Page 3 | To hate working term time?

Thegrassroots26 · 2025-08-19T16:11:22+00:00

My children are teenagers now and I have always found the holidays hard and draining as a term time worker. Yes, you don’t need to worry about childcare, but you aren’t paid for the holidays (support staff) and it’s just endless - kids at work/ kids at home. There’s never a break from your own kids or someone else’s. I am trying to find a full time job, but wondered if anyone else has similar struggles in this area. The switch in pace from weeks of tumble weed and to hundred mile an hour term time is also brutal!

Thefuture2025 · 20/08/2025 07:34

Yes, people used to be clambering for TTO jobs but it's not been this way for years, as I don't think it's financially viable for many families now. I was a manager and recruitment was a nightmare.

Original poster

Thegrassroots26 · 20/08/2025 07:34

Catsandcwtches · 20/08/2025 07:01

I’m trying to understand why you are bored if your kids are able to be left home alone? Couldn’t you go out and do your own thing? A nice walk or a hobby or catching up with friends?

I’m a divorced mum of teens and moved to a new area pre pandemic where I don’t know many people, so forgive me if I am a bit bored and lost and don’t know how to fill my time. I’ve joined the leisure centre and I do try to motivate myself. It’s hard though. I don’t have bags of cash to run about buying £4 coffees and spending dosh and there’s only so much fun to be had doing stuff on your own. See also: loneliness epidemic and technology replacing human relationships these days

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Thefuture2025 · 20/08/2025 07:36

Same as, op, new area. Not a lot of friends round here. Even back home most people were working or spending their AL on actual holidays.

Original poster

Thegrassroots26 · 20/08/2025 07:36

Thefuture2025 · 20/08/2025 07:34

Yes, people used to be clambering for TTO jobs but it's not been this way for years, as I don't think it's financially viable for many families now. I was a manager and recruitment was a nightmare.

Agreed. Our school struggle to fill the roles or get people who want to stay. For all the many reasons mentioned on this thread it is easy to see why.

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Shoecamp · 20/08/2025 07:43

NeverDropYourMooncup · 20/08/2025 07:19

Dunno. But I've worked every school holiday (on my way to work now, actually) and never had more than 6 days off in a go except for when my sister died due to the things that have to be done over periods of closure. Still not paid full time, even though my actual leave is restricted to about three days at a time that are not of my choosing.

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So you are TTO but work every school holiday? What’s going on there?? Why is that happening?

1AngelicFruitCake · 20/08/2025 08:09

Thegrassroots26 · 19/08/2025 19:30

As a teacher I would think it’s slightly different. The pay is much better and you’re paid all year. Also the intensity means you probably couldn’t survive the 39 without the holidays. It’s a tough sector to work in. Kids just have more issues than ever and the system doesn’t work for many of them.

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Sorry I was just thinking out loud a bit! Completely agree, for teachers our pay makes it worth it. There seem to be two types of TA at my school - ones who do it but it doesn’t matter pay is low as husbands earn a lot or those that are massively struggling financially and there don’t seem to be many in between.

A good TA is worth so much but it’s a less appealing job these days for what you do and the money you’re paid. I remember working with a woman who’d come to education late and announced I’ll be a ta for a bit, ease myself in then go and be a teacher. She probably lasted six months as a TA and left. She had no idea how hard it is in schools!

GreenAndWhiteStripes · 20/08/2025 09:07

BuzzYourGirlfriendWooof · 19/08/2025 18:13

Term time worker here too, but mine are primary aged so it works for us presently.

Genuinely interested to know what your teens do all day if they don’t want to do activities? Mine are end of primary, so we’re definitely veering into that territory, but my mum guilt is off the charts when we have a day at home (this is an on going issue that I need to work on generally), so if I could be more prepared to accept what sort of things older children do during the holidays, I think that would help in the future and maybe I start thinking about a full time job as the pay is shit.

I have teens, this summer felt really different as I'm used to thinking of how to fill their time with days out, play dates etc and this summer they just sorted it all out themselves! We had two days out meeting up with old friends that I organised. Apart from that they: played cricket, met their friends, went to the gym, worked in summer jobs, did some school work (exam years next year) and chilled out at home.

