Page 4 | To not want to drop my hours when DS starts school?

mindyourfingersplease · 2024-12-14T15:48:13+00:00

But I think I’ll have to. I am currently part time with two days off a week. I’d like to keep this as I have a younger child. My younger child’s nursery starts at 730. I’d have to drop her then at this time. Then get to DS school for beakfast club to start at 8. This gives me twenty five minutes to get to work myself, through heavy morning traffic. DH can’t help: he leaves for work at 7. I think typing that out has made me realise I’ll have to drop my hours.

Original poster

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 17:08

@Crazybaby123 i could work full time- but not with this school. That’s the rub of it really. I am not suggesting that no one works but I will have to collapse my hours and work part time, even if I’m eventually in work every day.

OP posts:

SaagAloopa · 14/12/2024 17:08

TrippTover · 14/12/2024 17:06

But that’s unlikely to work with timetabling the students of this special needs school?

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Didn't realise it was teaching. Only just saw that post.
If it's teaching you get LOADS of special moments in the holidays

TrippTover · 14/12/2024 17:06

SaagAloopa · 14/12/2024 17:05

I get what you're saying but seriously 4 shorter days sounds ideal if you can. You can have a more relaxed pace. It's nicer in the mornings. You can treasure the getting them to nursery rather than rushing. Come home a bit earlier and spend more time in the evenings PLUS you still get a day with the little one

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But that’s unlikely to work with timetabling the students of this special needs school?

SaagAloopa · 14/12/2024 17:05

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:40

This thread 😂

@DandySnail if I request to start an hour later three times a week that is three hours, or half a day. Not half an hour.

The school is not in walking distance; no school is.

@SaagAloopa eventually we will. The next years are precious though, twee as that sounds.

@Delphiniumandlupins i teach so unfortunately I can’t do that. If I drop half a day and I’ll have to I think, it’ll be starting an hour later three times a week so I miss first period basically.

I get what you're saying but seriously 4 shorter days sounds ideal if you can. You can have a more relaxed pace. It's nicer in the mornings. You can treasure the getting them to nursery rather than rushing. Come home a bit earlier and spend more time in the evenings PLUS you still get a day with the little one

cantkeepawayforever · 14/12/2024 17:05

Maybe make up the hours on the days you are off.

For a special school teacher? That is the very definition of work that has to be done on site, in person.

Crazybaby123 · 14/12/2024 17:03

Ive worked full time with my two the whole time and you can find a way I am sure. You can apply for flexi working. Start later, Maybe make up the hours on the days you are off. Think of how you can do the same hours across the whole week. Have a chat with work. Look up the law on flexible working to make sure you know your rights.

ConsuelaHammock · 14/12/2024 17:02

Perhaps another mum can look after your children in the mornings for an hour or so . Makes enquires online - Facebook etc

cantkeepawayforever · 14/12/2024 17:00

Teaching has relatively fixed hours - a primary teacher must be there 8.45 - 3.20 for example, and will usually be there 7.45 - 5.

Secondary schools have separate periods, so it may be possible to teach only eg periods 2-5 each day. However, it’s still not possible to say ‘oh, I’ll work 30 minutes later to make up’ as once the children are gone, you can’t make up any teaching hours however late you stay….

Threeboystwocatsandadog · 14/12/2024 16:59

How old is your ds. If he’s a summer birthday you could defer a year and leave him in nursery for another year. Then you’d have one year less of different timings.

Original poster

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:59

Mickey79 · 14/12/2024 16:54

Start 15 or 30 minutes later rather than an hour so you’re only losing 45 mins - 1.30 hours per week.

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I can’t do that. I can’t arrive fifteen minutes into first period.

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wigsonthegreenandhatsforthelifting · 14/12/2024 16:57

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:03

@SaagAloopa what I mean is that if DH dropped his hours we’d lose more than if I did. It’s a pain but pragmatically I get it. When both my children are at school I can work three days spread across five so finishing an hour later and starting an hour earlier, but after school isn’t too bad, it’s just the mornings.

