We also selected BCDS for aftercare. Fingers crossed for a great year!

OP here: thank you everybody for all the info. We have registered for BCDS before and after care. Will report here how it will work out.

NP here. How far in advance should we look at aftercare and get on wait lists? Thanks!

Hopefully you have gotten the info you need before this post.

There are 4 different aftercare options at Ashburton, 3 bus, 1 in school. The in-school is run by Rockville Childcare Association. Long wait list and hard to get into. Reputation is that high school students do most of the supervision. Option 2 is by Montgomery Child Care. Take the kids to a church over on Fernwood. (So better for the folks on that side of the neighborhood). Haven't heard anything about the quality of the care. Option 3 is Bethesda Country Day School. (Accross the street from the Main YMCA). Have heard that it's not so exciting, but the supervision is good. Limited enrichment options - a couple of sports and hip-hop for the school agers. Option 4: Ayrlawn YMCA. More active, more enrichment options for additional fees. Some discipline/behavior issues reported.

An au pair is a very amusing and financially ridiculous suggestion. This person just needs care between 8-9 and 3:30-5 every day. My experience is not at Ashburton but another elementary school and I can assure you the kids do just fine. It does seem like a long day to us, but even my usually lazy kindergartener is still happy and excited at pickup. Just ask around and find out the provider that is used at Ashburton and get in touch with them about details for next year.

My kids go to Wyngate but I have a good friend that started in K using the before/after care on site at Ashburton and I picked her DD up a couple of times to take to gymnastics. It seemed like a nice environment for high energy kids. If your child is more introverted and needs more down time, I would really look into a babysitter or au pair. I just think it is a VERY long day for some of these little ones. I know other families who use Wyngate/Ashburton aftercare that are also happy. http://www.mccaedu.org/centers/ashburton.html. I think both these places are likely to fill up, so I'd get on their waitlists very soon.

FYI-- I know several families who have chosen to take their kids out of these aftercare centers (more specifically the YMCA) to avoid behavior problems. If you have multiple kids and are ultimately paying for 2 kids after and before care, you might do better to get a babysitter at some point. A babysitter has the added benefit that he/she can take your kids to soccer practice and get homework done before you come home from work. By third grade, you've got some serious homework to deal with. . . so just keep that in mind going forward.

I think kids needs change over time, so I suggest keeping a willingness to change your arrangements as the cirucmstances dictate.

OP here: I meant to say "Ashburton ES" of course.

DC will start K this Fall. I work from 8 til 5, so will need to do "before and after care" thing. Was anyone in the same situation and if so, how you did that?
TIA.