Ft or pt- Wwyd?

[louloutheshamed]

I am currently on ml with ds2. After ds1 I went back ft, am a secondary English teacher, but I hopes to ttc again after a couple of years so I hope that it wouldn't be forever. Now I am trying to decide whether to return ft again or to ask about pt.

If i went pt i could probably only go down to 4 days. My reasons for going pt are that I feel something has to give with 2dcs, and I feel like we will need some 'slack' in our week to allow time for routine appts, just keeping on top if things etc. also I'm not sure about having dc3 so this might be my only opportunity to ask for pt work.

Otoh, my school has a 2 week tt, and there is no guarantee I would get the same day off each week which causes a child care headache. Also a lot of people get odd mornings and afternoons off which would also be unworkable and not financially viable. For this reason one colleague has gone to .9 and gets one full day off per fortnight which seems to work quite well and could be an option for me but doesn't seem v pt at all!

I am really at the mercy of the tt every year and won't find out the tt until after I've changed my contract.

I am also worried about losing status, my classroom, my a level teaching if I go pt, as this has happened to colleagues (though usually those working 3 days tbf). I do want to progress in my career eventually and am studying for an M.ed.

I am 29, ds1 almost 3, ds2 8 weeks, if that makes any difference.

Sone colleagues who gave gone to 4 days gave dsud it was pointless as it felt ft and they have gone back up to 5 and used the extra cash to get a cleaner. We already have a cleaner, only once a fortnight though!

Wwyd in this situation? any advice/ experience?

[louloutheshamed]

So many typos! Quite embarrassing given my subject but I am trying to bf baby and type one handed on phone!!

[louloutheshamed]

Bumping for the back from work crowd!

[BranchingOut]

I think that only you can know how it will work in your school. Personally I think that it might need to be 3.5 days or less to really feel like a part-timer, with four days the time might be in odd blocks and you might scarcely feel the gain.
You might still need to have your children in childcare with four days, but maybe workload and everything else would be easier.

I did work 3 days at one point and that was the only time I ever had 'weekends' as a teacher (primary).

[louloutheshamed]

I know it's so difficult to decide!!

A lot of people say 4 days isn't worth it but I have only ever been full time so to me it would feel like a luxury IF I could get a full day once a week.

Funny how people thing of teaching as family friendly when it's as inflexible as it gets!

[ninah]

I am primary pt and I was much happier ft, I like to be in control and know what's going on. I do like my two days 'off' but worry about school stuff when I'm not in - we are under massive pressure as a school though. Four days a week? might as well do five imo.

[colander]

I am pt, and have only ever been pt since having dcs. I also was a SAHM for about 8 years so I haven't taught with younger dcs (and take my hat off to everyone that manages to!)

I am 0.75 which is probably a little more than I would like, but the extra money is useful. However, I only get one day off a fortnight. Are you sure that you will get two clear days off by going to 0.8? I ask because I do the tt at school and it is incredibly hard to fit 0.8 to 4 days per week in a secondary school. However, if you are primary I guess it is easier?

Anyway, I would go pt rather than ft. I find it just gives me that extra time at home that is so useful. HTH

[AHardDaysWrite]

I went back on a four day week after dc1. I loved it - but it was expensive! I'm on a tlr, and those extra 39 days off cost me £6000 a year. Also, I only got paid 80% of my tlr (hod) but I did all of the work! This time round I'm going back 5 days and I will use the extra cash for nice holidays and a cleaner.

[MsFiremanSam]

I'm in your exact situation - secondary English, DC 2 just arrived, was full time after DC1 but now want 4 days. My DH also wants to go 4 days and this feels like a way we can both spend more time with the kids but still retain a career. Only complication is that I really want to move schools.
Lots of colleagues at my current school are 4 days and no one really notices. Plus now we have 2 DCs the cost of childcare means we won't be much worse off.

[WhomessweetWhomes]

Could you even guarantee 4 days though? I am currently teaching part time (0.7) and am in every bloody day. I feel like I'm being paid a part-time wage to do a full-time job. Mind you, I do look at my full-time colleagues who have young dc and wonder how they manage.

[bigTillyMintspie]

It sounds like it will be pretty tricky to go to .8 in your school and you may end up having to.pay for full-time child-care. I feel for you.

I worked .6 for 11 years with 2 DC till DS went to sec school - primary/specialist setting. It was the only way I could have coped with having 2 young DC, though I could probably have gone back to full-time sooner.

Having a cleaner once a week is the best thing about working full-time (aside from the money and the job of course!) - it relieves the resentment I felt towards DH about the household duties

[FourArms]

I'm a 0.78 secondary teacher. I get the same day off each week.

It's amazing! I'm really feeling it compared to last year (NQT year) because then I had 7 classes, all on different specs. Now I have 7 classes, but only across 4 years and specs (all classes have same levels across a year) so lots less planning.

I feel so much more relaxed. For me as an NQT+1 the salary drop into our bank was very small (less NI, tax and pension contributions) and completely offset by decrease in childcare costs :)

Our school has over 50% PT staff so maybe they so it well?

[chosenone]

Similar to harddayawrite here. I was .8 (every Friday off ) for 7 years whilst dc were little. When dc2 started school it felt like a luxury tbh. But one I loved a day to catch up, veg out, mark, get my hair done etc. I have now gone up to full time and am finding it hard and dis regret it. However, I am nearly £8000 a year better off. It seems a lot to go without now tbh. However, when the dc were preschool I loved having the time with them and managed financially. I guess you need to see what your school can offer and how workable it is.

[thehat]

I am .8 HOD - this really works for me. I do get one whole day off and now that my children are school age I can get some work done on my day off, leaving my weekends for family time.

Can't even comprehend working full time now - think the whole family would fall apart!

[2kidsintow]

I went down to 3.5 days after having my DD1 and it was the best thing I ever did. Just that bit of time meant the world to me. I know we are blessed with lots of holidays, but that day and a half meant I spent half ofthe 7 day week with my DD. I was able to have some sort of link to her school when she started. I stayed on 3,5 days after having DD2 too.

DD2 is now 9 and DD1 is nearly 13 and I've only just gone up to 4 days teaching and going in on Friday to do 2 hours of PPA. I still manage the school run for a day and it still makes a difference as far as DD2 is concerned.