Struggling to find work in school hours

School work is the closest you can get, I'm a widow (current age 42) have no family support, and am now a single mum to a SEN child. I really want to get back to work but I'm finding it impossible and frustrating.

The problem is, even school work doesn't match student hours. For example, my son's school is 8:30-1430 he has school transport and gets picked up at 0720 and home at 15:15.

I'm qualified to be a SEN TA, the problem lies in the fact that the hours of work differ from the hours in school. A job at his school (about 30 mins drive from home) would be an 8am start but a 1515 finish, except on a monday which is 1730. So straight away, with no family to help for those few hours after school, and no flexibility, it's impossible. I started to look into school admins, again, the hours are extended. School cleaners also work after hours, so the only option becomes something like a lunch time caterer. Or so you'd think. I recently discovered through enquiries that most schools now do this through an agency with a zero hour contract, and in some cases the agency has you deliver and serve food, in itself it sounds pretty ideal, but low hours and wage with no guarantee of a shift and increased travel costs, and the possibility of a few hours drive for a few hours money, just doesn't work or balance the books financially.

Maybe I'm just in a bad area.

I also looked into care homes, because an 8-14:00 would be ideal as school transport picks up at 07:30, but they're unwilling to entertain term time, and the wage wouldn't cover childcare, let alone bills.

I'm honestly at a loss now, after two years of sending emails, CVs and enquiries, only to get the same responses of being unable to offer any finish time flexibility. If you do find an avenue, I'd love to know, as maybe it's a path I could explore as well.

@CurlyhairedAssassin No - I work 9.15am to 3.15am term time. I'm an HR adviser and aware that I am very very lucky with my hours.

I think this really depends on the school.
Many staff where I work have part time hours and the head is aware of what issues people outside of school, including those with children with additional needs, therefore those people take on a more general TA role.
The school can't afford to pay for staff to be in any longer than necessary, so no one starts before the school day (unless they work breakfast club, which they are paid for) and people finish at various points during the day, no one stays after (unless after school club which again they are paid for).

So my point is some schools will be happy to take on the right person.

School kitchen will be perfect for you if you've already worked in the food industry I'm sure they'll snap your hand off! Search school kitchen jobs on Google along with your location and it will bring something up.

I was lucky I worked in a pub 10-3 for several years

None of the young staff wanted to do the open and they were mostly students so covered the evenings and weekends

Would you do admin work? There are fully remote roles available. Or more flexible office hours.

I work in school kitchen 20 hours but there are lots of vacancies ranging from 10-30 hours where I am from. The jobs here are posted on the local council vacancies website.

Yes but weekdays they want you in at 7am.

hotel maid - they always employ and the majority want you ending your shift by 3

Secondary schools often have more admin staff than primary so more likely to have 9:30-2:30 roles. Worth looking on all the school websites.

also the catering staff at the schools - look to see which companies all the local schools use for catering and then check their websites directly.

FE college? They have a variety of jobs some of which are term time only.

Exam Invigilator in secondsry school. There is a missive shortage. It isn’t every week but if you signed up with 2 schools you could pick up work all year round.

Look at your local council and housing associations careers pages too. They have lots of entry level jobs that are eusually available to ask for home working and part time.

Finance Officer - taking receipt of emailed invoices and uploading them into a system for budget holders to check and approve

Housing Assistant - filing tenancy agreements, sending garden notices, taking in keys for departing tenants

Community Staff - visits to shelter accomodations to do welfare type pop ins, youth and elderly engagement sessions,

Jobs Scheduler - wfh usually, calling tenants to book in their gas safety checks, sort out hotels if they need to leave their home while a new kitchen is installed etc.

Could you set up a business/be an entrepreneur or freelance at something? Then you can work the hours that suit you

Working in school kitchens doing meals

What about retail? It’s usually part time hours. I work in a warehouse, which I enjoy. I only started when kids were small, looked for something in school hours. Working 9-1 Monday - Friday. Now 8 years later, still there. But have dropped my Friday. Doing 16 hours per week.

Surely you need to be at work before and after the pupils are though? Which means you need wraparound?

(School admin myself).

Only joking. How are you with animals and can you have any in your home preferably longer than 3.15?

My dog minder employs people to cat sit. People have elderly and unwell, or more than one cat and it's easier to have someone pop in for an hour a day, spend time with them and make sure they have some human contact, give meds etc.

Dogs are fairly well cared for in the market but small furries like hamsters, guinea pigs, snakes (eek) etc are harder to find.

@neverbeenskiing
Thankyou also for your support of underestimated damn good TA's
I work bloody hard in my SEN role and certainly studied hard to get as many qualifications as possible.

Try being a dinner lady they usually work from elevenish till around 2.30pm. Thats what I did when my two youngest were at primary school

Mumsnet moderator?

x post three times there!

My cleaner does two houses a day in school hours - i think - 3-4 days a week. I let her bring her 7yo DD with her during school hols as she plays with my DCs (i wfh so the kids playing together helps us both! ) or occupies herself with her own toys. My cleaner has said that her other clients are fine with her DD tagging along in school hols as they are often out during her work and she is good as gold.
It's completely flexible, and you can set your own hours. Also if her DD is poorly then either her mum helps out with childcare or we just rearrange for another day.
Getting the right clients is key as myself and her other clients are all really supportive (she is a single parent too)

I was going to suggest the same thing. Good cleaners are in high demand and - in my experience - can name their price well above minimum wage.
The good ones can also be picky who and where they work, essentially vetting prospective clients before working for them. Hours are flexible too.
The few cleaners I have been involved with are far from Hilda Ogden stereotypes, instead they are smart young women, keeping a family together and earning good money whilst offering a service and friendship to people willing to pay for it.
Definitely do not look down your nose at cleaners ... the good ones are professionals in my opinion and their clients will pay accordingly.

I do 2 clients a day 9:30 to 11:30, then 12 to 2pm.