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Original poster

Anyone else screwed work wise because of school hours

157 replies

Sewsosew · 28/08/2020 16:02

Previously working somewhere great under contract before lockdown. In process of being made permanent with DC starting secondary (meaning I could do longer hours also, but still term time, not quite full hours).
Current contract ended same time as lockdown.

Now they’ve decided they want someone full time, whole year (I imagine this is to do with recent management buyout).

DC is only back in school 8.30-2pm, no after school activities and has to be off site. Too young to be left for hours, can’t go back to childminder (too old really and she won’t take a child from a different school). Nowhere else to go.
DH is out 7-7pm.

I’m so hacked off. We are fine financially but I like working and I am so friggin bored! I like people and I like the extra cash as holiday money.

I know someone is going to say it’s fine to leave DC, but I’m not comfortable with that just yet, she only recently turned 11.

OP posts:
DeeCeeCherry · 30/08/2020 01:18

I had a similar problem when DCs were little. A friend suggested I ask around at school to find a mum who picks up kids from school and keeps them for a couple of hours until parent comes to collect. I found a mum and it was a godsend. My youngest DC was friends with her's, which was good. Fee was well worth it and enabled me to keep working. You have to ask - It's the best thing to do.

crankysaurus · 30/08/2020 08:08

My son with ADHD and autism was alone at home between 3.30pm and 6.00/6.30pm 4 out of 5 days from year 7 onwards. He was fine , liked it in fact

And my son with ADHD and autism very definitely needed someone at home when he got in, still did probably till sometime in year 8 and even then two & half hours alone would have been too much. Not all kids are the same.

vanillandhoney · 30/08/2020 08:29

You won't know if she manages alone or not until you give her a chance to try it. Why don't you see what it's like until October half term then re-evaluate it if it's not working out?

I was home alone everyday after school and during school holidays from age 11 and it was fine - like PP I loved the independence and the freedom - though I think I spent most of my time playing the Sims, reading and watching appalling daytime TV Grin

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Families
SockYarn · 30/08/2020 08:39

I think an 11 year old is too young to be left for such a long time. As a one off perhaps. But not every single day of the school term.

OP isn't mollycoddling or denying her child independence, she is only 11. All 11 year olds are different, at that age my DD would have been happy for up to about 90 minutes, but not every day. 11 and starting senior school is the start of increasing independence but to go from coming home every day to an adult in hte house to making your own way home and being in an empty house for over 2 hours each day is a lot to deal with for a child.

TheFaerieQueene · 30/08/2020 08:59

OP when I was 11 I walked a mile to the station took two trains and then walked a mile the other end to get to school - then the reverse at the end of the day. I was just 11 when I started secondary school. I’m sure that your daughter will be fine in her home for a couple of hours.

Original poster
Sewsosew · 01/09/2020 16:29

So I actually had to go into today to drop something off. They clarified some things about the job (they’ve restructured in lockdown) and it would now mean working every evening event (because none of the staff ever want to) and there’s no guarantee I could take holiday during school holidays, apart from
Xmas, because it would be expected this role to cover others leave, definitely not term time working only. So it’s a big no.
I don’t know who would want to apply. It’s a nice place to work but money is crap and with all those limitations there are much better FT jobs.

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 02/09/2020 00:03

That would be a big no from me too @Sewsosew.

Basically, the can't be arsed to manage their staff so are taking someone on to do all the crap bit that should be shared out.

Guineapigbridge · 02/09/2020 06:03

I don’t know who would want to apply. It’s a nice place to work but money is crap and with all those limitations there are much better FT jobs.

So negotiate a much higher wage. They need you. Don't accept the proposed wage at face value - it costs them thousands to recruit someone else, let alone train them. That's another 10 grand on your salary right there. Ask for it.

I think a mother's help for a year is your solution, 2.5 hours a day from 3-5.30pm. This person can get dinner ready, do the laundry, help with homework, run short errands. Then when DD is at high school, not needed anymore and your career is not screwed.

Guineapigbridge · 02/09/2020 06:04

Evening events, fine, no problem, pay me overtime at 1.5x.

Ginnyrella · 02/09/2020 06:39

I haven’t read the entire thread but I hear you OP! I started a new job literally the day we went into lock down. And found myself with a “key worker” status ( bloody hate that term) however schools were falling over themselves to help us. As grateful as I am for that now September has come around my DD school has shaved almost 3 hours off my DD school day with breakfast club cancelled, her after school clubs cancelled and then taken 45 minutes off the school day also I am really struggling, as is my neighbour who works in mental health for the NHS. Luckily for us our DD (8) are both in the same class so we’ve got an arrangement where she takes both DD to school in a morning so I can get to work earlier (luckily my job is flexible) and then I can get back In time to collect both DD from school and bring them home. It’s going to be hard but it’s ever so frustrating!

