Struggling to find work in school hours

56 replies

denialsariver · 06/02/2025 17:54

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.

OP posts:

ElleintheWoods · 06/02/2025 20:45

Would you do admin work? There are fully remote roles available. Or more flexible office hours.

catin8oots · 06/02/2025 21:10

I was lucky I worked in a pub 10-3 for several years

None of the young staff wanted to do the open and they were mostly students so covered the evenings and weekends

gertrudemortimer · 07/02/2025 15:00

School kitchen will be perfect for you if you've already worked in the food industry I'm sure they'll snap your hand off! Search school kitchen jobs on Google along with your location and it will bring something up.

Moonnstars · 07/02/2025 15:13

neverbeenskiing · 06/02/2025 19:21

As someone who works in a leadership role in a school and is involved in the recruitment of TA's....THANK YOU! My heart sinks every time I see a thread like this as I just know there will be multiple posts telling OP to become a TA. I understand that the suggestion is well meaning, but it's misguided. TA's are highly skilled, they are expected to run interventions in things like Speech and Language, SEMH and Fine Motor Skills, and work with children who have experienced significant trauma. They work with our most complex and challenging children. It's a physically and emotionally demanding role. It becomes obvious very quickly when someone has taken the job because they think the hours will be convenient, and they don't tend to last long, which isn't fair on the children.

Our TA's also do not work school hours, they start half an hour before the kids arrive and finish half an hour after they leave, and even if they have kids at the school they are expected to make arrangements as they are there to work not supervise their own children.

I would suggest looking for jobs in school catering or midday supervisor, also some school office roles are actually school hours but you would need admin experience.

Show quote history

I think this really depends on the school.
Many staff where I work have part time hours and the head is aware of what issues people outside of school, including those with children with additional needs, therefore those people take on a more general TA role.
The school can't afford to pay for staff to be in any longer than necessary, so no one starts before the school day (unless they work breakfast club, which they are paid for) and people finish at various points during the day, no one stays after (unless after school club which again they are paid for).

So my point is some schools will be happy to take on the right person.

bowchicawowwow · 07/02/2025 17:01

@CurlyhairedAssassin No - I work 9.15am to 3.15am term time. I'm an HR adviser and aware that I am very very lucky with my hours.

Thrinie · 04/07/2025 17:23

School work is the closest you can get, I'm a widow (current age 42) have no family support, and am now a single mum to a SEN child. I really want to get back to work but I'm finding it impossible and frustrating.

The problem is, even school work doesn't match student hours. For example, my son's school is 8:30-1430 he has school transport and gets picked up at 0720 and home at 15:15.

I'm qualified to be a SEN TA, the problem lies in the fact that the hours of work differ from the hours in school. A job at his school (about 30 mins drive from home) would be an 8am start but a 1515 finish, except on a monday which is 1730. So straight away, with no family to help for those few hours after school, and no flexibility, it's impossible. I started to look into school admins, again, the hours are extended. School cleaners also work after hours, so the only option becomes something like a lunch time caterer. Or so you'd think. I recently discovered through enquiries that most schools now do this through an agency with a zero hour contract, and in some cases the agency has you deliver and serve food, in itself it sounds pretty ideal, but low hours and wage with no guarantee of a shift and increased travel costs, and the possibility of a few hours drive for a few hours money, just doesn't work or balance the books financially.

Maybe I'm just in a bad area.

I also looked into care homes, because an 8-14:00 would be ideal as school transport picks up at 07:30, but they're unwilling to entertain term time, and the wage wouldn't cover childcare, let alone bills.

I'm honestly at a loss now, after two years of sending emails, CVs and enquiries, only to get the same responses of being unable to offer any finish time flexibility. If you do find an avenue, I'd love to know, as maybe it's a path I could explore as well.

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