If you are a teacher with young children

[Redhothoochycoocher]

How do you make it work?

I left teaching a year ago as I just couldn't balance the demands of home and school. I miss it and probably idealise it to be honest.

Just curious how parents manage to juggle teaching? Is it doable?

I have a 10 year old and a 16 year old and work 0.8 as a class teacher and subject leader. My children have spent a lot of time at breakfast and after school club and my husband does the majority of the household bits. I don’t stay late at work unless I have a meeting so I’m home for the evening faff- dinner, clubs etc but I always work for at least 2 hours an evening.

I work 2.5 days a week (although I use my half day to mark, plan etc unpaid, so it's more like 3 days). I couldn't do it full time. It would be impossible. DCs are 5 (in Y1 at school) & 3 (in nursery). My DD in school is in wraparound care two days a week, and is at a dance club on Fridays after school.

I have primary aged dc. I'm leaving a full time post at Easter to 0.5 in a unicorn school.
Counting the days!

My kids are 5 and 19 months. I went part time after returning from my first maternity leave (3 days a week, secondary). I wouldn't still be teaching if I was full time.

I love the balance I have now and won't go back to full time teaching even when the youngest is at school.

I work in a really supportive department where lots of resources are shared so planning is usually quick and easy and my HoD has been really good at trying to make sure workload is manageable. It's generally a far better place to work than other schools I've worked at previously.

Also helps that on my working days, my husband WFH and can do the school runs.

I went back FT primary teaching when DD was 11 months, have coped by DH being part-time (0.5) and doing the majority of the housework, shopping and cooking during the week. He works shifts so the weeks where he has work at the weekends are tough as neither of us get a break but it's working ok. I'd rather be PT (or rich enough not to have to work at all!) but financially it just doesn't make sense.

DH and I are both teachers. I was 0.6 until DC2 was 7, then full time. It really is very hard, especially as we have no family nearby. Mine are older now (11 and 13) but I'd say it doesn't get much easier as they get older. Worst thing is when they are ill and we have to decide between us whose headteacher is going to be p*ssed off that day. Have had to leave the older one home alone unwell sometimes which I hate. They have such a lot on after school that it's a total juggle trying to get them to places and they go to bed later which means I end up working later at night. We are thinking one of us will have to give up as elder DC has mental health struggles and feel that with the demands of work we aren't supporting her well.

I was so unhappy on maternity leave there's no way I could have contemplated not going back. I was 0.8 for a few years which I liked. I worked one day of my 3 day weekend so still had a two day weekend like a normal person. Now I'm back to full time I have to work Saturday and Sunday mornings, but try to do it early so I get the bulk of the day with DD.

It's doable if you stick religiously to your contract and work part time.

Haven’t RTFT so apologies if you’ve already been asked this but have you considered supply teaching? Or finding a PPA cover role?
these options will significantly reduce your workload.

I work 2 days a week, kids are 3.5 and practically 1. My DH has managed to arrange his week to WFH those days so he does the nursery run, tea and I waltz in halfway through bedtime.

Can you do something like cover supervising or supply? There is certainly the work out there, or some schools have intervention teachers without a class.

I'm full time primary in a lovely school but it's hard. I work 7am- 6pm 3 days a week and 7am- 4pm the other 2 days but then work 2 hours on the evening plus half a day at the weekend.

I want to divorce but have no family close by, live 30 min drive from work and youngest DC has health issues so frequently needs days off school. I was part time for 10 years and now DH deals with the drop offs and pick ups. The pay is peanuts for the workload. But, I love it and teaching stops me feeling sad about my marriage. I don't have time to think about it. I'm pretty good at it too.

I’m going to work in a museum/ public facing role. It’s a minimum wage role so I understand that I’m lucky to be in a position to take a drop in income.

I swing between thinking it’s the escape and release I need, and maybe a stepping stone to a better income one day. Or worrying that I might hate it and not be stimulated enough, just like you say you were.

I work 0.8 (4 days per week). DH works mostly from home - handy for INSET days - and my school is right next to DC's primary so I don't have a long commute.

DC go to wrap around care most days and have school dinners so I don't feel bad when I need to give them sandwiches/beans on toast for dinner.

I've accepted that life is hectic and I don't spend as much time with DC as I'd like during term time but do my best to make up for it during holidays!

I managed because I went down to 3 days after dc1 was born. I’m only going back full time at Easter. The kids are 11 and 8 now so I’ve had many years of part-time. Only going back full time because of cost of living and my pension. I think part time is the way to go when the kids are little.

I'm full time with a 5 and 7 year old. It is hard but I have a child minder and I have a husband who is also in a profession that works long hours. We both work late, he does mornings and I do pick up from childminder. We share cooking dinner and we work late into the evenings. I do not work during the holidays. That is my time with my family. I have a very understanding headteacher who gets it and so if I have to leave at 3.30pm one day then I can. We can access VPN at home so working from home after school hours is easy.

My house is a mess during the week but generally it is manageable. You have to make sure you share calenders, prioritise what is important and realise your list will never end. I took a year out when my children were younger and I hated not being at work. I tried part-time and realised I didn't enjoy sharing a class. PM if you want more info.

I took a long break when I had my third child, and then got a PT (0.6) job in my children's school. That makes things much easier, wraparound is free if we want it, and the ethos of the school is so much more relaxed than I was used to. Also, I try not to get caught up in the craziness these days-life is too short. Yes, I work late some nights once the kids are in bed, but I don't go mad. I didn't realise how much I'd missed it until I started again! 😊

Couldn’t agree with this more. 15 years in, I know i’m a much better teacher when i’m well rested and have some degree of work/life balance.

I tried job sharing and then supply teachjng but i didn't enjoy them, I just missed all the best bits of teaching.
We ended up relocating so extended family could help with childcare, and my husband took a less demanding full time job so I could work full time again. I love it now.
My husband does all mental load regarding house and children, family and wraparound care for kids who are 12, 10 and 5.
I work 7-6 Mon to Friday, through every break and lunch, and in the evenings after kids r in bed, and one full day each weekend, but take 90%of holidays completely off.
Before I hated teaching because I knew I was doing it badly, now I'm full time and can fully commit I like it again. Most of the time.
I had to find a unicorn school which 4 me has been the school in the same town as me so my commute is 5 mins, a small school that isnt in an academy so I have total autonomy and can plan for my cohort, and also learning when to stop and rest.
I don't think it's sustainable forever though, I'm planning on making my way up the payscales and leaving teaching to retrain as an accountant once my eldest 2 r through uni. So....OK ten more years to go!

I’m secondary so maybe part time is easier than in primary because you don’t usually have to share classes. You just teach the classes on the days you’re in. I can imagine it’s harder in primary if you have to share a class.

Best thing I did was become HoD when my youngest wasn't even 1 yet. Gave me more control over workload and deadlines.

Yes it is very doable but hard work. I leave school on the bell and catch up on an hour or two of work most evening when my kids are in bed.

I work part time (0.5) and use childcare for more time than I'm at work so I have an extra morning to get stuff done. We are super lucky we can afford this. Also have a supportive school and try and set boundaries!

It should be an easier job to balance around a family though.