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 couldn't make it work. There wasn't a flexible enough childcare option local enough. I lost money on childcare and and no work. Supply was very poor at that time, I think it may have improved now. Pregnancy and supply didn't mix well either. 1st trimester symptoms cost me a rolling block of casual work when I fainted in class then had a panic attack over a bleed the following day. I then got a term of work, but after the summer at the end of the second trimester, I looked ready to drop, and was beginning to be affected by SPD. One afternoon of work came in that term before I had to stop.

Second time I fell pregnant at the end of a maternity contract. Second trimester fell over the dry season, by the time supply picks up, the SPD had struck again and I ended up on crutches.

In recent years I've done temporary work directly with schools which has been much more reliable.

Thanks.

If you are hoping to get Maternity Allowance by the end of July you need to get cracking - do you have any contributing weeks already? How many are you short by?

No contributing weeks at all.

I don't think it's going to be possible but doing nothing makes me feel so helpless.

How many school weeks are there between now & EDD?

Not sure - due 29th July

Hi op, when I did supply I only did prebooked work. I basically ended up working for about 5 different schools and each one of them would book me in advance for the next few months. I didn't have Dc then but I didn't like the idea of not knowing when or where I was going to work. I joined 1 agency but then got quite a lot of work on my own. Hope you can sort something out op.

How about doing exam invigilation? Are there any schools or agencies around you looking for someone, they are usually only for the exam season so will be finished by mid-July?

I just spotted something on childcare.co.uk which might help in your situation - I was looking for myself, but one or two of the adverts for nannies were actually from people who had been nannies, nursery nurses or childminders but were getting nearer retirement age and looking to downscale.

If you keep an eye out, you might find someone like who just wants some hours work a week, but isn't too fixed on their days, especially if they can come and do the childcare at your house?

Thanks Ann :)

Exam invigilator isn't likely to pay enough to cover nursery costs

My wife was a supply teacher when our first child was born. We had no relatives who could help out with child care. We only got it to work because we had a childminder who didn't mind not getting paid if we didn't need her, so if my wife didn't have any work for the day our son stayed at home with her and we didn't have to pay for childcare. This arrangement only lasted about half a year, after which we couldn't find any suitable child care - childminders willing to do this are few and far between. This made working not worthwhile financially, and the has been a SAHM since.
Good luck!

she not the doh

Well I don't think it's going to be do-able

I'm out of practice so can't really exam mark and tutoring is a no go as there's no one to have DD.

I don't think I can make it work; I just feel helpless.

I told the places that booked me I could only do supply with 24 hours notice. I still ended up working between 2 and 3 days per week.

Completely different idea but do you have anything you could sell on eBay? I made quite a bit when I was hard up before Christmas.

Not read all of the thread, but a friend of mine did supply for a while.

It worked because her children were in school, she could drop off at breakfast club without booking ahead, and her MIL would do pick up.

I think I'll have to try it.

Grimacing at the thought but I'm going to have to beg STBXH to pay DDs nursery fees for a couple of days a week.

Is there anything suitable at all on council website - on ours you can search for fixed term contracts.
Eg There is one where they are wanting a yr 4 teacher until end of summer term only. So would fit in with your due date.
Have you checked out entitled to website or got advice?

I know it sounds a bit wimpy dixie but I honestly think two days is as much as I will be able to manage.

My freind does Skype teaching to kids that are not allowed in school.
Have you thought tutoring home ed kids as well.

Honestly, tutoring isn't an option. I have a very shrieky daughter and no one to take her :) I can't imagine people parting with their hard earned cash to hear an almost one year old crying for an hour! :)

Maybe worth emailing a few schools and offering some intervention work. We're crying out for some Eng/Maths tutors to come in for a few hrs a week to work with small groups.

That's an idea, how much experience do you have, and how long have you been out of teaching? Could you offer any skills in teaching children with additional needs, small group or 1:1 support?