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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Work term time only or 4 days

19 replies

Ifyoureoffering · 07/10/2023 08:41

Sorry.....posting for traffic.

It's a WWYD...

I currently work 3 days a week. Come next September my youngest will go to school.

In my current job I could possibly go to 4 days a week spread over 5. Or....there is the possibility of a term time only job.

My current job would pay more than the term time role. But, it involves long commutes that I struggle with.

Has anybody else been faced with this choice? What's the pros and cons to both in people's experience?

OP posts:

DustyLee123 · 07/10/2023 08:43

look at how many years of school you’ve still got with your kids, and how you will cover school holidays and sickness, then decide.

LlynTegid · 07/10/2023 08:43

What are your career ambitions?

Pebblesandwaves · 07/10/2023 08:45

I work term time and it's great when your children are at primary school! Friends find it incredibly stressful trying to juggle their holiday allowance and finding childcare/clubs for school holidays. The pros are definitely lots of time with your children. No stressing about childcare. Lots of extra holiday!
Cons - pay will be less.

LunaLoveFood · 07/10/2023 08:45

If tou can afford ot term time only.
The relief of not having to worry about childcare is amazing. Also knowing it's usually 6-7 weeks before time off is great.

Elpheba · 07/10/2023 08:46

I was term time only as a TA which was amazing for childcare, but boring and also very physically tiring and so so inflexible in terms of illness/appointments etc.
I’m now civil service 4 days a week but I haven’t done a full year of juggling holidays yet. So far I think it will be ok as I bank flexi time so can use that. I also love working from home a few days a week.
I think it’s also worth thinking that with a term time job you’re always “on” as when you’re “off” you’re looking after smalls which is great for half term but did feel relentless in the summer, particularly as I felt I couldn’t justify holiday clubs etc because I wasn’t working. I absolutely love having a day a week term time to get other house stuff done or meet with friends etc. it’s a luxury sure but it makes me happy!

Mygazpachoistoocold · 07/10/2023 08:48

If you take the term time only job is there the flexibility that you can take time off to attend school assemblies and other special days that parents/guardians get invited to?

Angrycat2768 · 07/10/2023 08:50

I did term time only until my youngest was in year 5 I think ( but I work in education so it was easier) now I do 4 days over 5. Childcare and holiday clubs are still a nightmare even when they are older over the holidays even though they often go off with friends etc. I would do term time only if you can afford it, especially with the commute thrown in.

BuffaloCauliflower · 07/10/2023 08:55

I currently work 3 days (21 hours) and when my kids are at school my plan is to hopefully work my job as 2 full days in the office and 2 half days at home, so easier on the before and after school childcare needs as I could do pick up and drop off 3 days. Holidays will take a bit more planning but there aren’t many term time jobs that would offer the progression and year round balance. Teachers work so much in term time and holidays, TAs are very poorly paid (my mum is one and holidays off were great but our finances were not)
What so you do and what are your goals?

FallingAutumnLeaf · 07/10/2023 09:14

I'm TTO.
It's great for the holidays, but DH picks up a lot of the sickness and inset days etc. But then our kids are big enough that he can continue wfh if they are about for the odd day.

whatthebejesus · 07/10/2023 09:22

I wouldn't take a term time job. You'll never have any down time because your "holiday" will be spent looking after the kids.

I do 4 days during term time and drop to 3 during holidays. It's a brilliant balance and I can highly recommend it!!

Original poster

Ifyoureoffering · 07/10/2023 13:54

Thank you everyone, some really valid points. It really helps!

OP posts:

Oysterbabe · 07/10/2023 13:58

Long commutes are a no from me, what a waste of your time.

AnotherEmma · 07/10/2023 14:03

What's your current role, how long is the commute and do you enjoy it enough to make the commute worth it? Can you do any of it from home?

What's the potential term time only role, will it interest you, and will you enjoy spending all the holidays with your kids?

I think it's very personal, my preference is to work 4 days a week all year round (but not a long commute). It does make childcare difficult during the school holidays, but to be frank I'd go mad if I had to look after them every day for 6 weeks straight I like the flexibility of being able to take days off during term time while the children are at school/nursery - not that I do it much!

felisha54 · 07/10/2023 14:30

I work TTO and love it. My dc is secondary age but I'm going to keep doing it for a few more years.

Ihadenough22 · 07/10/2023 15:19

One of my friends had 3 children under the age of 7 at one stage. She was in a well paying job but it was stressful and it had a high workload. She went 3 days a week after she had her 1st child.

She heard about a term time only role that she had the qualifications and experience for. She decided to apply for it. Her eldest child was in primary school then.
She said despite earning less it was a good move to term time only and that it made the summer holidays easier. She could still get days off in her role.
She has been in this role over 12 years now.

My advice is that if you have young kids and have a long commute I would consider going term time only if your boss is agreeable to this.
Just be aware that after working a certain number of hours you're entitled to leave pro rata.
So you can still get time off to do things for yourself or the children.
Make sure that work will pay you each week or month rather than pay you only the weeks that you their as makes it easier to budget and pay your own bills.

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 07/10/2023 15:25

There is no way I would ever put myself in sole charge of entertaining a primary age child for 6 straight weeks. I wanted us to use a combination of holiday clubs and relatives (who want to help). I work 4 days year-round.

WessexPrincess · 07/10/2023 20:54

I work TTO, if you can make it work financially go for it. Takes away all the stress and expense of childcare.
You only have to work 6/7 weeks before your next holiday. You get to spend time with your DC, mine are teenagers now and could reasonably look after themselves when they're off, but it's great to be able to spend that time with them. Also let's face it, who doesn't want to leave work in July and not be back till Sept!
I previously did 3 days, which was great when they weren't in school, but once they are, for me having the holidays off worked better

TheChosenTwo · 07/10/2023 21:01

When my youngest went to school I finally went back to work after a long time at home with the dc.
I was TTO and school hours, it worked perfectly in so many ways.
Now they’re older I’ve got a new job and it’s full time. It’s fucking amazing to not have to spend every single day of my holidays with them all 😂😂😂😂 (they are much older now and obviously a lot easier for various reasons!) but my god those 6 weeks are tedious when you and you alone have to fill them.
I’d still not have changed anything, we did have a great time but now I book a day or two during a half term, 4 days over Easter (luckily my work closed completely between Christmas and new year and it doesn’t come out of my annual leave allowance) and take about 3 weeks in the summer. And have some spare days to play with for myself too - it’s blissful!
Take the TTO for now, it’ll save you a fortune in the long run.

Rainbowqueeen · 07/10/2023 21:58

As a parent I think the ideal is a wfh a couple of days a week couple of days in the office role. I’d try and work towards that. So if your current role will allow you to get to that then stick with it. If TTO will then do that. If neither, then either look for something else or think about retraining.

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