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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you work FT...

116 replies

kravestix · 21/08/2021 08:36

What do you do with your kids?

I have a three year old starting school next September. I've been looking at FT jobs but coming up blank about what to do with my child. There's school holidays and once he starts School, the school day is much shorter than FT jobs which typically finish between 5pm and 6pm.

So what do people do with their kids?

OP posts:
Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 21/08/2021 10:04

Our local CM does before and after school care, finishes at 6pm. I'd make sure you get booked in with one ASAP, they're like gold dust around here.

Original poster
kravestix · 21/08/2021 10:05

I was due to start Uni in September to do a degree which I was going to follow up with Teacher Training afterwards but honestly, I just don't think we can get by on the Maintenance Loan, hence why I'm looking into FT jobs instead.

OP posts:
Original poster
kravestix · 21/08/2021 10:07

[quote Maximum71]@kravestix
It's awful and it will always be a struggle. God knows how we all manage it when we have no family nearby - but you just have to.. even when your child is begging not to go to childcare.. fekking awful being a FT working parent sometimes- it broke my heart.
But I needed to pay my modest mortgage- renting a house would have been double the price- and buy food. I was the breadwinner so I didn't work for the luxury stuff - I worked to survive.
You will find a way. Maybe find other parents from school who would like to share childcare at either homes?
Good luck x
[/quote]
Thank you xx

OP posts:
Original poster
kravestix · 21/08/2021 10:13

So DH does 8-5:30 and the job I'm looking at is 8:30-6:30. So I can do morning drop offs and DH can do afternoon pick ups either from Private Nursery or after school club once at school. Then Holidays will have to be both of our annual leave and holiday clubs I guess. Obviously working in a school is ideal but unless you're a teacher or senior staff, it doesn't pay enough. I'm just really annoyed that the school wr planned to send him to only does after school club until 4:15. The other school that does until 5:30, I really don't like it any where near as much.

OP posts:
AICM · 21/08/2021 10:15

@Hesma

Get yourself a job paying a decent amount and pay for childcare or get a job in a school…it’s not rocket science 🙄
I think you've put your finger on it and your foot in it at the same time there.
Howshouldibehave · 21/08/2021 10:18

Obviously working in a school is ideal but unless you're a teacher or senior staff, it doesn't pay enough.

I wouldn’t go into teaching just to save you money on childcare though.

Look for good local childminders who will take/collect from schools as well as breakfast/after school clubs. My school has no after school clubs (and breakfast club doesn’t start until 8) but there are some really good childminders who collect straight from the classroom.

Bunnycat101 · 21/08/2021 10:20

If it’s the case of an hour, you’d probably find a local teenager who could collect them from after school club and take them home. You might be able to negotiate hours or get something with shorter days.

VikingsandDragons · 21/08/2021 10:24

Make some calls to local nursery's and childminders. Our school has at least 5 nursery's who do daily morning drop off and pick up for wrap around care, and I have no idea how many childminders but at least 3 come to our classroom door alone. Our school has similar provision only until 4.15 so a lot of people use more formal childcare. I know the one closest to the school is £8 for breakfast club and £10 for afterschool club from 2.45/3pm (staggered finishes for KS1 and KS2) until 6pm

FannyFifer · 21/08/2021 10:32

I worked weekends so had kids all week and around for school runs etc, then DP was off at the weekend.
I either did night shift fri,sat,sun or backshift Friday then long days sat/sun. 30 odd hours over a weekend.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 21/08/2021 10:32

Look at how much help you can get towards childcare via universal credit.

BiddyPop · 21/08/2021 10:35

We had to pay for Creche from DD being 4 months old, and then for after school club once she went to school until the end of 5th class. It's what you do. And holidays were a mix of holiday camps and juggling annual leave.

WrongKindOfFace · 21/08/2021 10:38

@kravestix

I was due to start Uni in September to do a degree which I was going to follow up with Teacher Training afterwards but honestly, I just don't think we can get by on the Maintenance Loan, hence why I'm looking into FT jobs instead.
Are you not entitled to any help via benefits? If not you can get help via tax free childcare. Your local council should have a department that can give you info about childcare provision. And also speak to the school as they may know which childminders and after school clubs collect from that school.

If you’re in full time education you should get help with childcare costs via the childcare grant,

BiddyPop · 21/08/2021 10:41

After school club was in a local Creche which collected from school for 4 years, then the after school in school itself was able to expand from just the hour between reception finishing and rest of school finishing to covering the whole school until 6pm.

But look for after school clubs outside of the school itself or a childminder who can collect from school for the afternoon.