Catsandcwtches · 20/08/2025 10:36

Thegrassroots26 · 20/08/2025 07:34

I’m a divorced mum of teens and moved to a new area pre pandemic where I don’t know many people, so forgive me if I am a bit bored and lost and don’t know how to fill my time. I’ve joined the leisure centre and I do try to motivate myself. It’s hard though. I don’t have bags of cash to run about buying £4 coffees and spending dosh and there’s only so much fun to be had doing stuff on your own. See also: loneliness epidemic and technology replacing human relationships these days

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@Thegrassroots26 I see... I think for most people having free time is preferable to working, maybe try to see it that way. Do you like reading? That can be a cheap hobby, especially if you have a local library. I can happily spend hours reading each day and would if my kids would let me!

Mydadsbirthday · 20/08/2025 10:59

This thread is really interesting, I work full time in the city and I have always felt so bad at not being able to take all the holidays off to be with my DC.

They're teens now so like many of you I'm a bit redundant now but when they were little I did feel bad about sending them off to holidays clubs etc, although they did enjoy those and we are lucky enough to have willing grandparents and extended family around so they have always spent a lot of time with them and with cousins etc during the holidays which they love.

This thread is making me realise that the grass is not always greener!

I have also taken a few bouts of parental leave so I have spent a few full summers off with them and I do remember it being hard work and a long time to fill but I did love it. And I did work part time when they were little so it wasn't all bad. Now I can WFH quite a bit so can be around to give lifts etc. and I guess working FT means I can afford nice holidays and pricey activities like sailing camps etc that they want to do.

changedwoman123 · 20/08/2025 11:06

I am actually shocked at your misery and moaning at such privilege. Look around you - spend your boring time reading some world news. Do some volunteering. Goodness me.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 20/08/2025 12:10

Shoecamp · 20/08/2025 07:43

So you are TTO but work every school holiday? What’s going on there?? Why is that happening?

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Things like exams, data, admissions, finance, site, lettings, timetabling, academic promotion, remark requests, updating revised grades, analysing trends, DfE downloads, creating marks marksheets for assessments, free school meals admin, holiday scheme vouchers, assorted returns, new staff, IT and the like all require support staff present during closure periods in order to meet deadlines. Even just setting up a new academic year on the various systems and importing, then processing, then allocating to forms requires a lot of server time and processing power that means it can't be done during termtime without causing the system to crash.

In short, whilst it might sound like a whole summer holiday free, it's really not. But schools don't like to give year round contracts, as they would mean paying more and allowing holiday during termtime.

Original poster

Thegrassroots26 · 20/08/2025 12:13

changedwoman123 · 20/08/2025 11:06

I am actually shocked at your misery and moaning at such privilege. Look around you - spend your boring time reading some world news. Do some volunteering. Goodness me.

😂 ok then… have a great day 👍 you sound like a little ray of sunshine also.

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ByQuaintAzureWasp · 20/08/2025 12:15

Thegrassroots26 · 19/08/2025 17:24

Yeah the older they get, the more of a spare part I’m feeling! I just seem to hang around and facilitate their social lives and act as a taxi service.
Why would you not work full time?
We also get paid monthly but still only for 39 weeks and the pay is rubbish, hence why I’m hoping to leave.
I’m divorced so don’t have any adult company at home and this is hard too working in a job that you don’t get much adult contact either.

You don't only get paid for 39 weeks as you get paid holiday pay on top.

Original poster

Thegrassroots26 · 20/08/2025 12:26

Yes. Still terrible pay for what you do day in and out though. I know all jobs have their positives and negatives. I’m applying for other roles so hopefully I can escape the education system.

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Original poster

Thegrassroots26 · 20/08/2025 12:27

After I’ve finished reading world news and volunteering of course - because being bored is apparently a crime.

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hmmnotreallysure · 20/08/2025 12:43

I'm in a similar situation op. This is the second year that I've felt redundant in the holidays. I'm also thinking of leaving my support staff role in a school as a) I hate the fact that I don't get paid in the holidays b) it's such an exhausting role that I need the holidays to have a break from it (then always subsequently get ill as I've been running on adrenaline and c) I hate that holidays are ridiculously expensive and we can't afford to go anywhere!
I find that the 6 weeks off are just too long now and I need more of a routine if I'm not having to entertain the dcs anymore.

Nextdoormat · 20/08/2025 12:51

Look at jobs in FE quite a lot are all year if not teaching, summer can be busy with enrolments etc. Also no younger kids but young adults and more adults. I love it lots of you skills could be transferred sand we get Xmas off!

