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

[fishcakery]

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?

NeedToGetOuttaHere yes I would get 9 weeks off. Would have to work 4 weeks in hols.

Trustisamust DH used to do all the school runs before but was made redundant due to covid. He is trying to find a more flexible job too to share the school runs but at the moment this is how it is.

I think it sounds good.

I work full time term time only (8 til 4 every week day) The main downside for me is being unable to take time off for things like sports day etc. Plus there's no time to myself because I'm either at work or with the dc.

That being said I wouldn't change it! It's a stressful and busy job so knowing that you only have to get through 6/7 weeks and you get another week off really helps. Plus you don't have to worry about the scramble to get Christmas/august holiday booked along with 50 people who want the same dates.

I don't imagine I'll still do it once the kids are grown, but it'll do for a good few years yet.

Will taking the job impact your career or earning potential, this affecting financial independence would be my key concern.

If not it sounds great!

In terms of getting the odd day off for sports day etc, it might depend on the individual in charge.
I am a TA so obviously term time only.
My head is fantastic, very family orientated. Her view is that she can’t expect other parents to take time off work to attend sports day etc, if she doesn’t extend that to her own staff by allowing them to take odd afternoons etc to attend their own children’s events.
It’s interesting - because she is so flexible, people are prepared to do extra in return. I bring work home (things like getting work mounted for displays) and I’m happy to do it. If she was more rigid I would probably be far less generous with my time than I am.

I love working term time only. I don’t have child free days, it’s true. But as my children get older and I don’t need to supervise in the same way, that’s less and less of an issue - I now mainly provide food and referee the odd fight. Drag them out for a walk once a day! And then I don’t have to organise child care. I often invite the kids friends over (pre COVID) as they then occupy themselves with their friends and as long as I am in the house, I can do my own thing. And then they get the return invite and I get a child free weekend day that way.

I don't work term time only, but the con for me would be the massive reduction in pay. It's pretty significant over working full time year round. It's much better to use annual leave and take some unpaid leave as necessary to cover any holidays (dh and I share them, so between the two of us, I've never had to take any unpaid leave), so I'm not missing out on income or pension.

The major thing though would be not having flexibility during term time. I like being able to attend sports day and school plays and parents evenings without much trouble (obviously when they're actually happening!). If I worked term time only, I'd have to miss more things because I couldn't justify the time off when I already have time off.

Also, I like being able to take time off that isn't just during school holidays and I don't want my only time off to be for providing childcare. I like having time off for myself too.

@fishcakery

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.

It sounds positive. However, I'd add in the additional cost of the travel, wear and tear element as well. Also, consider whether 20 hours is good now, would you be able to increase later if you wanted?

I work a similar contract, Hwiever wfh. It's great. The flexi element is invaluable, for example for medical appointments etc and covering holidays etc. Have you added in the costing of the need for breakfast clubs etc?

The OP and term time workers could put their DC in childcare or sports/drama etc activities for some of the holidays if they can afford it to have some child free time.

@Ragdoll27

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.

Even when I worked more hours I made sure I took a day every month just for me as I need some down time without the DCs. I sometimes took unpaid leave for family holidays to get enough time.

Term time plus inset days. Pay is spread across the year so you get paid in the holidays. Works out less each month compared to if you were paid only the months you worked . 3 months off is a brilliant. No flexi work. Set hours. If our in z class it’s bloody tiring , kids are loud boisterous funny You do just your hours. I’m in at 8.30 and off at 3.30 if work not finished you pick it up the next day.

I work TTO (TA). Generally it is great. The money isn't, but that's the trade off. I do 8.30-3.30 each day so lots of time at home with DC after school.

I will need to change direction in the next few years as DH will retire from his PT job (he's a lot older) so I will pick up the financial slack. But then he will be around for the (then young teens) DC instead.
I'll definitely miss having all the holidays off though!

I’ve gone from sahm -> very part time TTO -> 8.50-3 TTO, which is considered full time hours for my role.
If I’d had to put them in breakfast and after school club it would have cost most of my monthly salary to do so.
It’s been a surprising 18 months work wise but I am relieved at the current set up as it saves us having to find, and obviously pay for, holiday clubs/childcare for my three during the week and school holidays.
My workplace know that during the school year I’ll be away from the building for 2 days for my health stuff and 2-3 for my children and their camhs and hospital appointments.
My DH was in a workplace where he was the only one doing his role and they never let him block weeks of AL to for childcare and never let him WFM despite the ability for remote working for the first 4 years - funny how easily it worked last year though 🤔

Ok I've had a change of heart!

I've just worked out breakfast club for 2 kids and nursery fees for coming in earlier and it's around £250. My current childcare bill is £150 That would leave me just under £500 per money. The mornings are going to be really really hard. I just about manage now. I'm not so sure tbh now. I think I will wait it out to see if I can find something else. If my children were older and more independent, I think I definitely would have given it a shot. I'm really gutted. It did sound really good but I guess it's not meant to be.

NCforthisconvo same - my DH used to work in a job he absolutely adored but he has a 4hr commute. He asked to work from home a couple of days a week but they wouldn't let him citing it wasn't feasible even though dh explained how it wouldn't affect business needs and in the end he had to leave as it was taking a toll on his health. Obviously now everyone has been wfh home since last year and business running as usual. Employees can be so awkward unnecessarily.

@fishcakery if DH is WFH surely he can do mornings?

Nope he can't. He has client appointments and this job isn't flexible like his previous one. His job is fixed term as well so there's still a lot of uncertainty with regards to his job. I can't really apply for this TTO not knowing if he can help out or not.

Always apply. You can withdraw your application if called to interview.

Badger2021 I've had a really really hard think about this and my initial thoughts were i was definitely going to go for it but i think my mornings will be just a nightmare and the toddler is looked after by MIL 2 days a week and I couldn't possible leave her at 7 - 7.30 as she's sleeping at this time ( she has sleep issues ). I think it's just wrong timing for me.

@fishcakery Could your husband drop off to his mum a little later?

@fishcakery we have a flexible working policy- depending on the role there are limits to how many hours you can accrue. For example, my role means I often work up to 10 hours/week over, and normally you can only accrue 10 hours/month. But this isn't possible in my role. I think ot depends who you work for too. I'm lucky to have a very supportive team!