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Original poster

Inset days

156 replies

Perfect28 · 25/03/2026 16:40

Two working teacher parents to (luckily) just one child. Child has started school this year and we are finding inset days impossible to manage. 5 per year, usual wraparound childcare is closed on insets as they mirror the school. No family less than 300 miles away, my mum has come up twice now but she won't be able to come up 5 times a year for the next however many years. As we are teachers working from home or requesting annual leave is impossible. We can take parental leave but that has to be in blocks of one week at a time so not helpful here.

Just posting in case someone has any grand ideas or suggestions I've not yet mentioned. Otherwise I guess it will have to be sick days? Not hugely helpful when I'm already managing chronic illness.

Anyone?

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mugglewump · 25/03/2026 16:49

If you can't take DC into school with you for INSET day, ask their friends' parents for a playdate swap. You have the friend for the day during the school holidays (when most other parents are desperate for childcare) and they have yours for the INSET day.

Pistachiocake · 25/03/2026 16:47

Request that they do online training, so you can wfh. It would be a good example for the school to set to the community, as teachers would not have to drive in. Online schools do all their training this way, so there should be no problem, as the staff say it's much more efficient online.

Soontobe60 · 25/03/2026 16:46

As teachers, surely you already know about training days? Schools have to publish their holiday calendar well in advance - we’ve recently updated ours for next year.
Lots of schools have at least 1 training day as twilights, look at using a childminder / friend / other parent. For example, agree to have their child a couple of days in the school holiday and they have yours on a training day.

Halfblindbunny · 25/03/2026 16:44

Holiday club
Playdates with their friends (I'm sure the parents would love it if you could cover some days in the school holidays in exchange)
Childminders
Friends

LadyOfLymeHouse · 25/03/2026 16:44

At schools where I've worked teachers can bring their children in for INSET days. Some stay in their parent's class, others might go to their year group with the agreement of that class teacher.

Also I used to go to school with my Dad on 'Baker Days', as they used to be called, back in the 1980s. I used to love it!

Coconutsss · 25/03/2026 16:43

I feel for you! My school is great and offers childcare in the school during inset for the children of teachers. But we are a big school with lots of staff.
Could it be something you broach with SLT. Perhaps gather info on how many people would use it before asking the normal wrap around care provider (if primary) for costs?

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