Best working pattern

[Siennabear]

I currently work 20 hours a week over 2.5 days in an admin role.

I have 2 preschoolers (1 and 4) who attend nursery 2 days a week and a relative cared for them 1 day a week.

My dilemma is my 4 year old starts school in September.

I am stuck as to whether to keep my current hours and relative has offered to help with pick ups on the 3 days I can’t. Or to request to work 3 shorter days (9:30-2.15) and 1 full day. Same total hours. The only problem would be paying another day nursery for my 1 year old without benefitting any extra pay. I would also lose a day off with her. But then I would be doing shorter days. I don’t know if the rush to get us all out the house would be worth it. I do quite enjoy the 2 days not working. But I would love to do all pick ups and drop ups and be there for my eldest when he starts school.

What do others think? What worked best for you when trying to figure out working hours with a nursery and school age children? It’s so difficult to work out.

I think for me personally I'd go for the 3 shorter days and 1 long day, it's really good to be able to do pick-ups and also attend after school events etc easily. And it has the benefit of not stretching the goodwill/capacity of your relative too much so hopefully they might be able to help you out more ad hoc with sick days or emergencies etc? I hear you on the pain of paying for the extra nursery day and if this will really stretch your finances then maybe not, but presumably 1 year old will get some free hours when they are 2 or 3 which will help?

Also of course how it will affect work is a factor, does it make any difference there? Also how long is your commute, if more than 30 mins or so it would def swing it the other way for me as doing the 3/4 days means 1 extra round trip to/from work...

I would do what you do now, one short 4/5 hour day and 2 longer days. I don't think you should lose a day at home with your 1yo to do more pick ups, especially if a relative can. Presumably on your short day you can either do pick up or be home soon after.