Doccomplaint · 02/09/2020 06:46

You have options. You are choosing not to explore them.

SnuggyBuggy · 02/09/2020 06:49

If this isn't the right job for you then move on and look for another. I think Disfordarkchocolate has hit the nail on the head.

Original poster
Sewsosew · 02/09/2020 06:51

@Guineapigbridge it’s basically minimum wage, not a career job. Evening events written into job description. They won’t negotiate a higher wage.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sewsosew · 02/09/2020 06:53

The person I spoke to seemed a bit exasperated. I think it’s the new HR managers idea to fix all the staffing issues they have - school holidays/ evenings in one swoop - just chuck it in this job description.
However plenty of these types of jobs paying more, asking much less of someone.

OP posts:
SnuggyBuggy · 02/09/2020 06:56

It's also another example of an employer wasting their own time by not bothering to put important information into the job description.

GreySkyClouds · 02/09/2020 07:08

@Sunshinegirl82

Look into a nanny, it's not like you need someone Norland qualified! Just someone who will watch tv with a teenager for a few hours and make her a sandwich. Contact some agencies.

Even if you only break even it will be worth it because the problem is temporary and once normal hours you can review.

Agree
midnightstar66 · 02/09/2020 07:12

Surely at high school age she'll be absolutely fine til then. My dd is still at primary - she's 10 - and having to wait outside the school collect her little sister who finishes later but still earlier than she used to - so I can work. She then hangs about with her friends at the park after I've collected dd2 from her and wanders home whenever she feels. She'd be absolutely fine to be at home for a couple of hours and has done so in the past when dd2 has had an appointment or something. Once in high school I really wouldn't give it a second thought!

Kerberos · 02/09/2020 07:26

Is there any option to do the evening events as a swap for the office time? So you finish at 2pm but then go back in for events?

Any option of working from home?

If not, I'd be tempted to find something else. This lot don't seem very flexible at all.

Danascully2 · 02/09/2020 07:34

It is very frustrating... After 6 years juggling amount of work and childcare costs my younger one gets his funding this year and I was so looking forward to making an actual profit from working and hopefully upping my hours a bit. But now I have issues getting the one pickup I need covered and also I'm really worried about upping my hours in case we have a local lockdown and I end up back where I was in the main lockdown tearing my hair out trying to work round a toddler and a 6 year old. So different challenges but similar frustration!

DinosApple · 02/09/2020 07:47

I get you OP. It's a moan, not a request for solutions.

You've said you don't want to do that job full time, everyone has moved the goalposts - both school from necessity, and your new job.

Initially it would have worked AND you'd have the holidays off with your DD. For a parent trying to work around their child those jobs are generally hard to come by and lower paid so changing their terms is very frustrating.

There's a massive difference between 11 year olds at this stage. I'm sure some are fine being left for 3 hours a day Monday to Friday. Others aren't.

It doesn't mean the parents have done anything wrong, or that their DC aren't NT (Hmm) it just means children mature at different rates. This year in particular has been hugely unsettling for the new yr7s. Many will be extremely anxious about starting secondary, 6 months of schooling to catch up on, Covid etc.

Hope you can find something that works for you OP.

Original poster
Sewsosew · 02/09/2020 08:12

@Danascully2 that’s crap. I have one mind on what will happen if school closes as well for an outbreak etc. Really not the position we should have been in this year!

@DinosApple DD has been home since March. It’s not been a normal transition at all.

OP posts:
accessorizequeen · 02/09/2020 08:16

How crap for you and so frustrating! I have two kids aged 11, i wouldn’t leave either of them on their own for long. My DD would get very anxious.

itsgettingweird · 02/09/2020 08:19

That's really annoying.

But I think an advantage for you is that you want to work as opposed to need to.

Could you look at jobs in schools as an LSA or something? Term time, never same day twice and you could use your arts to specialise in something and schools call out for that sort of thing.

linmanuel · 02/09/2020 08:46

It's not even a nanny, but a mothers help really . You may find that with current work situation that someone is really grateful
You could explain to your job if you move away from term time only you will need more
Money to take childcare into account

Houndabouttown · 02/09/2020 08:54

It doesn’t sound like a very good job. If you don’t need the money then don’t do it!

All these people saying they were happy latchkey kids, well all children are different! My BF at school used to let herself in everyday until her parents came home. She was an only child and she says she was really lonely and sad. Every day is a lot and then you’ve got the holidays too. It’s a decision that you need to weigh up as a family.