Any term-time workers out there for advice?

[CharlieBoff]

And if there are, is it worth it? Am currently in a job I really enjoy and am good at but pay is not great. I’ve been offered a term-time job where the pay is marginally better but the real bonus is term-time working. We spend a small fortune every summer putting DC’s into various holiday clubs/sending them to relatives which they don’t really enjoy, and I HATE all the bloody organisation and faff that goes with every single holiday.

Is all that lovely holiday with DC’s going to be worth risking a job I truly enjoy?

Personally I absolutely love having the holidays off with my kids. We are away for most of the summer - eg camping in my cousin's garden, camping in my nans garden, staying with mum. Trips to the beach, the local stream. We don't spend much but we have a blast.

I don't even have children and I love my term time job.

Every 5/6 weeks I get a week or two off

Counting down to summer hols now.

It's annualised hours so it's still FTE but obviously my workday is a bit longer to account for it. Is your new job annualised hours (so you still get FT pay?)

I think I’m going to have to check that because I’m not sure? I don’t think so, as I haven’t seen anything saying that or heard anyone mention it? It just says term-time only contract? So I understand it to be the full time salary pro-rata for the 39 weeks of the term?

I do find myself completely knackered, so honestly the idea of a week off every 5-6 weeks sounds like bliss!

If you can afford it - term time jobs are the best.
My kids are all adults now but it's great as there is always time off on the horizon.
Consider the impact on your pension contributions though aswell as the salary.

Go for it!

It’ll make a huge difference!
I’m looking for a new job and have seen some I’d love that are all year round but I’m putting those on hold until the kids are older as the holidays - being with my kids and saving a fortune on childcare are just too good to give up at the moment.

I’m saying this at my worst and at almost burnout but being term time is the priority at the moment.

It's great, loved it when mine were school age, the 'schools out' vibe was amazing!
They are in their 20's now and I still relish being off every 6/7 weeks😀

Be aware that your school holidays might differ from your DCs too. We have different weeks in October, a few days different at Christmas etc this year.

I love working term time. I've loved being off work every school hols with my kids. Now they are getting older I'm starting to feel like I should be looking for a year round job but the holidays are just so lovely I dont wanna 🤣

What’s the job?

I would be very cautious leaving a job I love!

Is it pro rata as well? Especially in schools, this tend to be pro rata’d down twice-once for hours and then again for weeks, so the take home is pitiful.

Yes, it is pro-rata - how would I work out if it’s been pro-rata’d twice then? It’s full-time hours but only term-time working if that helps?

Thank you for this! I reckon it is going to be very full-on, but my DC’s were so bloody excited when I told them that it kind of became a no brainer!