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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you work only school hours....

166 replies

NickyEds · 27/01/2016 14:09

..but you aren't a teacher, what do you do?

Are there any jobs that fit in school hours and holidays that aren't in schools?

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Hello! Mumsnet Jobs team here. We've noticed this thread is fairly old now, and some of the information is out of date. We've put together this article of advice, tips and tricks to finding a job that will allow you to work within school hours. We hope it's helpful!

OP posts:
BaBaBaBoomBoom · 27/01/2016 15:28

Placemarking for ideas!

heyyougetoffmycloud I'm really interested in working for a charity and really making a difference. But are paid, as opposed to voluntary, jobs really hard to come by?

sodabreadjam · 27/01/2016 15:28

I worked as a college lecturer - pretty much the same holidays as the schools - but then the job was broadly similar.

Slightly longer day in the workplace, though - but debatable who would do more work at home.

weegiemum · 27/01/2016 15:30

I work for a small charity.

Used to be a teacher, that wasn't school hours only!

NameChange1815 · 27/01/2016 15:31

Office job mornings only. I have to work through hols but DH and I have been in our jobs for a long time so we get a full 6 weeks each - use holiday clubs and grandparents for the rest of the time.

margaritasbythesea · 27/01/2016 15:37

Administration for a charity. Also gcse/ diploma examiner at exam periods.

I used to be a secondary school teacher. Definitely not school hours!

Schwabischeweihnachtskanne · 27/01/2016 15:51

I work school hours sort of - I also work after the kids are in bed, and start at 6am some days so my DH has to do the breakfast and seeing kids off to bus/ taking the youngest part of the day. I have sort of 2-3 part time jobs, it depends how you count...

I work 6am - 2pm some days in a care home. Roughly 2 days a week though it can be 4 days one week and 0 or 1 another week. In school holidays I work weekends unless I've actually booked holiday.

I teach English as a foreign language to adults through an adult education organisation 1 morning and 3 evenings a week, term times only (we live abroad. My Fridays are blocked off for this and the care home agreed before I started not to ask me to work Friday mornings or weekday evenings - it's a nice, well managed care home :o )

I also have a couple of private students whom I tutor a couple of early afternoons a week, in my own home.

I used to be a secondary school teacher in the UK and my current mish mash of part time stuff is a million times more family friendly than school teaching. In term time secondary English teaching is far less family friendly than an office job, though you do get the school holidays (but that didn't help me much as when I gave up teaching I only had a young toddler - it wasn't at all parent of baby or toddler friendly!).

Want2bSupermum · 27/01/2016 15:59

I don't work term time only but wanted to say that my employer is extremely flexible. Overall I think flexibility is far more important than only working set hours. I am at big 4 and while the hours are long and it is sometimes horrendous they do offer part time schedules (parents are automatically approved in my department!) and if you are senior enough you can transfer to a position where you work from home 100% of the time.

Outside of busy season (Jan & Feb) I work 4 days a week for 80% pay. I really can work from anywhere including poolside while we were in the caribbean earlier this month on holiday and a work issue came up. If I wanted to I could structure my day so i pick my kids up from school and then work once they go to bed. I choose not to do that everyday though as I find it exhausting.

willievertrust · 27/01/2016 16:07

i sell software to primary schools! we can take unpaid holidays in the school holidays and buy 5 days extra if we want too!

we can go in if we want but it is very quiet in the school holidays. i think there is an option to do term time only. its a lovely place to work but quite a monotonous job unfortunatley.

ErgonomicallyUnsound · 27/01/2016 16:16

I work school hours part time but don't get school holidays off. I work from home and employer v flexible so now DC older I can work with them at home in the holidays. I've had the job since the youngest started school at 4, it wouldn't have worked before that. I relied on sports clubs etc in the holidays.

There are an amazing number of PT school hours jobs out there where I live. Problem is, they often aren't advertised. Thinking about the people I know they work in estate agents, local council, schools, accountants offices, shops, cafes, swimming teachers, photographers, freelance writers, lecturers. But they all work holidays so there's a juggle.

KayJBee · 27/01/2016 16:28

There are a lot of jobs in schools that work school hours only. A teacher is not one of them though!

If you want school hours AND term time only, a school is probably your best bet. If you want school hours but can work school holidays too, then there's more choice.

