to ask how i might manage childcare as a supply teacher?

[turquoiseamethyst]

Just wondering how others do it? Not necessarily supply but just work where you don't know when you're going to be in?

do you just have regular slots booked at the nursery and hope for the best?

I have no idea how it should be done. My experience - with a relative was that she expected family to drop everything if she got work. And by everything I mean people losing a days wages so she could work.

But I am sure you are not as selfish as my relative.

well I don't have any relatives so that's a non-starter!

I did supply when I first qualified. I'd usually get a phonecall between 8-8.30 and leave ASAP have to get across town. It would never work if I had to organise childcare unless I had the most flexible family childcare system available on my doorstep.

I couldn't make it work! Sorry

Oh dear

I really do need SOME way of making money but everywhere I turn I just can't seem to manage it.

Hypothetically, would it not be possible to have the baby in nursery by that time already?

My friend did supply but luckily her kids were all at school so she only had to organise the before and after school drop offs / pick ups. We helped out as and when so it wasn’t a problem for her. My mum did the same years ago when she went back to work doing supply teaching, she just had a good network of friends who would take us to school and back. However if your kids aren’t school age… I don’t know what you could do!

If your baby was in nursery anyway then it might be possible, but it depends on how often you're working - if it's not pretty much every day you'll end up spending as much on childcare as you earn.

Could you not have part time childcare in place - 3 days maybe - and say you were only available to work on those days?

It depends how likely you are to find work. Could you book a childminder place, drop off and hope for the best? If you don't get a call then pick up at lunch time. Hopefully once a school like you work qill become more regular. Have you thought about applying for a permanent position?

That was what I was hoping to do Cumber :) I seem to be haemorrhaging money at the moment and I'm so stressed about it!

Nanny I doubt I'd get anywhere, at the moment, as am visibly pregnant.

This is why I don't do it. Getting the phone call at 7:30 or whenever, then having to try and sort out picks ups etc is my idea of hell. I think it is very incompatible with having children. I've never ever been able to do it

Only way to do it is to have a very very flexible childminder. There is one around here who can accept children on very short notice, she has a 'pool' of parents who do supply work (a couple are teachers and nurses) who call her on the day.

I know she charges a slight premium for the flexibility. She is clear she can't give a 100% guarantee in case lots of people all call on the same day, but she was telling us last week that she has only had to turn someone down twice in 4 years.

I think that will be your best bet then. If you get offered a long term placement through the agency that will put you in a better position for childcare but you only get those placements by getting the hours in. It does pay off though - I got offered a job after a long term placement at a school.

thanks :) so it's worth trying then do you think? I was tentatively thinking of two days a week?

The trouble with supply is not being able to bank on the work. So you could say to the agency I can work Mon-wed, but only prebooked jobs. Which would allow you to plan childcare. But then you can't bank on having work iyswim.

Some weeks I worked 5 days. Some only 1-2. Nothing was predictable and the £80 I pocketed each day would been £30 once you took a days nursery fee out!

I was on a temporary contract while pregnant with a ds1.

I have gone from temporary contract to temporay contract. Ds2 is now 18m and I am still on temporay contracts. I have never done supply as I couldn't get childcare.

When ds2 turns 3 there is very flexible wrap around care at the school he can go to so if I haven't got a permanent contract by then I would do supply.

I'd give it a go and see how it works out - if you are given enough work to to make it worth it. I would try different agencies as well if you are not happy with the amount of hours you are given.

thank you - will do so.

If nothing else it does give me a bit of a break but just the same I would obviously "lose" money if I don't get any work.

cynically I also would like to earn enough to qualify for MA.

Have you had a look on your council website for permanent/long term teaching contracts. I just had a look at mine and there were plenty of f/t and long term contacts advertised. This might be more stable for you child care wise than your current situation.

I'm pregnant - I wouldn't be able to commit to anything.

I usually get long term placements, I occasionally do standby for odd days but I usually know a week in advance if I'm getting some work.

I depends on your subject and how much a school/college needs you. I was offered 2 weeks a fair way from home, they were prepared to pay accommodation for me.

aah sorry I didn't realise but there's absolutely no reason why you couldn't apply whilst pregnant for Something when the baby is past 6 months. How far in your pregnancy are you?

I ask because my friend didn't disclose her pregnancy until she signed her contract for her second lectureship job. It didn't go down too well but there wasn't anything they could do except advertise for her maternity cover. She taught for three months before going off to have her baby.

I'm not due until the end of July, and I won't be able to work then as I'll have two under 2s - the childcare won't make it worth my while. It's just I've got a lot of initial costs just now.