Kettletoaster · 21/08/2021 10:44

Work compressed hours to allow me to work a half day once a week. Morning and after achool club the other days. Holiday clubsto cover achool holidays.

historygeek · 21/08/2021 10:48

Part of our requirements for choosing a school for DS was good wraparound. He gets dropped off at breakfast club (£2 a day) at 7.45 and goes to after school club (£7 a day). We are both teachers though so don't need to worry about holidays.
It's a long day for him, but he's an only child and after school club gives him a chance to properly play with his friends. He actually "hates Fridays" because I pick him up from his classroom and he doesn't go to ASC.

Peanutsandchilli · 21/08/2021 11:07

@Hesma

Get yourself a job paying a decent amount and pay for childcare or get a job in a school…it’s not rocket science 🙄
Idiot.

I've wanted to work for ages but there's absolutely no point in me getting a job, then forking out more money that I can earn on childcare. You can't just walk into a job that pays a 'decent amount' when you're at the bottom of the ladder.

PumpkinPie2016 · 21/08/2021 11:15

If you go into a FT job, I would try to find a childminder who does drop off/pick up at the school as they tend to be a bit cheaper and some can also look after the DC in the holidays. Some schools have holiday clubs too which you can use alongside any leave you or your husband can take.

I would say though that it seems a shame to give up on the degree if you want to do it and intend to do teacher training after?

The maintenance loan is not huge (sorry, did you say you are at home at the moment? I think you did?) but it's still extra income.

If you go to uni as planned, can you get help with childcare costs? Ask your uni for advice here but I think you can.

I know folk always ask this but if you went to uni, have you done an income/outgoings list to see if the two match up and if not, is there any way you can make some changes to balance things? School wraparound care should be cheaper than nursery and you would have holidays with your son as a student?

Honestly, I'd look at making the University course work Flowers

qualitygirl · 21/08/2021 11:21

@Peanutsandchilli I can totally see where you're coming from with what you say but sometimes it is worth it if you can get a job with progression and if it means you are paying into a pension and getting any other benefits.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 21/08/2021 11:57

@Robostripes

You pay for childcare, obviously … Hmm
Exactly.

Childcare before and after school won’t wipe out even minimum wage per hour.
Holidays are obviously different but if each parent gets four weeks a year as a minimum (some jobs get more) then that’s at least eight weeks covered so not many left to find. Even the parents I know who have split still cover the holidays between them.
There’s relief through tax as well to assist with costs.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 21/08/2021 12:01

[quote qualitygirl]@Peanutsandchilli I can totally see where you're coming from with what you say but sometimes it is worth it if you can get a job with progression and if it means you are paying into a pension and getting any other benefits. [/quote]
I agree.
It’s not just that, it’s financially contributing to the child’s upbringing which should be a parenting basic and instilling a work ethic in them for later life as their main role model.

Original poster
kravestix · 21/08/2021 12:11

At the moment I work two days a week, Monday & Friday. But financially it's a real struggle. And also, I've started to notice that DS seems happier on the days he goes to Nursery. Think he's getting bored at home with me. And although I did want to go to Uni, what I really want is to be able to provide for my DS financially. I don't want to worry about how I'm going to afford days out in the holidays or new school uniform or a coat, etc. So the choices are basically be at home for him but struggle to provide financially or spend less time with him but be able to give him a better quality of life. And be able to actually do nice things with him when I am off because we can afford to do so. I'm going to miss spending time with him like I do now but actually I think, me working FT would be better for me and he will be less bored and we might actually value the time we have together more. Less worry and stress financially, etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
kravestix · 21/08/2021 12:14

I'll still have 2 hours after work with him every day. Saturdays and Sundays, plus 28 days a year annual leave.

OP posts:
Usernamqwerty · 21/08/2021 12:32

@kravestix

I was due to start Uni in September to do a degree which I was going to follow up with Teacher Training afterwards but honestly, I just don't think we can get by on the Maintenance Loan, hence why I'm looking into FT jobs instead.
I have two little ones and am starting Uni in September. Financially, it's a short term pain for long term gain as I can't go for a higher band NHS role without being qualified. If you are interested, I would recommend looking at healthcare roles. As well as Student Finance, you can also get NHS Bursaries of £5k plus £2k if you have kids plus possibly more if you are training in a shortage profession.
MilkCereal · 21/08/2021 12:37

Just to say working in a school or as a teacher will not fir I with childcare. I do this and start at 7:45am most days have meetings until 5pm. We use after school club. Very naive to think if you work in a school or as a teacher you can have your children with you before and after school.

KeyWorker · 21/08/2021 12:40

DH and I both work full time, him 5 days and me 3 days. From the age of 10 months to starting school we did 2 days with childminder and DH day off with my Mum helping out occasionally and since starting school it’s a mix of breakfast and holiday club, planning our annual leave between us to cover as much of the holidays as possible and again my Mum helping out occasionally.

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