Find a sahm who wants to earn money while being with her kid(s), and pay her to pick up and have kids play.

Get an AP.

You can hire a sitter but be prepared to pay a weekly minimum - $400 a week or so - to get someone good and reliable.

In terms of those other programs that are off site, contact them and the school itself to see if they have a bus to another site where transportation is provided.

Hire a nanny / babysitter? Maybe you and another mom would want to go in together on a share. Kids play together or nanny can take them to an activity (dance, karate, soccer) and then home for snack until you get home.

What time does school start if it gets out at 1:55?

Has anyone made this work affordably outside of an organized after care program? We're thinking of moving to a neighborhood where the ES has none, and there aren't a lot of nearby options that don't require your own transportation (which, if I could provide, i would not need after care). School lets out at 1:55 which is too early for even an early schedule at work. This seems like a ridiculous deal breaker for an entire neighborhood. What have you done?