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Original poster

What's it like working term time - pros and cons?

46 replies

fishcakery · 21/03/2021 07:52

I currently work 25hrs but really would prefer 20 hours. There's a job I've seen for 20 hrs that's term time plus 4wks and same grade as what I'm on now. Never worked term time before. What's it really like? Any pros and cons that I wouldn't be aware of?

Money wise I would only be worse off by 4 weeks worth of net pay a year than if I worked normally all year round which doesn't bother me. The start time is much earlier at 8.30 and there would be a commute of around 20mins whereas now I have a 12m walk. I also have kids at school and nursery to think of too- earlier starts for all of them. This will make my life a lot more hectic in th morning but the temptation of having 9 weeks off in the year is what's pulling me. I'd be home for just before 1pm whereas now Im rushing straight after work to to nursery / school pick ups.

I'm not sure what to do. Any advice?

OP posts:

Badger2021 · 21/03/2021 07:55

Pros are no stresses about covering holidays for your children. It's really great to have time off every 6 or 7 weeks.

Cons are no time off by yourself and more expensive holidays, but I don't think that really matters atm.

2anddone · 21/03/2021 07:57

I work term time only, it's great that when you are having a bad week you know a 'break' is not that far away.
My dc are secondary age so currently (they) refuse to be pulled out of school for holidays which to be fair working term time only I can't really do so have to accept higher holiday costs (though I am self employed so could close for a few days in term time if I wanted to)

CuckooSings · 21/03/2021 07:59

I work term time only.

Pros -
No need for holiday childcare - I have three kids two with disabilities so there is a massive saving there.
I finish at 2 p.m. so can collect the children every day. I love doing this.

Cons -
I miss school plays and sports days as it is very difficult to take time off during term time. I have it in my contract that I can take time off for the dds medical appointments but I have to try and arrange medical appointments for me outside of school hours.
I never get a day off - I'm either at work or i have the kids.

Overall term time work suits my family and I love my job.

Souther · 21/03/2021 07:59

It would be heaven to have some time off when the kids are at school.
Even just a day to myself.
The I dont work just term times but I usually take my holidays in the holidays for the kids. And its exhausting. You think you are having s break from work but you aren't really.
It's just full on with the kids home too.

Imbubmblesparent · 21/03/2021 08:03

I work term time only 9.30-2 each day and it’s great, I personally would definitely go for the job interview and see what happens. Good luck if you do!

Thatwentbadly · 21/03/2021 08:04

What is the job? Lots of term time jobs in schools have an expectation that you work much longer hours than advertised.

Ragdoll27 · 21/03/2021 08:05

I don't think not having any time to yourself is unique to term time working. If you work year round, you still need to keep all your annual leave to cover the school holidays anyway.

Samanabanana · 21/03/2021 08:05

I love working TTO. I love the extended holidays with DC. I also have a role that expects some evening and weekend work though, so I'm lucky enough to take the odd lieu day for a sports day, etc. Obviously things like holidays are more expensive in the school holidays, but now we have DC I'm tied to them anyway!

Original poster

fishcakery · 21/03/2021 08:05

Souther. Yes, I forgot to add every single annual leave day is used up for childcare in the school holidays. I have nothing left for myself so no child free days ever.

OP posts:

Hobbitfeet32 · 21/03/2021 08:07

If you work term time and need some time off for yourself I suppose there’s the option of booking some holiday club days for the kids.

DancesWithDaffodils · 21/03/2021 08:11

Your days off are fixed - so no sports day, school play, visit the classroom stuff can be done.
Dont forget to factor in inset days for childcare - you will be working those, and they are often impossible to get childcare for.
If you work in a different authority to where the kids are at school, the holidays dont always line up.
Will the time from 1pm to school pickup actually be useful? Or will you waste it most days? Not quite long enough to do anything with, especially if you end up staying late some days.

Original poster

fishcakery · 21/03/2021 08:11

Samanabanana your post has just made me think - I work for the LA where we have flexible working where if you work extra mins it all adds up and you can can take it off however much you accumulated within a few months. Do you know if with TTO do you still get flexible working?

OP posts:

Nextyearwillbefun · 21/03/2021 08:12

Term time is a huge bonus,go for it. Having all that time with your kids and not worrying about childcare, and always counting down to a break. But cons- you wouldnt get leave when u want so no school plays or events etc.

