0.52 fte but working 3 days?

[LittleBear01]

I think this is probably perfectly legal and also really common but just wanted to check. I'm going back to work later this year after mat leave, and have asked to go down to 3 days a week. They've agreed, but have said I will only be paid 0.52 fte as they can only timetable me for a certain number of periods which works out about half that a full timer does. So I suppose I'll have trapped time where I have little choice to be in school but am not paid for. I have asked for one day to be an early start/finish as technically I'm only being paid to work 2 and a half days a week, but they've said it's unlikely the timetable will allow this.

Do I have to put up with this? Seems so wrong that I have to pay for childcare when I'm not being paid to be at work.

[Bettyandtheboy]

This sounds a bit naughty. Is your school an academy? If it's LEA then it's bound by the burgundy book agreement and this doesn't sound fair. Have you got a union rep you can chat to?

[Stillwishihadabs]

That does sound a bit odd. However on the plus side you have managed to negotiate flexible working, which is a huge positive. Could you join a gym close to work so you can use that time effectively or do an online shop/ go to the supermarket ?

[Waterlemon]

The nut have a pro rata calculator on their website that's pretty accurate. Your Union can also look into your timetable and pro rata hours for you.

Trapped time seems to be a secondary issue, I've never come across it in Primary schools.

[LittleBear01]

Thanks for your replies. Not part of LEA unfortunately but will chat to union rep. Yes, I think I will have to make sure I get out during trapped time otherwise I'll get roped into doing other work things.

[Allthebestnamesareused]

This is going to sound harsh but on the basis there is always work that is done after hours anyway can you not just go off to a quiet corner and get that done in the trapped time. That means you wouldn't have to take marking etc home and when yo do get home it is entirely your time.

[SarahMused]

It sounds like your timetable is going to include some trapped time on top of your normal teaching time and ppa. You can use this time as you wish as you are not being paid for it. I have had this in the past on a .5 timetable and sometimes caught up with stuff so I didn't have to take work home and others I have deliberately left the premises to make the point that this was my time not theirs. The main issue is when you have to pay for a full days childcare but don't get a full days pay. If this is a problem for you negotiate - they may be able to find the odd hour of something else to plug the gap if they want to keep you.
The school are supposed to minimise trapped time and it should be 'reasonable' ie teaching one lesson at the start of the day and one at the end wouldn't be but the odd hour over a .5 probably is. Are you in a union? If not join one there is a lot of good advice for part timers on issues like this - things like directed time, cpa, insets etc. It is a lot easier to argue your case with union backing than on your own.

[SuperMoonIsKeepingMeUpToo]

I thought they did have to pay you for trapped time - I was when part time.

[SarahMused]

Fraid not supermoon. Your school was being generous.

[palebluesky]

I'm afraid Sarah is correct.

It's similar to parents' evenings. Many schools will finish at 3 but parents evening may only commence around 4, giving an hour or so of 'trapped time'. Of course, many of us barely notice it because there are constructive things to do in it, but we aren't paid for it.

[Bettyandtheboy]

I've been teaching for 10 yeasts and have never heard the term trapped time! Learn something new everyday!

[CarrieBlue]

I had a flexible part time contract where my timetable varied between 0.4 and 0.6 fte - one year I was employed lesson 1 (of 5) and lesson 4 but not 2,3 or 5. I was asked by my HoD what I was going to do lesson 2 and 3 with the clear expectation that I would be doing school work. I made a point of telling her that as it was my own time I would be off site and unavailable for any meetings/marking/planning etc. Instead I used to pop home (luckily I lived close) and cleaned the house - it was always lovely to come back to a clean home at the end of the day!

It sucks to have trapped time and secondary schools get away with it far far too often.

[Waterlemon]

5.2 is barely more than 2 days! But you would still be paying for childcare and travel for 3 days!

Also it might be worth asking - all the PT staff at my school are paid for their ppa instead of being released. I think it works out an extra days pay every month.

[noblegiraffe]

My contract is just over 0.6 and I have to work all 5 days. My timetable is all over the place.

Yes they can do this, no they don't have to pay you for trapped time, although they are expected to try to minimise it.

Your contract is a proportion of a full timetable, not a number of days.

[Jessesbitch]

I'm 0.55 over 4 days. No trapped time this year. But in previous year had a period. They tried to schedule the dept meeting in that time. Erm no, not unless you are going to pay me. Also get offered paid cover in trapped time.

[DellaPorter]

School finance director here. In the current financial situation it's pretty impossible to pay for trapped time, there's hardly enough money to pay for the actual teaching time, let alone any extra. The difference between .52 and .6 is a lot of money, especially eith employer NI and pension costs.

You can certainly negotiate, offer to do cover, etc, but it's all part of agreeing a part time working arrangement, I am afraid.