Can you change your hours rather than dropping them?

TrippTover · 14/12/2024 16:56

Viviennemary · 14/12/2024 16:51

You have rejected every sensible option suggested.

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Perhaps because every ‘sensible option’ won’t work?

Mickey79 · 14/12/2024 16:54

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:50

It’s a special school @Mickey79 so it wouldn’t work.

Start 15 or 30 minutes later rather than an hour so you’re only losing 45 mins - 1.30 hours per week.

Original poster

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:53

Viviennemary · 14/12/2024 16:51

You have rejected every sensible option suggested.

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This reminds me when I politely said I didn’t need pain relief after a section and saw ‘refused medical treatment’ on my notes

It isn’t ‘rejecting’ things to politely say actually there aren’t any childminders, yeah I will be eventually doing three days spread across five but not while I have a little one at home.

I am not posting expecting magic. It probably can’t be solved: that’s fine. A wee chat is hardly so very taxing is it?

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Viviennemary · 14/12/2024 16:51

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:04

How do you mean sorry? I would definitely be late then, as I would have to drop DS at 8 then go on to nursery. I think I’m going to have to drop at least half a day - I’d just prefer not to!

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You have rejected every sensible option suggested.

Original poster

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:50

It’s a special school @Mickey79 so it wouldn’t work.

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Mickey79 · 14/12/2024 16:49

Would ds attending the school you teach at not have been an obvious choice? Then you have one drop off at 0730am and can head straight to work with no second drop off to do.

DandySnail · 14/12/2024 16:48

even if pre agreed

DandySnail · 14/12/2024 16:48

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:47

Well yeah - I did say clearly I couldn’t start late!

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head wall

so why are you talking about starting later

it isn’t an option

cantkeepawayforever · 14/12/2024 16:48

I thought it might be teaching - presumably secondary, as for Primary there is no option to start late (and tbh nobody arrives as late as 8.25 - 8am would be about the latest feasible).

I used to drive in one direction to drop my dcs off with a childminder prepared to open very early to do breakfasts (she also did the school run), then drive manically to school to arrive at 8 am for my own class.

What subject do you teach? Could you move your job to a school closer to your dc’s? Or move your children to nursery / school close to your school?

Original poster

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:47

DandySnail · 14/12/2024 16:47

you teach?? sort of relevant Op 😆

starting late isn’t possible then

Well yeah - I did say clearly I couldn’t start late!

OP posts:

Original poster

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:47

It is difficult. I do get that if you live in a fairly densely populated area and have a choice of schools and childminders and the school has wraparound care you might not be able to relate, but if you live rurally it’s different. I chose to live here though I suppose!

OP posts:

DandySnail · 14/12/2024 16:47

you teach?? sort of relevant Op 😆

starting late isn’t possible then

DandySnail · 14/12/2024 16:46

mindyourfingersplease · 14/12/2024 16:40

This thread 😂

@DandySnail if I request to start an hour later three times a week that is three hours, or half a day. Not half an hour.

The school is not in walking distance; no school is.

@SaagAloopa eventually we will. The next years are precious though, twee as that sounds.

@Delphiniumandlupins i teach so unfortunately I can’t do that. If I drop half a day and I’ll have to I think, it’ll be starting an hour later three times a week so I miss first period basically.

by why does it have to be an hour late!

how long will it take you in traffic to get from school to work. You said you had 25 mins so how much more?

BigCarMistake · 14/12/2024 16:41

All of these threads (about the nightmare of juggling childcare) should be shared with young women to allow them to understand how horrific it is trying to juggle work and childcare in the UK today. The birth rate would probably drop even further but we may then finally get some décent childcare provision, instead of the assumption that women will pick up the slack by dropping hours and sacrificing careers and financial indépendence.