DancesWithDaffodils · 21/03/2021 08:12

Sorry, that's all really negative.
Go for it. TTO jobs are in heavy demand because of all the advantages.

Badger2021 · 21/03/2021 08:12

My work always gave time off for Xmas concerts etc. I didn't take work home. I did use holiday clubs for a few days on the long holidays like Easter.

Original poster

fishcakery · 21/03/2021 08:16

DancesWithDaffodils yes the time between 1pm and 3pm I do intend to make use of. I used to work these hours a few years ago and found it really good. I've since worked full days and various other start and end times but have always yearned for the earlier time finish.

OP posts:

PorcelainCatStack · 21/03/2021 08:16

Flexible working in TTO jobs is unlikely. We are allowed to claim overtime but TOIL is less likely unless special circumstances.

gingerninja99 · 21/03/2021 08:17

I work 23hrs a week term time, I also accrue annual leave, I have 9 weeks a year unpaid and use annuals leave for the remaining 4 weeks to cover school holidays, this gives me a week to use as and when I wish, I also get my bank holidays back which is almost a weeks hours and have flexible working so if my husband had a day off I can work longer and bank those hours for another time.
I work 9-1:30pm and do all the drop offs and pick ups, I can make any plays etc as long as they are a sensible time otherwise I would take the day off. It really works well for us but sometimes people at work forgot just how short my day is and that can be frustrating

LynetteScavo · 21/03/2021 08:28

TTO working saved me a fortune in having to pay for holiday care for three children. Also it meant I was always guaranteed to be at home for Christmas and Easter.

It has depended on my boss as to whether I could pop out to school plays. One was an absolute cow and didn't want me to take DD to the GP because I would be 30 minutes late to work, among other things. Another boss was shocked when in burst into tears when she told me I should attend DDs primary school leavers assembly. I was so incredibly grateful and so was DD! Although I never made it to sports days etc.

Over all TTO working has been a godsend. I now really love having school holidays off and will probably continue TTO when my children leave school. Because in bloody love having 6 weeks off in the summer

Original poster

fishcakery · 21/03/2021 08:33

Ok so most of you are saying go for it!
I just need to work out whether the early start for the kids is feasible - toddler literally can't wake up even for a 9pm start! She'd have to get ready for 7.30! This is the thing that's really the thorn in all of this.

OP posts:

whenwillthemadnessend · 21/03/2021 08:38

You will really reap the benefits when your kids are teens and have tonnes of time to yourself. I appreciate this is a long way off for you.

Only bug bear would be once kids left then no holidays in cheap times but as that's sooo many years away it's not an issue.

I'd would be sad about missing the school events but depends how flexible your employer would be.

BakewellGin1 · 21/03/2021 08:45

I am full time hours, term time only but for me I wish I had considered it sooner...
It saved me a fortune in childcare fees once I did. Benefit is it gives me a better work/life balance.

I don't have days off without my kids any time ever but I am allowed to be a little bit flexible and am always allowed to school assembley, sports day etc so I am lucky that way.

I did drop quite a lot of pay to do it but the alternative was sometimes when DS was too old for private nursery and my DM was unable to help we had no childcare as DH works away so has been worth it long term.
When second DS is much older I may consider working more hours again but this will be dependent if it is allowed at that point or I would need a change of workplace.

Trustisamust · 21/03/2021 08:57

Depends what the job is? If it's in education then it's usually that you can't take time off in school time unless for specific things like compassionate leave / hospital appointments.
I'm in education and the drawback for me is that I have very little contact with my own child's primary as I start at 8.30 and finish around 4-ish.
My OH takes the kids to school. At end of school day my parents collect youngest and I collect oldest from secondary when I have finished.
The good thing with your finish time is that you will be able to collect.

NeedToGetOuttaHere · 21/03/2021 09:15

So would you get 9 weeks off plus the bank holidays as opposed to 4 weeks off plus bank holidays? Or dies the weeks include the bank holidays in which case it’s only 3 weeks extra?
The mornings sound like they be be worse but the 1pm finish is good. I think I’d go for it.

Trustisamust · 21/03/2021 09:23

Shhhhh! Don't tell the OH but I quite leaving for work at 7.45!! I'm like "See you later love!" and the chasing up of the three kids (ranging from 9 months to almost 14) is down to him. Sometimes I even have a sneaky coffee in peace before I start 😁

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