To think that on a low paid or minimum wage job which fits into school hours (no weekends/evenings, and holiday childcare paid), you're looking at maybe as low as around £7000 a year?

[Alondonleerie]

Haven't done the maths with specific numbers yet, based on something I was looking at a few years ago, and was wondering what ppls experiences of it is now.
Situation: parent 1 is sole carer majority of the time as parent 2 works away. No friends or family to help with childcare before/after school, sick days, or any holidays, so any work has to either for completely into school hours or next paid off in childcare costs.
Realistically, what are you looking at earning in a year, if such a job came up?

[SwimmingJustKeepSwimming]

Ive not managed that much

[Merryoldgoat]

Depends on what you are qualified for. I work 24 hours a week which I do over 3 days but could do over 5 if I wanted to which would fit school times.

I earn considerably more than the childcare cost of whilst I’m at work.

[arethereanyleftatall]

£7.83 x 6 (hours per day) x 5 (days per week) x 37 (39 school weeks minus 2 weeks for illnesses/snow etc) = £8.7k

[Alondonleerie]

merry how much tho? Around £7000, more, less?
arethereanyleftatall that's not right though, because the 6 hours (9-3pm) means leaving kids at school unattended before 9 while you travel to get to work for 9, and after school if you finish at 3, the same time DC usually finish in most primaries and a lot of secondaries. Unless you work practically next door.

[arethereanyleftatall]

Well, yes, obviously it depends on your commute. So, work it out at 5 hours per day if you wish.

[Zofloramummy]

I start in a secondary school at 9.10.
My dd is able to be left in her school playground at 8.45/50, basically once the teachers come out onto the yard.

I finish at 3.30 and so does she. So she goes to after school club for a flat rate of £6 for the first hour. I usually nip to the supermarket or do any quick jobs and pick her up at 4.30.

I earn £9300 a year as a TA

[Mumoftwoyoungkids]

Also you need to allow for a lunch break.

I work school hours 3 days a week. I work less than 25 mins cycle ride from school (including the time it takes to lock / unlock bike and get to my desk many floors up.

Technically O have to do 4 hours 40 each day. (2/3 of 7 hours.) I try and do a bit more as mine is a career job. But generally I struggle to go over about 5.25 hours without having no lunch break at all.

[anniehm]

Depends on the employer - I earn double that but they value me!

[Alondonleerie]

And going back after years out having DC a few years apart, would mean not going back to the same (professional and well paid) job, which involved some evening work at a minimum anyway so is no longer appropriate, even if a suitable job were available for an out of touch older mum. So I'm assuming a low paid, non career type position is the only one which would fit, also meaning bottom or low level entry, therefore low or minimum wage.

[Youngandfree]

I’m a teacher (but In Ireland) and I work 9-2.40 (DC IN starts at 8.40 and in Afterschool until 3.30) and I earn approximately 38k

[Alondonleerie]

@anniehm I'm assuming you've been there a while or have specific skills for them to value you? I'm talking about going back, into a new/different area after having years out. Did you earn that money in that position? (not being argumentative, but wouldn't have any preexisting goodwill or reputation with anyone to be valued!)

Yes, I forgot about a lunch break!

@zofloramummy is that salary the one you went in on?

[Kia123456]

Let me know if you find any such jobs! I’ve been trying to get back into work for a year now but can’t find anything to fit in with school hours that I’m qualified for. All the min wage jobs in retail / call centres and the like are looking for “fully flexible” staff or evenings and weekend work.

[Alondonleerie]

@youngandfree thx for your comment, but that's totally irrelevant to this situation

[Youngandfree]

@Alondonleerie
Not totally irrelevant at all I answered your question and in fact you pretty much described my life! Sole parent a lot of the time as DH works away, not much family help. I thought you were asking so I answered! The only difference is I’m in Ireland? Surely the uk has options??if that’s where you are?

[Alondonleerie]

@kia yes, same here. It's a bit of a hypothetical situation at the moment, but refers back to a previous issue, in which I was accused of being a 'lady who lunches' (and not in a good way) and inferred I was a lazy mare because I didn't work regular hours. Due to no support and young DC. Meanwhile I worked my arse off at home when DC were asleep, at something which gave around £7000 a year. Not much, but as you say, jobs which fit the necessary criteria are rare! Was wondering if I was justified in being v offended by this, or whether I actually was a lazy mare and didn't realise it. (Although I certainly was nothing like a lazy mare during those hours I was working for my money. And no, it wasn't sex work, haha. )

[mumwon]

youngandfree I think she means that she doesn't have a teaching qualification & she was talking about minimum pay because she doesn't expect to earn more

[mumwon]

op I assume (no experience here :) !) that sex workers earn higher than minimum wage!

[Jaspermcsween]

Yes about that

[JockTamsonsBairns]

I'm a school cook, and earn £13,500 a year, pro rata across 12 months to account for holidays. I'm in a very similar situation to you - my DH earns well, but is often away and we have no family or support network of friends.
It's not ideal, I'm massively over-qualified for the job - but, it really works for me for now. I drop my DC's at school at 8.45, get to work by around 9/9.05 then I finish up about 3 in time to collect them by 3.20.
I'm not going to pretend it's my ideal job, but the hours are perfect to fit round the kids, and the money I earn gives the family pot a heck of a lot of luxuries that we wouldn't otherwise have.

[Merryoldgoat]

@alondonleerie

I could do 5 hours a day which would allow drop off and pickup. I earn about £30,000 for three days so after pension etc take home about £1800 - childcare is around £750-£1000 so we’re a minimum of £800 a month better off with me working.

[Alondonleerie]

@youngandfree yes it was, because I had already stated it would be a low paid/min wage job in the title. My previous job was as a teacher, It was not sustainable as a (to all intents and purposes) 'single' parent, and due to the stresses and evening/weekend work would not go back - I doubt I could anyway, having no relevant recent experience and training. And in my experience of part time teaching when DC were young, senior management are not particularly happy with ppl who leave so promptly (also had two meetings a week, which prevented that) - when money became exceptionally tight and they were looking for voluntary redundancies or having to sack ppl, I was one of the first on the chopping block as I couldn't provide as much value for money.

[Alondonleerie]

mum thinking about it, you're probably right! Don't think I'd get much business nowadays tho!

@merryoldgoat that's great! Was that a continuation of a career pre DC? If it was something new, how long did it take to work up to that salary?

[Merryoldgoat]

If you’re a qualified teacher you can absolutely earn better than minimum wage around school time.

I actually work in an independent school. We have several teachers who work part time in your situation.

Almost all of the admin workers work part time around school hours and earn a min of £10 per hour term time only.

[StillMedusa]

TA in a special school here and take home is 13, 250 a year (spread across the whole year)
Slightly less now as I have gone supply only after 14 years contract so that I can have time off when I need ( son with autism, learning disability and Ulcerative Colitis so lots of hospital appointments)

It's not great but DH was in the Forces for many years so one of us needed to be home after school and holiday time. These days less so but the flexibility works for us.

My hourly rate is just over £10 so not awful, but the school day limits what I can earn!

[Alondonleerie]

.. And did you need specific skills/knowledge? (to merry)