Any teachers out there with one-off childcare issues? Really need some advice please.

[flowergirl24]

My youngest daughter (aged 3) is in nursery, attached to a private school.

Term ends this Friday- at 12:30 (!) which is obviously half way through my working day.

I teach in the state sector and our agreed plan was that DH covers the 2 weeks until I break up for the holidays and then I take over for the rest of the holidays. He was happy with this (sorted ages ago)

But now he has a new client, and it’s very important to him financially that he works on Friday.

What the heck do I do now? We have no family who can help. No friends as all ours work and don’t live anywhere near our village. I’m panicking about Friday as we’ve both got to work and the nursery shuts at 12:30 (no exceptions- I’ve already asked)

Can you find a 6th former who has finished for the summer to do an afternoon for you?

Could your husband start work early so he’s finished by 12?

Wow. The number of people thinking you can take a child into a school where you are working and responsible for the pupils in your care. So many safeguarding issues around this, for the pupils and the young child.

The suggestion of getting a 6th former to watch the our own child. If something happened or went wrong 🤯
Neither viable options.

husband should be as involved as you in finding a solution. Or you explain the nursery is closed and you have no alternative childcare and need a day or 1/2 a day off. They may make you do it unpaid but I don’t think they can say no.

Ask nursery staff if any of them are available to baby sit.

Ask one of the mums at nursery, even if you don't know them very well if they can pick her up too(and offer one day in the holidays in return).

childminder/babysitter recommendations/search.

Any of your work friends that aren't working that day?

Get your husband to ask around too ; friends, work colleagues etc.

Any teens available that have finished exams and wouldn't mind making some money?

Ask your school anyway, and see what they say. They might accommodate you, unless you plan to take it off as a sick day or emergency leave day.

Although, as the old saying goes, it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, so maybe if they’re generally a decent SLT then maybe they’d overlook it

Don't be so ridiculous.

Are her students supposed to attend evening in the evening instead?

You do realise OP is a teacher right?

When my dd was in nursery several of the staff did casual babysitting outside nursery hours. I'd ask asap if any of them do and get them to have her. Otherwise you need to find another babysitter.

Many moons ago, I worked in a pre school and I did extra babysitting. I would happily have helped out in this situation.

Def worth an ask?!

I would ask the staff at the nursery if they are interested in any additional work and can look after her for the time needed

When my dd was in nursery several of the staff did casual babysitting outside nursery hours. I'd ask asap if any of them do and get them to have her.

and all the others suggesting this,

I expect the staff at this Nursery will still be working that afternoon. It is a Nursery at a Private school that is finishing for the school year - they will probably be having a staff meeting / lunch then be in the rooms clearing up / potentially moving things out for building or decorating work, or for changes for the new academic year, or the 1001 other jobs that will need to be done before term starts in September.

The staff won't be free in the afternoon to pick up 2nd jobs, even if this is one of the Nurseries that don't consider that to be a breach of contract.

Lie and say your daughter has a medical appointment and you need to leave at 12pm.

The simplest solution is to ask one of the mums who will be collecting their own child if they would take yours home with theirs for a couple of hours as a one-off.

Don't call in sick. That's not on at all.
In these sort of situations, I have either asked if one of the nursery staff might look after the DC until I had finished work or asked another mum to help for a little while. I have also taken a child into work on very rare occasions and had another member of staff care for them but this was years ago and I don't know if there would be anyone in your school who might be able to do this.

If it’s anything like the private schools I’ve worked in they’ll be having an end of term staff lunch for those leaving/retiring. It will not be compulsory and the staff may well prefer to take the little girl out for a picnic and a play in the park and earn £50. I know I would have. She should definitely ask, they can only say no!

My husband and I are in this situation too and you just get by somehow... It's very stressful. We in fact have a similar thing this week but he has picked up my slack a lot in the last 18 months so I'm going to have to do my share. There's not much that can be done really and if you have a good track record with work hopefully they will be understanding. By the sounds of it it is one afternoon in this instance? As teachers I think it is mad that we often worry and put other people's children before our own 🤦‍♀️

This or call in sick. If your slt are really this inflexible and unapproachable then you have no choice but to. We would get time off for this. It's a once in a year event.

Do not do this. They will ask for proof most likely. I imagine the is gross misconduct.

DH and I are both teachers, so this comes up for us quite often.

Playdate is usually the best way forwards. Is there a whatsapp group? We fling ourselves on the mercy of other parents to cover this/INSED and make sure we are generous with returning the favour during school holidays.

Otherwise ask if anyone is willing to give the contact details for their nanny/childminder/baby sitter to do a one-off.

Failing that, my colleagues have paid sixth formers for occasional baby sitting. Bit complicated as only upper sixth would be able to drive for pick-up, and many of them would be off partying. But if you had a good relationship with one and can pay a semi decent rate....

You'll be fine. The key is to not be enbarassed about asking for a favour and make sure the it is clear that you will pay/reciprocate as appropriate.

1. Try to find a play-date, a childminder or emergency childcare.
2. If that fails ask the head for the afternoon off - explaining the predicament.
3. If they say no then try again with step 1
4. If that fails then tell your head the childcare's fallen through and it's now an emergency - and you have to take carer's leave (which they have to give you).

That way you've done your best, you've warned the school as much as possible and you've been honest (ok by step 4 you may or may not have to bend the truth a little).

Could also ask your union rep for advice? I don't know how that works as I work in a non unionised sector, but I understand most / all teachers are part of a union.

To all the ppl hear asking about her husband, OP has not said he's not trying to solve this too - it should be a team effort. Sadly financially it's highly likely his job is "more important" than a teacher's, or at least it's likely to be less secure than a teachers - either way criticising him is unlikely to help OP (other than solidarity / sympathy I guess).

Maybe it's best to talk to the deputy head or whoever does cover at school and work out what your options are. When I was at secondary school one of my teachers did once have her child with her (polling day or strike or something). I've never known this happen in schools I've taught in, but I have had colleagues with their children at Parents' Evening (in the staff room or in a corner of the hall).

Assuming you are able to collect your child at some point in a break/free, do you have any colleagues you are friendly with who are free at the times you are teaching? I know it can't be done in a classroom with you, but could she sit supervised in the staff room (with an iPad/similar, so that colleagues can work)? Might that be permitted?

It's your husband's problem to sort. He can find alternative care, reschedule the appointment or take the child to the appointment.

Can DH work Friday morning, see client, then pick up at lunchtime?

Does she not have any friends at the same nursery whose parents could mind her for a few hours? I'd do it for someone in need.

What childcare do your friends use? Is it childminder? If yes could she go with them just for the day?

That's assuming you can't get a key worker to look after her which would be my first port of call.

You don't have a childcare problem, you have a DH problem.

My previous primary school did it occasionally for staff members, except we'd put the staff child in the appropriate aged year group. Was never an issue, only on the occasional training days that didn't align across schools.

He agreed to it, so if he's going back on it it's his problem to fix!