To ask if you’d reduce or change your working hours for school pick ups?

Sil sends DNs to the primary where she works. All the teachers’ kids just play in class until they can go home. Is that an option?

This is exactly how I felt when they were younger and in the depths of exhaustion and sleep deprivation. I made decisions for the present moment and decided that if the PT did not work for whatever reason, I would deal with the situation as it arose. I was happy to be the one doing the lions share of childcare and school runs.

Things changed when Covid happened and they have worked out. If his salary is sufficient to support while you make decisions, I would just go for it. Had it not worked out, we would have had to make cuts for the period I did not work but I know something would have come up eventually. Personally, I feel life is too short not to take the risk when they are young (but fully appreciate we have the financial security for me to make that choice).

I would - I do. I work until 2 then go back to work at 5:30. Don’t work Fridays as that’s when loads of insets, assemblies, theme days are. At least just for the primary years that’s what I’m doing (I’ll have at least one at primary school for 13 years so a long term plan for me 😄).

Yes. If you can afford to do it without much or any lifestyle changes. I've just changed to school hours recently. I was doing 3 full days before now doing 4 short days. I do all drop offs and pick ups everyday.

No one knows what the future holds just do what is best for your family now.

Sorry, just read your updates.

I agree it is very easy to be managed out!
Ultimately you don't want to send your child to a different school though so on balance, I'd say just reduce hours for now.

Maybe TA or cover is an option in future? TA hours are shorter as you know. Cover for an agency you could pick your days.

I'm not sure if this helps but I'm a full time teacher. My DC are primary age - their wraparound is mostly done by DH who drops them every morning (he works from home) and then pick ups are split between me, DH, my parents.

I negotiated that I have one PPA period per week at the end of the day which means I finish in time to pick up DC from school once a week. It doesn't affect my hours or salary as I effectively take that PPA period at home.

Do you have a partner? Sounds like it is all on you?

If he earns significantly more, it’s the obvious solution for the family. We had the same predicament when DC were younger and I was frontline NHS - ultimately his FT salary was well over double mine. Flexible working and compressed hours would have stalled his career progression and had a much bigger impact on us as a family than mine.

Fortunately I moved into private sector, the gap between salaries has reduced and we have access to good wraparound for the days we do need it but if we were in the same boat as 5 years back, I would take the hit again in the interest of the whole family

I would be more concerned about the future and what if your circumstances change. You might need to work more in the future. Find somewhere with wrap round.

Become a child minder.

Or, can you join an agency and to cover work instead.

Personally I wouldn't want to cut my hours if you're only doing 3 days now. Your DH is expecting you to curtail your career for nine years? Fuck that! I bet he hasn't even asked about flexible working, he could compress hours and retain his salary, do term time working etc. You'll find a solution for business trips here and there.

That’s a huge if to base this on though. The schools wrap around offer could change next year to be everything you need.

contrary to posts here it’s not that easy to be managed out. If you have a change of contract agreed a new head can’t just change it back again (but likewise neither can you).

re posters saying women leaving the profession - absolutely! Teachers need to imo start their flexible working requests with that rather than par time. Are there any after schools you could offer to keep your hours on an extended day, for example? We’re terrible as a profession for assuming flex = pt and heads aren’t good for it.

base it on what you know now and make your decision on current info

I do get it.

I am fortunate to have a DH who has done a lot of child schlepping over the years. The concept of planning for school holidays does rather fly over his head though. He's not perfect.

But I am out the other side and glad in retrospect that I didn't make too many career compromises. I've always lived in an urban area though which makes a big difference.

Have a look at Private Nurserys, we had one near us that offered early morning breakfast club and an after school club for Primary aged children.

They could have breakfast and tea there and were transported to and from school, 7am - school start, school end -7pm, obviously a long day for those that need both but you paid for the time you needed. It was quite home away from home too, children could watch CBeebies in a TV room, do their homework, play with the toys or do arts and crafts activities, if free a worker would listen to younger ones read, as that age group didn't need constant supervision.

Speaking as a teacher, you are absolutely right to act defensively! I don't think people realise how old fashioned school managements are.

Not many people know this: the UK teaching profession loses more teachers who are women in their 30s every year than the total number of male teachers. It's not a family (mum) friendly profession

We chose a primary school mostly based on wraparound provision. I also had to make sure I finished a little earlier to pick up in time (luckily i could also start earlier so not really a reduction in hours). We needed the income from both of us, if you can afford to drop your hours to make it work then it's a good idea

I think you're right to be concerned that a different Head might force a change in working pattern. Teaching management are often strangely blithe about the issues of teacher parents!

However, there are often other options than school wraparound: after school nanny (try Koru Kids website); ASC that picks up from the school; nanny share; your DH books one-off babysitter for any days/weeks he is on a business trip.

My DH does a job abroad intermittently and does his best to book the dates to coincide with school holidays or at least avoid my open evenings etc. He recognises that teaching's inflexible.

Depends on your area of course what's available re childcare, but try to avoid your DH making all the arrangements your responsibility. These are also his children.

I didn't reduce my hours as was already 3 days. But once DC started school I spread my hours over 4 days so I could do school pickup.
I really valued being at the school gate every day, the chat on the walk home, after school play dates at the park. It worked well for us