 and I have parents who can help but I dont want to rely on them too much as they are getting on a bit.

The other problem is that we live in a very rural area. There is an out of school club locally but it charges £25 a day per child and my boys hate it. The other option is a local leisure centre which runs some daily activities from 9am to 3pm.

I really could do with some ideas. What does everyone else do? My OH is self employed and summer is his busiest time so it doesnt really make financial sense for him to not be working.

balletshoes

have your kids been to the leisure centre scheme? my daughter and niece went for 3 days to our local one last summer when I had to work, and they loved it - structured activities all through the day with young activity leaders, and they liked that they could go to the leisure centre restaurant for lunch if they wanted to.

I took them to the leisure centre, signed them in, and then went straight to work. Then I left work just in time to go collect them and sign them out.

GobbledyGook

You could ring round childminders in your area. If any mind the children of a teacher then perhaps they'll only be minding them term time? Our Nanny used to work term-time only for her previous employer and take on other charges through the holidays.

Perhaps a combination of your parents, the leisure centre and time off for your OH would cover you? Maybe with the help of a friend or sensible teenager that you know?

Counting_Pennies_2

If your parents are mobile and can drive, I wonder if it is worth looking in to Kings Camps, they are at various sites around the country or other types of holiday camps (basically day care in the school holidays, no staying over!)

They could then just drive your children to the venues, so it isn't asking too much of them.

Alternatively find out where local tennis clubs are and see if they do holiday clubs. Mine love going.

In terms of work, have you thought maybe about temping, so you just work for the times they are in school?

balletshoes

To cover all the school holidays/inset days etc, I do rely on my sister/brother in law ie I take different weeks off to them at Easter/summer school hols, and we look after each others kids on our week off work. That way I have enough leave to cover the 5 inset/admin days at school.

My daughter also usually goes to stay with her Granny for a week or so in the summer holidays - she's getting older now though and if she chooses not to go in future (we've given all the kids the choice once they get to around 12 or 13 years old), she'll be going to a day activity scheme instead on the days I'm at work.