to think I can get by without childcare in August because work is quiet?

They’re on holiday at the moment, with their dad.

Why would it be the taxpayer's/company's money wasted? Either way holiday is paid for right? It's not like someone is not contracted for one month. And I'm going to assume that the same amount of work will get done, however much or little.
For example, if someone has 10 tasks to do over Aug, and it's all done before September. What difference does it make what else is done with the time?

Let's say OP was going by the book, sitting at her desk with all 10 tasks done by 14th Aug - now what? Look for more work? Even if she did additional training, admin etc, there's only so much that you can do to fill up a 40 hour week. That's on the company to provide more work, it's not on OP to 'take leave since it's quiet'. Maybe she is saving her leave for maternity, or a holiday later or she has no leave left (I know she's not but just saying for a bigger picture perspective.)

Still sad IMO! Three weeks of August, but not going away with them,

Holidays away, new experiences are great.

I also cannot believe a job exists where there is literally NOTHING TO DO. No sorting out your emails, filing, preparing for a busier time, some networking with colleagues.

You are just literally sitting there waiting for the phone to ring and you claim that wont happen either very much.

OP - arent you concerned that you will be found out, that this will all come crashing down when it becomes clear to shareholders, tax payers or whomever is paying your salary that this sort of way of working cannot continue.

Or maybe you just dont care and neither does your managment

Why should she take annual leave when she doesn’t need to?

But she’s going to be spending lots of time with her children, just not away from home for a week or fortnight!

This made me a bit sad, that you would prefer to take time off not to spend with your children!

@Dontjumptoconclusions It does matter because if she's in the private sector, her company should be mandating leave during this entirely quiet period and if they aren't, they're losing money.

Same principle if she's in the public sector, but it's taxpayers' money wasted rather than the business's.

People being paid to work whilst on days out with their kids for an entire month and not taking their holiday... is a gigantic waste of someone's money somewhere. And, as other posters have said, the economy and employment market aren't in the best place at the moment so this does matter.

The OP may not care about any of the above of course and just want to wring the max possible out of her employers/client/taxpayers/whoever. That's a position to take, but she did ask if she was being unreasonable, so she's getting her answers!

So again, nothing like what the OP is describing.

Quiet for me means literally nothing to do. I had such a day yesterday. Nothing to do as all my projects are currently with external suppliers. I was waiting for 3 emails to come in. 2 never appeared and the third arrived just before I finished work.

7 hours sat at my desk. Doing nothing. And yes, I’m paid for that. But I could have gone out with DD instead, and checked my emails (for the emails that never came).

I'm assuming the reason for the quiet summer period is that there's no work. So realistically what would you be doing differently if you were sitting at your desk or out at the park with the kids? If the output is the same, I don't think it matters whether you're in the public or private sector.

... and you don't get to 'set your own boundaries' during time when someone else is paying you. That's literally the definition of paid work - your time belongs to someone else.

Why so shy about telling us just a little bit more about the kind of work you do? Someone is being shafted in this arrangement and I'm interested to know who.

You haven’t “more than earned a proper break” in September at all - you’re doing the bare minimum of work in August, it’s not like you’ve been working 8 hours a day and desperately need the break is it?

I don’t understand jobs like yours. So many school staff are on term time only contracts (despite quite a few of them going in unpaid for a a few days during the holidays to try to catch up on stuff ready for September while the pupils are not there or having to monitor inboxes . The argument for not paying them during school holidays is that there isn’t enough work for them to do during the school holidays, same as with your job, OP. But you’re getting paid for a fulltime wage. I just don’t get why there is no mandatory shutdown when you are expected to take a portion of your paid leave.

Quiet to me means not loads of calls / meetings / emails. But there is still all the ACTUAL work to do, planning , designing, training, team reviews etc

Which comes across as entitled, it’s all what’s best for you.

You “dedicate” three weeks in August, but don’t want an actual break away with them, enjoying the experiences with them that a holiday brings.

Holidays away are a wonderful memory that children remember, swimming in the sea, or hiking, changes in scenery, changes in food blah blah…. You’re missing out and they will remember the holidays with their father a lot.

But as you say, you prefer a week (or two) alone, which of course is your choice and one you have chosen. Do you holiday with them at any time, I’ve assumed not as you’ve not mentioned it.

You said your job was quiet in August. But now you’re saying it’s not? If it isn’t then your situation is clearly not comparable to the OP’s therefore I’m not sure why you bothered posting as you don’t have any point to make.

Exceptional Work Award?? Really?

Something is very wrong with your industry if you can take weeks and weeks off for free, then annual leave and your line managers are doing exactly the same thing.

If you have completed your work in less hours than you are paid by some way then why on earth arent you being given more to do?

Something really doesnt sound right here.

lol if only. Even when it quiet there is still loads to do. Despite what people think, we do work hard all year round and don’t pretend to wfh!

Can you not send them to a summer program near you for a couple of days a week

So the children won’t be doing anything as I assume they’ll have to stay inside with you wfh.

Not really fair on them is it.