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Original poster

To not opt for term time only childcare?

40 replies

9mon · 18/04/2024 08:47

I work 3 days a week in a school so in school holidays I get a bit of a break.

We are struggling a bit for money and could save by opting for term time only. I know I should go for this but six weeks of both children and absolutely no respite makes me go a bit cold.

Everyone’s going to tell me I’m BU and just get on with it aren’t they? 😭

OP posts:
Original poster
9mon · 18/04/2024 09:16

teacheroffsick · 18/04/2024 09:12

I'd have childcare in term time only. A perk of teaching is that you get to spend time with your kids over the holidays.

😂

I mean yes but you can have too much of a good thing!

OP posts:
NeverForgetHowStrongYouAre · 18/04/2024 09:14

I've kept mine in nursery 3 days per week in the school holidays. I'm already running on empty, and need the respite to be the best mam I can be. I have no regrets. Places are limited so I would recommend booking it, you can always drop a day if you don't need it, which is easier than waiting for a place if you know what I mean

teacheroffsick · 18/04/2024 09:12

I'd have childcare in term time only. A perk of teaching is that you get to spend time with your kids over the holidays.

Original poster
9mon · 18/04/2024 09:09

@JennyfromtheBlok but that’s not what we’re talking about here. We aren’t discussing letting a place go. We’re discussing two types of contracts: one is term time only and one is year round. So that post wasn’t relevant.

@minipie i don’t think there is really although ad hoc might be possible. If I was to opt for this it would be a change of nursery for the eldest one - there are advantages to this but it’s a balancing act. The new nursery having a term time only option is both drawing me and terrifying me Grin

As it is DS(3) attends for two days a week. His sister will start at 11.5 months and she will do three days. I had planned to use that ‘extra’ day over the summer to do things with DS as he’s been a bit shoved out this year.

If I go for the new nursery I’d probably just keep DS off over the summer and start him in September.

OP posts:
JennyfromtheBlok · 18/04/2024 09:02

If I let my daughters space go in July- it wouldn’t be there come September !

minipie · 18/04/2024 09:01

I know how you feel, the baby stage is relentless!

Is there a compromise possible eg 1 or 2 days during the summer, or 3 mornings but not full days.

SquigglePigs · 18/04/2024 09:01

Some nurseries will let you book extra days ad hoc.

My friend is a teacher and her kids were on a term time only contract but then she'd book them in for ad hoc days in the holidays. This helped keep them familiar with it when they were tiny, let her catch up on work with them happily occupied, and gave her some days to herself.

Would your nursery consider that? Then you could book them in one or two days on weeks you're not on holiday but you aren't paying full whack in the hols.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 18/04/2024 09:01

It’s down to what you can reasonably afford i think. It’s fine to use the full time childcare but obviously not at the expense of losing your home or something.

Original poster
9mon · 18/04/2024 08:55

They are too young @Baddaybigcloud : one will only be a year old in July and the other one is only three.

Getting a summer job would only make a negligible difference to finances when childcare is factored in. And I do get paid through the holidays so technically am ‘working.’ We’ve just had an expensive year as I’ve been on maternity leave and had a number of unexpected expenses (always!)

OP posts:
Baddaybigcloud · 18/04/2024 08:52

Why not go term time only and then book them into a few days of football club / ballet club / swimming club in the holidays to break it all up?

Luxell934 · 18/04/2024 08:52

Depends how badly you need the money/can afford it.

Original poster
9mon · 18/04/2024 08:52

My other worry is it would be unsettling for the younger one especially because I’d be going back to work 3 weeks before the end of term. So she’d be in childcare for 3 weeks, 6 weeks off then back.

OP posts:
greglet · 18/04/2024 08:51

Not at all! DH and I are both teachers so technically we could have DS in term time only childcare, but we don't. Partly because the consistent routine is good for him (he's always a bit unsettled going back to nursery if we've been away for a while), and partly because we need a break too!

During the holidays we do travel (with DS) quite a bit, but we also make sure we have a few days/weeks when he's in nursery and we're off, so we get some downtime as well.

Overthebow · 18/04/2024 08:50

Depends how much you need more money? If your
need it then yes, you should go term time only. Or get a summer job for a couple of days a week if that’s possible and have one day to yourself each week.

AppleCrumbleTea · 18/04/2024 08:50

Give yourself the respite if you need it. If you can manage two days respite a week that would be a compromise

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