Struggling to find work in school hours

[denialsariver]

Any suggestions?

I have a little boy with autism and special needs. He attends mainstream school 8.30-3.15 through the week but there are no suitable wraparound care options as he requires 1-to-1 support. We’ve just moved house. In my previous town I worked at McDonalds and was able to easily do a few shifts every week during school hours. I’ve tried the McDs in my new town (tbh I assumed I’d be able to just easily transfer to them!) but they have different busy periods and peak times and only require evening and weekend help :(

Absolutely nowhere seems to have work that accommodates the hours I can do. Even busy supermarkets are needing more flexibility and availability than i can offer.

I’ve only really trawled online but wondered if anyone has any advice or suggestions, maybe I need to think outside the box a bit? I’m not too fussy about what sort of work. I’m claiming carers allowance in the meantime but would rather work for my own sanity and the fact that it works out better financially.

Are you a single parent OP?

I spent 20 years looking for work in term time and then gave up.

I think only work in a school provides this.

You could go self-employed as a cleaner. Good money and you can get through a couple of houses in school hours.

Work at a school is going to be your only other choice really, but the pay is shit and the competition is fierce.

PS. McDonald's is mostly run as a franchise; that's why you couldn't transfer. They were two completely independent businesses who have both bought into the McDs name and way of working.

Could you work as a teaching assistant at your sons school? That's what lots of single mums i know did and worked really well. They were able to bring kid into classroom early before their shift without paying for wrap around care but obviously that depends on each school.

Dog walking? Lunchtime supervisor at a school? Care work?

Teaching assistant
Lunch time assistant
Cleaning (check local hotels, holiday parks)
Care work (though this might be shifts so not sure)
Libraries maybe?
Community based cafes

Look at job vacancies at the Local Authority. You can request to be considered for part time even when the job is advertised as full time. The right role will let you work flexibly through the week.
I've just recruited 2 x PT for an admin role in my service, and I'm happy for both to work flexibly as it is not a customer facing or customer service role. I'd rather recruit the right person to the role, have them settled, happy, and stay with me rather than impose restrictions and lose good staff.

Have you tried the civil service? I work school hours and have colleagues that work term time.

If he needs one to one for after school carer speak to ss children with disabilities team and apply for funding for this
Does he have ehcp?

How old is he??

Care work requires staff to also work early morning, evenings, and week-ends.

Anyone coming in asking to work Monday-Friday 9am to 2.30pm gets laughed at.

Is there a university nearby? You could look for work as a note taker for a disabled student.

Look for housekeeping roles in private homes too. Many do school hours.

Also check out hotels for chamber maid jobs.

Cleaner for a pub? That's often done in the morning.

Our local Tesco now does term time only jobs that are 9am til 3am and pay better than being a TA, so we keep losing TAs to them!

It's often worth asking, even if the job isn't advertised as school hours. Lots will be flexible for the right person.

Is your sons' father on the scene or are you a single parent?

Do you have any specific skills/experience/training? Yes, I know caring for a disabled child and customer services/food but anything else?

A friend does proof reading from home. I know he did a brief course, which then led to other work. As a sideline, he proof reads secondary and uni papers in his own time.

Do you have any hobbies you could expand on? Another friend crochets tiny animals and sells online. No, she can't retire, but it makes some extra cash.

It’s the same franchise they just don’t have the hours I need :( previous one was situated near a huge college so there was always very busy periods during the term time weekdays. I hadn’t really thought about the fact that this doesn’t apply to all McDs restaurants!

Yes I looked at care homes in my area and found this.

Thanks for the advice, will see if any cleaning jobs can offer the flexibility and try and contact places directly about school-time hours 😬

Could you look, in the first instance, for volunteering? At least for your own wellbeing while you job hunt.

Your local library / charity shop / any social enterprises in the area.

A teaching assistant role is not a part time job for a mum who wants an easy role and attached childcare ffs

Self employed cleaning
What about DC father? Its much easier to work more when both parents do their share of childcare pick ups etc. Eg if your DH could drop to school you could do early shifts somewhere 7 - 3 etc

I do support work during school hours. Zero hours contract and I can pick and choose when and what hours I work.

See if there’s any local private nurseries - ours has someone who covers from about 10:30-2:00 for staff lunch break covers.

Schools might need midday staff, playground or lunch supervision roles.

Or if you could go self employed cleaning, dog walking etc you could set your own schedule.

Are there air b and ba nearby as they need changeover staff in those hours.

School admin? My circumstances are very similar to you and I work in a fairly senior role school office based role term time only

Remote admin and secretarial? That covers every morning at least. Lots of medical secretary type jobs and similar.

Would being part of a school catering team work? as you must have all the food hygiene and customer service from mcds. They call them catering assistants here so if you are searching dinner lady the jobs don't come up.