Original poster

Thegrassroots26 · 20/08/2025 13:00

hmmnotreallysure · 20/08/2025 12:43

I'm in a similar situation op. This is the second year that I've felt redundant in the holidays. I'm also thinking of leaving my support staff role in a school as a) I hate the fact that I don't get paid in the holidays b) it's such an exhausting role that I need the holidays to have a break from it (then always subsequently get ill as I've been running on adrenaline and c) I hate that holidays are ridiculously expensive and we can't afford to go anywhere!
I find that the 6 weeks off are just too long now and I need more of a routine if I'm not having to entertain the dcs anymore.

Yeah I agree with all of that too. I got very sick in October last year and I’m scared of that happening again. I’ve already booked a flu jab as a pre-emptive strike. I don’t think you can understand the intensity and exhaustion of working with kids until you do it.

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Shoecamp · 20/08/2025 13:17

NeverDropYourMooncup · 20/08/2025 12:10

Things like exams, data, admissions, finance, site, lettings, timetabling, academic promotion, remark requests, updating revised grades, analysing trends, DfE downloads, creating marks marksheets for assessments, free school meals admin, holiday scheme vouchers, assorted returns, new staff, IT and the like all require support staff present during closure periods in order to meet deadlines. Even just setting up a new academic year on the various systems and importing, then processing, then allocating to forms requires a lot of server time and processing power that means it can't be done during termtime without causing the system to crash.

In short, whilst it might sound like a whole summer holiday free, it's really not. But schools don't like to give year round contracts, as they would mean paying more and allowing holiday during termtime.

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That’s not fair though, if you’re on a tto contract then you shouldn’t have to be working in the school holidays. Sounds unlawful to me

Willquery123 · 20/08/2025 13:56

The pension is really good...

Dominoeffecter · 20/08/2025 16:59

changedwoman123 · 20/08/2025 11:06

I am actually shocked at your misery and moaning at such privilege. Look around you - spend your boring time reading some world news. Do some volunteering. Goodness me.

Eurgh 🤮

stayathomer · 20/08/2025 17:02

Opposite problem op, I worked for the whole summer holidays and so we had no holiday this year, also worked opposite dh so got about three days together as a family. Would not recommend

Original poster

Thegrassroots26 · 20/08/2025 17:26

stayathomer · 20/08/2025 17:02

Opposite problem op, I worked for the whole summer holidays and so we had no holiday this year, also worked opposite dh so got about three days together as a family. Would not recommend

Feels like there’s no winners in the game of motherhood sometimes!

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bathroomadviceneeded · 20/08/2025 17:38

I was just talking to my DH about this. I’m a teacher with 3 very young DC, and I can’t decide which is more exhausting - working with teenagers all day, or being home with my DC all day! I love them to death, but my goodness it’s so much work!

I can’t help but envy you having teenagers. I know I’ll get there and miss these little years, but the toddler+baby combo plus a 7-year-old has been a challenge this summer.

My best friend is also a teacher but has 4 older DC. She always books them into some sporting activity in the morning, and then they hang out together at home in the afternoons. She finds that has been the best balance for her, even if the sport activities are expensive. She goes to the gym/gets a coffee in the morning, then it’s lunch together and DC do their own thing in the afternoon.

Original poster

Thegrassroots26 · 20/08/2025 18:36

bathroomadviceneeded · 20/08/2025 17:38

I was just talking to my DH about this. I’m a teacher with 3 very young DC, and I can’t decide which is more exhausting - working with teenagers all day, or being home with my DC all day! I love them to death, but my goodness it’s so much work!

I can’t help but envy you having teenagers. I know I’ll get there and miss these little years, but the toddler+baby combo plus a 7-year-old has been a challenge this summer.

My best friend is also a teacher but has 4 older DC. She always books them into some sporting activity in the morning, and then they hang out together at home in the afternoons. She finds that has been the best balance for her, even if the sport activities are expensive. She goes to the gym/gets a coffee in the morning, then it’s lunch together and DC do their own thing in the afternoon.

It’s very tough when they are young so I feel your pain! I also work in a secondary - in many ways other people’s kids are easier than your own! Your own will push your buttons more and you have that emotional bond for better and sometimes worse…

That said, teenagers are exhausting on another level I think. I’ve just spent so much time dropping them off and picking them
up and facilitating their social lives. It’s absolutely draining, even though it sounds like it shouldn’t be. I think I’m not 100 % well at the moment which is not helping.

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