I work in a big secondary school doing exams admin. Others school hours roles could be office staff, catering, cleaning, reception, some finance dept, some IT dept, various departmental support staff, TAs. Each depends on the school and their needs.

MrsSparkles · 27/01/2016 16:31

Run my own business. I employ managers to do all the day to day running so I don't actually need to be there all the time, and can work school and hours and only a couple of days a week in the holidays.

I do quite often work late into the evening though, once DD is in bed.

MegBusset · 27/01/2016 16:39

I work for a charity. Started out working three days at 9-5, but a year or so ago put in a flexible working request and now work four shorter days in term time so I can do the afternoon school run (DH does it in the mornings). I do work in the holidays but try to save my holiday/lieu time, as does DH, so they go to holiday club maybe six days a year.

The downside is I'm working in a too junior role and the pay is crap. But it's worth the trade-off.

ThePrinceofParties · 27/01/2016 16:49

I'm not school hours only, but I work 25hrs/wk very locally in an NHS role.
this means I do every morning school run, starting work at 9.15. I do two pick-ups as well. depending on work commitments and hours accrued I can often do the school run other days.

TBH I get to the school gate at least as much as several colleagues who work in schools, as unless you work in the very same school as your DC you'd need to factor in dropping off your DC and then getting to your place of work before the school day starts.

Through long service I get a lot of annual leave, which goes a long way towards covering the holidays.

Whoverville · 27/01/2016 16:54

I'm a nursery nurse. I work 8-4 each day, but am term time only. Reducing my hours has been so beneficial. I think the only downside really is that I have pretty much no relationship with dd's school (I rely on before/after school clubs and am not really able to take days off in term time.) But that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make as we are so much happier/less stressed now. It's just the two of us at home, but I really felt buried under the pressure of everything when I worked full time.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 27/01/2016 17:41

Teachers don't work school hours. The children go home, but the teachers don't!

queenoftheworld93 · 27/01/2016 17:43

I'm a 1-1 teaching assistant, in a school though. But it's only 8:30-3:30

Ameliablue · 27/01/2016 17:45

I work in a university but started out full time and then used flexible working policy to decrease hours to fit with school.

IdaShaggim · 27/01/2016 17:47

PA in the Civil Service, with a really understanding boss. School hours, term time only. Couldn't work if I wasn't, due to personal circumstances, so think the boss would rather have me when she can.

OutrageousFlavourLikeFreesias · 27/01/2016 17:50

I'm a copywriter. I started as a freelancer and then my best client offered me a permanent position, which I accepted on the basis of school hours.

sayatidaknama · 27/01/2016 17:50

Writer and occasional proofreader / editor.

Have also been offered work as teacher of english in businesses (mostly) which I could totally fit around school and holidays. It's also possible to teach English via Skype which is something I am looking into or will be.

carben · 27/01/2016 17:52

Civil servant - part time - term time only. I do 30 hrs pw 9 - 3. Kids (Yr 7) leave the house at 8 am to walk to school which starts at 8.30. They finish at 3.20 and get home about 3.45 around about the same time as me.

shebird · 27/01/2016 17:53

I work part time for a small company. My boss likes part time mums and says we are often more productive than full time staffHmm

I don't have school holidays off but my employers are very flexible and allow me to compress my hours to reduce the amount of childcare I need to cover this time. I also have the option to work from home if one of my DCs has an inset day or is off sick. Working in this role has been a bit restrictive career wise and financially but overall it has been the best for us as I get to work and always be there for the DCs.

twirlypoo · 27/01/2016 17:58

I work in field sales for a really flexible company. So long as I hit my targets I can manage my own hours. Currently doing 8-2:30pm 4 days a week. Have to work holidays, but again, could do 2 longer days and take the rest off. It's a lot of pressure mind. I really feel it if it's a hard sell day.

WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes · 27/01/2016 18:21

I work part time for two small companies, neither of whom need my skills on a full time basis (my skills are fairly specialised, in science). I'm not public facing so my hours can be done to suit me, in school hours during term time, extended into longer/fewer days in the holidays. I can switch days when the DCs are sick, or to suit me generally, in return I tend to make up any sick time etc on other days. I had been working full time in this career for 30 years before I found this job though, it's not something I have taken up since having them.

WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes · 27/01/2016 18:22

20 years not 30 (otherwise I would have been very old indeed when I had the DCs).

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