[pendy]

When my children were growing up, I had to work full time. I was fortunate that my son's school had an after-school club, until 6 p.m. and also there were holiday clubs in certain schools, on a rotation basis, but they often involved a long trip to get there. I paid a childminder to have Miles after school (because I often didn't get home until about 7 p.m.) Not an ideal situation, but it was necessary. To be fair, it also meant that I did not have a break in my career.

I think so long as parents are prepared to spend quality time with their children, then after-school care is a good thing. I would talk to the children when doing the evening meal, and we ate together. Also we would go out at weekends to the park, or to the stables for my daughter. Too many non-working mothers pick up their children from school, park them in front of the box, and that's it until bedtime. It's the effort one makes that counts. So there!