Quote Originally Posted by MommaL View Post
LOL. How soon we forget that most of us (at least where I am from) walked to school when we were growing up. There was no such thing as busses and parents and daycare providers didn't walk with us. If we were still too young to walk on our own, we walked with an older sibling or neighbourhood kid. For me, the school is just down the way and the children are older, so are ok to do the 2 minute on their own.
While this is true that was THEN. I've supply taught in many schools and can count on one hand the number of kids from all those classes I've worked in that have ever left school at lunch time. It just doesn't happen anymore. While that doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't still happen it does mean that the dynamics of the environment have changed. In the past many kids some with or without adults or older kids were walking home at the same time. There were people out and about while those children were walking home. Now...it'll be the tiny few kids walking home, with everyone else at work, or zoned out in front of a screen. That whole sense of community has changed. Making that walk home very different for those kids. It's sad...but the reality is things are just different.

That all said...if the kids are older and the school is close enough that they can walk to your place on their own that does make this situation much more manageable. I would still caution to factor in the amount of food a school age child can eat. You need to charge for the before and after care. You need to charge for the lunch meal AND you need to factor in that if you are in Ontario and the child is under age 13 they count in numbers and take up a full day space. I'd still be charging a full day fee.