To take massive paycut to have a term time job?

[BootsMagoots]

Current circumstances - Good job, well paid for what I do. Love the company and my colleagues. No complaints about any of that. However, holidays are a nightmare (or lack of availability) which mean I am rarely off when my child is. I don't really have a support network. Just my husband and I. We have a good quality of life but the holiday thing is an issue and it will never get better.

I have been looking at jobs in schools. Similar jobs, but with the added beauty of being off when my son is. It is around a 10k drop in wages. It would be a struggle, but I'd get time with my child and that's something you can't put a price on.

Has anybody done similar? Am I thinking of this with head over heart? Any advice appreciated.

Heart over head I think that should read, sorry.

For a start nothing can replace time with your child you will never get that back

You will save on childcare costs

You will cut your cloth accordingly - drop brands in supermarkets find cheaper days out enjoy the free stuff etc

You can manage

Are you paying for holiday child care, after school care etc that won’t be needed if you take the school job? That’ll close the gap if so. Less spent on commuting every day etc as well.
Are you able to take all your annual leave in your current job (at some point during the year?) I’m guessing buying more holidays won’t make a difference if there’s never anyone to cover normal leave.

I’d choose time with children over money (assuming we could afford the basics) any day.

I no longer work as I was very lucky to have the option to be a SAHM.
But in my last job I opted to work term time and it was amazing. If you have the chance, do it. Time with your child/ren is irreplaceable.

I don't just what your asking. I went from a senior role full time to just being a "normal" member of staff and term time only.
Yes the drop in wages did hurt the first few months but I adapted and spending quality time with my child for 13 weeks of the year has been more than worth it.

I did the same when my DCs were younger and never regretted it for a minute.
DCs are adults now but all have really good memories of holidays together

Time with DC. You'll never get that back XX

I can take my full leave but almost never during any school holidays which is the shit bit. For example the summer holidays 2019, I have been allocated 2 whole days out of 6 weeks.

He would still go to after school club in new role. I'd still have to commute but I have the security of knowing I'll be off with him.

I think it worries me as I have literally came from nothing and we have both worked our arses off. There were weeks when we'd have £5 To last. But those days are gone.

You've all told me what I needed to hear.

I am a part time teacher and therefore get the holidays off with my children. I thank my lucky stars every holiday that I am not having to cobble together childcare for so many weeks of the year.

Obviously only you know if the 10k drop in salary is manageable or not. If it is manageable I would advise you to go for it.

Good luck.

Can you explain more about why you are allowed so little time off during the holidays?

I work FT in a senior role and I wouldn’t contemplate dropping down the career ladder, but I am fortunate to be able to use every single day of holiday allowance during the children’s holidays so I understand why you are contemplating this.

I have done it. I worked in a highly stressful job and hated it. I worked part time 20 hours (but not really as I always had to work extra from home to keep on top of everything but it was paid overtime), holidays, weekends etc.
I left and now officially work more hours 30 for approximately half my part time wage.
I get all the holidays off with my kids and I love it, I've never enjoyed work more.
For me it was definatley worth it.

I’ve done it. Several staff at the school I work in have also. I do have a longer term plan in mind (pension concerns, mainly, and improved quality of life as we all get older) which will involve some retraining, but I want to walk my kids to and from school every day, and spend time with them in the holidays. To me that is more than worth the pay cut I’ve taken. If all goes to plan 🤞 I’ll finish my retraining around the time my children start secondary school and no longer want to walk with me anymore!

Best of luck with your decision. I can only speak for myself, but I have no regrets.

A 10k pay cut doesn’t work out to be 10k when you take into consideration that you’ll be off for 13 weeks a year, rather than 4/5 weeks. My friend is a nursery nurse and will sometimes moan about her monthly take home. I have to remind her that she gets that 12 months a year but only works around 9 months a year, whilst for my monthly wage I work just under 11 months.

If you feel you’re missing out on time with your dc then go for it, it won’t be forever

I now work term time, for less money, bit it's definitely worth it.

I'm so aware as my kids get older that time with them is precious and racing by.

If it's not going to affect your long term career then I would recommend it. Even if it does you may be able to fit in a bit of part time study to develop another aspect of your skills.

Best wishes.

If you can't take annual leave during school holidays then go for it. It's hard enough juggling when you can take annual leave when you need to. In your shoes I'd apply for term time posts as well.

My only concern with a term time post is would it mean you can’t take time off to see your child in school plays/sports days etc.

I have just done this. I have gone from shift work mostly weekends and nights to 9-5 mon-fri. Still have to work some school hols but every weekend with my kids, whereas I had about 1 in 8 with them before. It comes at a price 300-400 a month less, but I am sure we will manage (I've not started yet). Time with your children is priceless.

I did it and it's great, in fact even though my DC are now nearing the end of their education, I won't be in any hurry to work 46(ish) weeks a year again!

My only words of caution are:

Termtime means no flexibility at all. No long weekends away, no waiting in for a new washing machine, no midweek weddings etc etc

If you end up "specialising" in education you're stuck with shockingly expensive holidays even when DC have left school.

You can't take advantage of any cheaper flights or less busy days that are sometimes available on INSET days because yours and DC's will never been the same.

I have to say its the best thing I ever did though. Less pay but much shorter working days and far more relaxed working environment and less stress than when I had a "proper" job. And you're only ever a max of seven weeks from your next holiday.

I work term time only and love it.
I previously worked for a prestigious organisation in well paid job with good opportunities for promotion etc. Prob earned £600 more a month.
However was highly stressful/very long commute/childcare in hols a complete headache/not really suited to my personality.
Events in my personal life a few years ago made me assess what I wanted from life and I made the leap to working in a school (retrained)
Realise am lucky to accomodate a drop in.wage. But saved on childcare, commuting costs and we cut our cloth accordingly..
I feel lucky to have all the holidays with the kids and don't regret my decision for a minute. Although it was triggered by lots of different factors, it's worked out well for us.
The way I view is, I've many many years of work ahead so plenty time to change things again when kids are in teens (and don't care about hanging out with me in the hols!)

I did it. Best decision I ever made.

I find my term-time role extremely interesting and rewarding though, if I didn't I suppose I would have resented the drop in pay.