Inset days

So @Perfect28with all the suggestions do you feel you have some options to explore now?

if not then it might be worth getting your other half onto finding out what options there are as it’s not just your responsibility. Maybe he has some dad friends that he could organise a play date with and then reciprocate

Any private schools near you that do holiday clubs? Private schools often have longer holidays so the state inset day will just be part of the holidays for them.

Ok so your options are -
family come stay
use a babysitting service like childcare .Co.Uk
go on families information service for your area and see what registered childcare is available
local sports/holiday camps (these are often around 4-6 hours though.
ask friends/childs friends to do play date swap

This also says you can take it as a single day if your employer agrees. I reread your thread again and can’t see that you have specifically asked them about this. It is worth explaining your circumstances and asking them to take this inset day as a 1 off? Or for your partner to ask as well?

It does not have to be requested in week blocks. I am a primary teacher, and if needed we can take a single day parental leave.

Oh well looks like you’re stuck then. Good luck.

This - as a teacher too this is what I’ve had to
do a couple of times but works well.

I appreciate the nd aspect but it’s also one where forcing yourself does help a bit as well, and you do need someone to help out here so could be an opportunity to help yourself and child develop some strategies

Taking unpaid parental leave is not only for those in receipt of benefits.

friends help out friends, you and your husband need to share the load of building your village, for both the sake of you and your child.

buildings village is only “woman’s work” if you let it be

and any family who has 2 working parents and a child at school will encounter the difficulties of inset days and even more across the school holidays - that you have covered. So I’d say non teaching parents have this part more difficult.

people have given you advice and you’ve pretty much shit it all down.

glad you had your vent though

Oh I would add that you might think it’s a maaaaaasssiive favour but things are often closed on inset days or every activity is expensive. It’s actually easier I find to have my 5 yo in the house+park trip when h me has a friend with them entertaining each other.

Exactly, boxing day is a bank holiday where people still work but even fewer childcare options are available. That’s my point.

Sorry but my interpretation of this thread is that people are trying to help and you are coming back with excuses for most suggestions.

I’m not a massive fan of childminders personally so i would take up the previous suggestion of contacting other class parents and asking for help. They may also have babysitting contacts as well.

If i already had the day off and had my 5 year old with me, and one of his friends needed help for the day, it would be my pleasure to help out.

Yeah sorry this is also where i lost sympathy for you, as other posters have said.

Consider Christmas holidays for example, where many professions have to work days that Holiday Clubs are not open. Many people still have to work Boxing day for example.

We were in the same boat. We took our primary age children into school with us on their inset days and they sat in our classrooms whilst we taught. I am aware some schools do not allow this though, but it was actually ok

I can see that it might not work if you had horrendous classes though, but in my experience most teens were better behaved with littlies in the room and enjoyed helping take care of them.

My friend has worked as a nanny for years & has done ad hoc days for families in emergencies. She is on a site where you can search for your area & see their profiles (like dating apps!) might be worth a search?

(We have done short “sits” with the Norlanders in question first (often with us elsewhere in the house or just across the road) before a longer one to check that our DS likes them. They’ve all been totally fine with that)

OP, try the Marvellous Babysitting app. Norland Nannies (all vetted, DBS checked, super duper trained) who do ad-hoc childcare/babysitting. We live near Norland College so we have a glut of Norlanders nearby signed up on the app and they’ve all been incredible with our little one.

I would ask them about the first aid certificate, their latest DBS check, ask for their references and ask if you can contact them directly to verify the reference. It’s many years since I’ve had to do this, but this would be a starting point.

Ive asked ChatGPT and here’s the response:

Vetting a babysitter properly is less about one “test” and more about building confidence step by step. Think of it as a mix of background checking, observing how they interact with your child, and trusting your instincts.

Start with recommendations. The safest route is usually someone who comes via people you trust—friends, school parents, or local groups. If you’re using platforms like about:blank Bubble or https://www.childcare.co.uk/, check profiles carefully for reviews and verification badges.

Then have a proper conversation or interview—even if it’s informal. Ask about:

Previous childcare experience (ages, routines, challenges)
What they’d do in common scenarios (e.g. child won’t sleep, minor injury)
Availability and reliability
Basic safety knowledge (first aid, allergies, emergency contacts)

Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions—it’s normal and expected.

Next, check references. Ideally speak to at least one or two previous families. Ask:

Were they reliable and punctual?
How did they handle discipline?
Would you hire them again?

In the UK, you can also ask about a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service). It’s not mandatory for casual babysitters, but a current DBS adds reassurance.

Before leaving them fully in charge, do a trial run and see how they interact with your child.

Finally, trust your gut feeling. Even if everything looks good on paper, if something feels off, it’s okay to walk away.

If you want, I can help you put together a quick checklist you can actually use when meeting someone—it makes the whole process much easier 👍

We discovered that the Outdoor Pursuits Centre in the area does year round ‘holiday club’. You can book for inset or actual school holidays, but they also do home education sessions and emergency childcare everyday, so if the school closes for a boiler issues or whatever you can book them for a day of bushcraft, water skills etc