5 Questions to Ask Before Booking an After-School Program
After-school care is a big weekly commitment. Five questions that separate a program your child will look forward to from one they will beg to leave.
An after-school program is where your child spends roughly 15 hours a week — more than in any single school subject. It is worth asking a few pointed questions before you sign a term's contract.
1. What does a normal afternoon look like?
Ask for the actual schedule: snack, homework time, free play, structured activity. A program that cannot describe a typical day probably does not have one.
2. How do you get from school to the program?
On-site programs in the school are simplest. Off-site ones should name the walkers or the bus, the hand-off procedure and what happens when a child is absent without notice.
3. Who are the staff, and how long have they been there?
Turnover is the most honest indicator of program quality. Ask about the ratio, the training and whether the same adults are there every day.
4. What happens when my child is upset, hurt or bored?
You want to hear about quiet spaces, a first-aid plan, and the way staff handle a child who just does not want to join in. "They always join in" is not an answer.
5. What does it really cost?
Monthly fee, registration fee, late-pick-up charges, PD-day and holiday coverage (included or extra), and the notice period for leaving. Ask about subsidies — many municipal and non-profit programs have them and do not advertise it.
Browse after-school programs by city and age, and compare a few before term starts.
