AIBU to consider moving schools after change of circumstances due to childcare?

It's not uncommon to move schools for childcare reasons. In fairness, It's more common to pick the school for those reasons in the first place but as you said it wasn't an issue for you at the time.

Yanbu to move.

Would it be worth submitting a flexible working request with work first? Is there any way you can reorganise your work week to do compressed hours, later start, sacrificing lunch break (for example, starting at 9 and taking lunch break at the end of the day so you can finish at the same time), WFH some of the week?
If none of these options are available, then you have no choice but to change schools.

You probably can't legally sacrifice your lunch break. If you work over 4 hours you need a break. If you're working 4 Hours or less a day, then school drop/ pick up isn't going to be a problem anyway.

I used to work 3 days over 5 - yes it's tiring as you are always at work or looking after children (other than the journey) but it does mean you can get the benefits of being fully involved with your DC's life when they are in primary school, and holidays are often easier to cover (lots of places seem to do school hours childcare for much cheaper). Will your work let you revert to 3 days in 3 over holidays? That can often work well too.

Speak to your employer first.

Given the two choices, I'd change my hours to work the 3 days spread over 5. You definitely do get a benefit from being part time because it means you can do school drop off and pick up. Nicer for DC too because they don't have to get up extra early to go to breakfast club and their school day is shorter.

I’m fairly certain it’s 6 hours. I’m basing this on several one-day jobs I did over the summer. They were for different employers but all said the same thing.

Yes, change school. Children are resilient, they will manage. Do it sooner, rather than later.

Yes change schools. An 8am breakfast club isn’t hugely useful, the school could do with shifting it to 7.30.

What will changing school give you?

I'm assuming early breakfast club to allow you to work full time?

Is there another parent co co-parenting? I ask as the school may now be the only consistent in their life besides you so another trusted adult.

How old are the DC? Will the new school feed into a difficult high school? If you work in a school will the new school still have the same holidays as you.
How far is your commute?

Id only move schools if it worked significantly better and allowed you to increase your hours and there your income. You have a solution of working just 5 shorter days and knowing you will leave on time each day.

I think this.

I think you’re going to struggle otherwise.

You do get the benefit of part time being there for your kids before and after school.

I think a family court would be sympathetic to your situation and reflect it in the orders that it makes - that you’ve had to go part time.

How old are the kids/what years are they in?
Probably easier if younger.
Have you actually viewed the other school yet and checked they have space?

Also what do you mean none of the benefits of part time? Guessing you want the days off to yourself?
I think you need to weigh up what would be best for everyone e.g. you working 5 days but being able to do drop off and pick up might help the children, whereas having 2 days off for yourself benefits you.

I’d spread your days over 5, you get a huge benefit of being part time and that is not having to make your kids move schools after an unsettling time.

When me and exH split I had to change jobs as I couldn’t do the school runs either wrap around care, it was a pain but it’s just part of the process.

Of course you do-you get to take and collect your children from school!

Surely the ‘benefit’ is that you don’t have to pay for any childcare when your Dc are at school as you will be able to do all drop offs and pick ups, plus there’s the huge benefit to your DC of not having to change schools at a difficult time of their lives? It’s a no-brainier to me.

I do the equivalent of 3 days over 5 (21 hours) to do school runs (well, DH does the morning but if he wasn't here I would do dropoff and pickup). I've just had to put up with not having any days off.

How well established are they in the school? Are there spaces to move to one with more convenient wrap around care?