What would you do?

[Whatwouldyousayto]

I got a new job in January as an SEN support in school, term time only. When I accepted the job (which I love , and I love the kids and people there) I had a few - 4 - holidays in there term time. The schools round us all have similar but slightly different term times and holidays so my children have a few weeks that differ to the holidays this school has.

When I accepted the job I told them about 3 of the holidays ( holiday one is 1 day, another 4 days and the other a week 5 days ) and that was absolutely fine. They said no problem, they’d honour them
as booked before I started and going forward to only book there holidays which I absolutely will and agree with:

The final holiday number 4 I didn’t mention as I knew I could ring up and move to match the schools holiday a week later: however on ringing up the holiday company it’s £1500 more expensive. We can’t afford/ justify that. It requires 3 days off work. I’m not entitled to parental Leave as I wouldn’t have worked there a year. Bar , saying im sick which I’m reluctant to do as I hate lying and I love where I work and the people , what would you advise to do? Problem is if I ask them and they say no then I can’t go off sick, I morally feel in a conundrum as I can’t lie and wouldn’t want to. I didn’t want to mention holiday 4 as I didn’t want them to think i was taking the mick and I knew I could move it .

The pay will be correct. My salary as a TA is just under £19000 but as others have pointed out it's term time only (and we don't work inset days so that's one week less compared to some support staff). Also a full time job might be considered as 40 hours a week, but unless the OP is doing breakfast or after-school clubs she won't be doing this by the time lunch (30 mins? 1 hour?) is also deducted.

More to an happy with the sensible suggestions but not the posters being purposely cantankerous. There’s so need for it. I feel mumsnet is a place for people to hide behind and be unkind to people asking genuine stuff. Posters launch at OPs and the threads lose all meaning and go off on random tangents- like mine - being questioned on 7 holidays a year, random stuff not on topic!

I love this philosophical response… it’s so true isn’t it- time and work and everything. The time I would need is only 18 hours which is my 3 days (6 hours each day) so to them it’s small but to me it’s a big thing?

The school aren't going to say yes to that. They have to keep it fair for everyone.

OP, if you don’t work every day could you offer to make up the time on days you don’t normally work?

I thought the same thing, but didn't want to get shouted at!

TAs are only paid for 39 (some only 38) weeks per year. £1500 per month take home is not below minimum wage for 39 weeks and normal pay for a TA in the school where I work. Many of our TAs are also on benefits just to make ends meet - they are very underpaid.

...affect 🤦‍♀️

Silly silly me 🤦‍♀️

This

I don't think she is unpleasant.

I think other people are only seeing 7 holidays and thinking, jesus fucking christ love, is this a piss take thread??

What people seem to be missing in the details, is that the 'holidays' were a one day break, a three day break, a five day break. Not sure on others but OP hasn't said she's going on holidays for a week/fortnight. Or that she's paid for every single one because it would appear that she hasn't had to pay for everything from one of her comments.

Jealousy is very ugly.

Fair play to you @Whatwouldyousayto.

I'd show your work the booking for evidence that it was booked before you started your appointment there and say that you realise that you should have mentioned it when you began and are very sorry that you didn't and would you be able to honour the dates?

At worst they can say no.
Then, if I were you I'd move, the booking or let DH go with DC ✌🏼

A one day break? So no overnight stay?
That's not a holiday is it, that's a day out

Why are you making so many assumptions? It was a days holiday from work. It could be attached to a weekend, a bank holiday or a longer school holiday. No?

Quite honestly I haven't made any assumptions.
Someone said that you said the 'holidays' were a one day break and other multiple day breaks.
I then said a one day break wouldn't be a holiday it would be a day out. Which is true.

Sorry but if you’ve had 7 holidays in one year you can afford to pay to move it

Could you move the holiday to next year and it may be cheaper to amend ?

@Whatwouldyousayto when I read you snarky replies and serious expectation that it's no biggie to ask for yet more time off, I wonder how great you really are at your job?
You are SEN support. Which means those children need you on a day to day basis.
The school had a good deal getting a qualified teacher for TA pay but I'd question your commitment when you speak so casually about all the time off you intend to take.
How would you feel if it was your child whose SEN support was away that often?

It's your right to have breaks and holidays. You're not doing anything wrong!!!

I’d be glad they are full time, this is a one off with holidays this year , booked before I took the job on and I’d be glad someone was working with my child (who have severe needs ) and looked after and cared for them well, like a parent would. That’s what I’d care about!

You’d think I’d suggested killing someone by the way some posters are posting 😂 I deeply care for the children I work with and the staff are the most lovely people and I have a conundrum and came for advice and instead it’s become a troll fest. It’s like people think I’ve just decided to take time off a term time job and there’s so much judgment. Makes me sad for the world, why are people, given they are hiding behind the internet, so judgemental and mean.

Is this a fact? Where’s your info from ?

You ask for peoples opinions but clearly don’t really want them , some of your responses are rude so maybe just don’t ask

Totally agree

From 6th April this year, unpaid parental leave becomes a day one right. Not sure of the implications of that in a school setting but might be helpful.

Let’s look at your message- you say sorry if you can afford 7 holidays you can afford to move it; that’s rude! You know nothing about my financial situation. You are making presumptions about my situation with no idea and writing curt comments with no backing or fact behind it.

And you are correct though, I never asked for people’s opinions on how many holidays I have a year or my finances and affordability to move it. So no I’m not interested in that at all; I am mildly amused if anything at the tone this thread went down. I am absolutely not interested in people’s made up hypothetical situations about myself that bare no releveance to what I was asking. I was interested in the lovely helpful responses that some posters gave who were not trolling or hiding behind their keyboards.