Or will I need to leave my job and possibly career when DD starts school?!

[Oneanddone88]

I'm a head of department in a school 75 mins from home. Been there 12 years and am valued and respected. Partner also works an hour away from home 3 days per week. No local family etc.
When I applied for schools, I had to pick the ones with some form of wrap-around. I'll find out in April which will accept DD.
Wrap-around near me is pretty poor, local school has none at all. However, even the ones that do, it's 8.30 til 5pm latest.
We've got some savings and I could ensure I had about 3 months bills saved up before the summer. Am I totally bonkers to leave my job ? I just don't see how it's even going to be doable.
I've applied for a remote education related job this eve, but I'm so sad that I'll have to leave my current place.
Anyone else had to make a drastic change when their little ones started school? Can I keep her in nursery forever please ? 🤣
Local childminders also pretty non existent too. Can't move location either (step child )

I have held a couple of TLRs that weren't pro rata-d although I wasn't full time. If you're doing the job you're doing the job! I find schools are very much an "if you don't ask you don't get" situation.

OP, change is scary. But every school I've moved to does some things better than the previous one. Socially, it does feel like a loss to move on sometimes but I can't imagine you get to do that much socialising with the monster commute and the young child.

@Phineyj you're right there, I always have to say no to everything sociable since having dd. I don't mind leaving people behind,it's the fear of the unknown and starting again with relationships and building trust etc. It's just something I need to move past.

@Noodledoodledoo yes I can imagine it would have been impossible to get them to clubs etc. School really is so much harder than nursery by the sounds 🤣 I'm tempted to put a profile on linked in, could be worth it.

Trust me I asked a lot - was a firm no and all others in the same situation were the same!

Well at least you tried!

There’s a lot of nuance and I won’t do it justify off the hoof with this OP.

But wanted to say I totally get it. My husband is away 2-3 days a week and I used to be a HoF 45-60mins from home. Childminders/after school nannies are scarce locally.

We managed it till eldest started sch. I now work ft but wfh/locally.

I was initially fuming I was ‘taking a step back’ but the commuting/childcare savings are huge. My husband earns much more so, all feminist beliefs aside, it made sense for our family.

Petrol aside, youngest can now go to cheaper nursery attached to sch that opens at 8:45 (same as sch) and I’m still home to start work @ 9am. It’s also a lot less stessful job despite having scope to progress and a decent pension.

I am more present with them and life as a whole, tbh.

I t h ink for a child that age a motherly childminder will be a lit nicer for her than an afterschool club

You could try coru kids for an after school nanny. But yes I think you will have to move to a school nearer, sorry OP. Being a parent brings about all sorts of changes in our lives.

@1234512345Meh thank you, I definitely agree. I'm glad it worked out well for you . It's so difficult and it is good to speak to people who understand the predicament.

@fUNNYfACE36 yes I agree , it would possibly be a warmer more nurturing setting.

@starpatch doesn't it just. Not having local family support is a big reason why we've decided to only have one child (also have step child too). We don't have the 'village' that some seem to have.

Koru Kids is just London isn't it? We had a not great (and very expensive) experience with them. I've had much more luck paying sensible adult children of friends for ad hoc pre and post school care.

Just looked at their site. Looks like they have expanded into the rest of the UK but I don't know what coverage would be like.

The issue I had was with finding someone suitable who could also drive. In the end I insured her on my car but omg - had forgotten what insurance costs for 20 somethings!

One other thing to consider while you're looking for child care is the settling period.

A lot of schools near us have a painfully slow settling period for reception. It takes about 3-4 weeks for them to be doing full school days! It's a nightmare for working parents.

Some local nurseries will keep them for this settling period but check your contract. One local nursery ends the contract in the June before they start school. If you want to extend you need to give them a months notice.

That's a great tip! Our neighbours (with twins) got badly caught out by that.

OP - watch out also for schools that won't let reception use wraparound.

My cousin took the "after-school nanny" option, and it worked brilliantly; added bonus that her two DD's got along famously with nanny's DD. If anything, she was firmer about instrument practice and homework than mummy! They remained firm friend after her services were no longer needed, so although you need to choose with care, it can work.

@Phineyj yep, thank you. Already been informed by 3 schools that they only have wraparound from year 1. The provision is so variable , and for where I live, basically rubbish. Once I know which schools will accept her (applied for a Catholic school but not baptised etc - waiting to see if we get in there first ), then I'll know next steps. In the meantime I'm looking to make my exit.

So am I right that you've worked in this one school since you qualified?

And you will save £300 a month in commeutinf if you get something local?

It's a no brainer for me if you have done the maths. It's time to get new experience on your CV. Focus heavy now, even if you do maternity cover or something gives schools true opportunity to see how good you are for when the bigger/perm roles come up.

@YoBeaches yes ...ish. I left for a year after 3 years but went back the year after (was a maternity cover) So only 2 places. I agree with you though , need more on my CV.

Tutor2u are advertising for a health and social care contributor (resources writer) - could be a useful stop gap for September.

Childminders usually keep children until 6pm maybe find one that does the school run for your school, bearing in mind though CM usually only take kids until they are 8. It’s so hard to find decent childcare, I had to give up work as my husband works away and we would find any to fit my hours so it was a done deal that I quit work.

@Phineyj thank you ! I always use their resources to supplement my teaching , definitely worth looking at.
@Favouritefruits it's shame so many people have to make this decision