Jobs that fit around school hours

[randomsabreuse]

Really want a job as a bored SAHM but it needs to fit around school hours unless well paid. Financially me working is not essential but we can't throw money at the problem for very long. Even school hours will cost something until younger DC starts school but we can do that for a year.

Can't do evenings and weekends because DH has on call once a week (not consistent day) and every 4 weekends. We don't have local family (and even if we did in-laws are still quarantining their shopping and paranoid about Covid).

School admin would be obvious but actually the lack of flexibility for illness in term time would be problematic as DH does not have flexibility to collect/stay at home in case of child illness - his employer is pretty good policy wise but regulatory body requirements limit what they can do and there's just not enough other people to cover.

I don't like kids enough to be a childminder. I'm not a caring personality either.

Otherwise not fussy what I do so long as the hours fit. Industrial work is crying out for workers around here but rigid 8-5 and doesn't pay enough to cover wrap around x2 and balance the lifestyle implications for DC of general wrap around vs sports clubs after school.

Thanks for reading the essay/rant!

I've recently given up a school admin role (well finance in the office) and it was very flexible. I fitted my hours around my children.
So I would do the school run - then go to work .. and then leave in time to do the pick up.
I only worked 4 days a week - so if one of mine was sick, I would swap my day off that week ...or work from home whilst looking after them.

Unless there are health conditions in your family, I wouldn't disregard a school job.
I got one and it's great for being around for kids and I'm really looking forward to the summer holidays.

I work in a school as an LSA, I have primary age children and it works perfectly. The school are fairly understanding with time off for dependants but I appreciate that not all schools are. I adore my job and went straight into it from being a SAHM whilst my youngest was still in preschool. :)

If you just want something to get you out of the house, what about something like lunchtime staff in schools? There are also play groups etc that would need helpers, although not always paid.

IME, people who have got jobs working around school hours have got them through grafting away at the same company for years etc. No one is giving them up in a hurry and there is high demand whenever any come up.

Sounds like your only option @randomsabreuse is to work in schools! :😄

What about something self-employed like cleaning?

I'm a MDS at school and also have a second job working at weekends. We've got used to me working weekends, good to do something totally different for me, DH enjoys as it's the only time he gets house and time to himself.

Mine seem to be unlucky with illness rather than health conditions but there's been a LOT of time off in the 3 years I've had 1 at school! Colds, fevers, vomiting bugs - older one is around 85% attendance this year through fevers, a random chest infection that took w types of ABs to shift and a vomiting bug.

Cleaning is too solitary - I want adult contact more than anything. Don't want to WFH either, at least not full time and could do at least 1 full day in the office if within wrap around hours.

I know I'm being fussy - trying to balance family needs with my own needs. I'd quite happily take a full time admin job but the pay wouldn't be worth the loss of activities which are only available after school at their current ages (as opposed to outside working hours when they're older) as well as the extra cost of working (wrap around/extra nursery hours).

DH already works 1 in 4 weekends - which makes a weekend job for me impossible without other childcare (which is £££ at weekends).

Any local shops taking on part time?
What about supper markets? Some do 10-2 shifts

All want full flexibility and at least 1 weekend day

Civil service, my department bends over backwards to be flexible. Lots of people working round school runs and term time.

Have you looked at civil service? Tends to offer flexi time so you can vary start and finish times, and has options for part time work. There are a huge range of jobs depending on your skill set, level you’d want to come in at, and location, so best to start with civil service jobs website.
some stuff won’t be as flexible eg frontline DWP casework, but worth a look!

I work school hours in housekeeping. There's a team of us so it's not solitary. I work 3 days during the week and some weekend days

If it’s about boredom rather than money, volunteering?

Or something self-employed with a bit more adult contact than cleaning – gardening?

A few years ago when my eldest was small I worked the lunchtime shift at an independent, smart restaurant three days a week. I enjoyed getting a bit glammed up and talking to my colleagues. It felt good to be busy on my feet.

If I couldn't make it I changed my days around. Or took it off unpaid or as leave. They were pretty flexible. I think lots of places are these days.

The money was rubbish but I enjoyed not being at home. And learning about fine wines and good food.

I work 9-3 Tuesday-Friday as a waitress in a golf club. It's only minimum wage and I don't get sick pay but it's just round the corner from my house and school is only up the road.

I agreed days and times with the manager before I started. I do feel guilty at not going in at weekends if they are short staffed but it's the only real family time and me time I get.

With my youngest in nursery still I do have to pay for one full day a week but in September that will stop and I will then pay a bit less every month towards holiday childcare. I have considered going for a full time salaried job but financially I wouldn't be much better off because I would need more childcare.

I was very lucky to get such an agreement but there was a job advertised, I applied and negotiated working hours. You could try cafes that open in the day and go from there.

Prior to that I was working evenings and weekends but when I started I agreed to 2 evening weekdays and one weekend shift. Worked great for 6 years with 2 different managers, it's just a matter of looking and asking. If they say no you keep looking.

I'm a TA in a special needs school. I work 9-1.30 every day. SEN schools are often more flexible with having part time staff as they have multiple TAs per class rather than one teacher and one TA in mainstream. I'm not qualified either, as long as you have GCSE Maths and English they go on whether you're suitable for the job.

The LSAs at my school start at 08:10 and finish after after local primary schools end so wrap around care would be needed!

How much notice does you dh get of his on call evenings and can he make a request at all.

I clerk for governors, most of the work is in the school day and can be done at home or in school and some of its evening meetings, but they are set well in advance and could be worked around an on call pattern. They arent everyweek..

Some office roles advertised as part time might be able to be flexed to be around school hours? My colleague works the equivalent of three days a week but spreads it over 5 days to fit within school hours.

(During school holidays she switches it to three full days to minimise childcare needs but I appreciate that is quite flexible of our company)

What did you do before you had kids?

I would think long term and consider training for something well paid that you enjoy rather than focussing on school hours.

Whatever you did before you had children I would look into going back into that and working from home, my top tip is get the job first and then once they’ve offered it to you start talking about flexibility and negotiating because an awful lot of them will say a flat out no before they realise that they want and need your skill set.

I do the school run every morning, I don’t work holidays, some of it’s paid, some of its unpaid leave, I was paid a signing on bonus which covered the initial childcare.

you’re in quite a position of strength at the moment you might as well try and secure a good deal for the long term.

Parish Council Clerk/deputy/admin
Local charity admin
Cafe
Boarding school housemistress

DD works in a shop and they usually need daytime lunch cover - they are flexible round staff with children. They usually have Saturday staff over the weekend as well. Small shop, 20 staff on rota. I don’t think you’re looking hard enough!!