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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that this makes no sense at all and completely defeats the point of it?

128 replies

WineInMyBelly · 25/01/2026 13:31

I have 2 children with SEN, both children attend a specialist SEN school. I’ve made a flexible working request in work (I don’t work in education. I work as a marketing manager for a global company) to work term time school hours only. My flexible working request has been approved. But now my line manager and HR are both saying that the term time/school holidays will be based on the school holidays for LA schools in our area and not my children’s specific SEN school. The school holidays for my children’s school vary slightly from the school holidays for the local LA schools though! I’ve queried this with my manager and HR but they won’t budge on it at all. I had assumed a term time contract meant that I would be working when my children are in school and off when they are not in school but obviously that won’t happen now! AIBU to think this makes no sense at all and completely defeats the point of me having requested term time working?

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 25/01/2026 13:42

Could you ask the head of your children's school write them a letter explaining what you actually need.
I agree with you that their decision completely defeats the point.

Wowdy · 25/01/2026 13:38

Did you specify hours to align with the specific school or just term time only? Surely that’s better than what you previously had anyway. Do you have a partner that can share the load for the few extra days?

EvangelineTheNightStar · 25/01/2026 13:34

How varied are they? Will someone cover your role when off?