To want one child-free day where I can do something for me?

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I tutor term-time only but have a 6 yo of my own. No pay in school holidays so very limited re holidays and days out.
AIBU to want just one child-free day? Or even afternoon? Or am I being selfish in wanting that little break?

@Easilyforgotten It is very precarious, but that is the way the LA operate. Hence why not many teachers choose to go into EOTAS and why there are often very long waiting lists for children who are at home with no education waiting for tutors. Job security is not there really.
A good friend of mine, also an experienced teacher, ventured out into EOTAS a while back and also loved it and made a massive positve impact, but had to give it up and go back doing something she was far less keen on doing simply because of the terrible pay.
Goodness knows what would happen if I was ever sick.

You're not unreasonable to want that.

Is there an option to put your child into a day camp for a single day?

I work at one of the "higher end" summer camp options, and that's around £50 for 9-5. There are plenty of cheaper options around.

You could pick up other work over the holidays if you wanted to. Some DC with EOTAS/EOTIS have provision that continues outside of term time. Or some EHE DC have tuition continue during the holidays. Some schooled DC have tuition over the holidays.

There are better paid EOTAS/EOTIS tutor positions out there for good tutors.

Good packages also include travel time.

Not all EOTAS positions are commissions in the way you describe. If you want different T&Cs, you could look for roles that are commissioned in a different way. For example, you could look for a self-employed role that is funded via direct payments, or you could look for an employed role, or even if commissioned directly by the LA, you could look for a truly self-employed role where you set the T&Cs including cancellation policy.

This is what I meant. You might say 'they all operate like that' but they are unfairly exploiting you, cherry picking the T&Cs to their advantage. However, this is something the government has pledged to change:

Record number relying on zero-hours contracts despite crackdown plans | ITV News

@inthequietofdawn I don't have the confidence or acumen to go self-employed. Also want the guarantee of cover via agency if something happened. They've been excellent in ensuring parents adhere to policies etc. For example, another adult present at all times. I don't want to risk moving away from that.

Even if you want an agency job, there are agency positions that pay better for good tutors.

It isn’t the parent’s responsibility to ensure there is another adult present. It is the LA’s duty.

@inthequietofdawn I don't mind who it is - as long as one is present. In our county the LA hold the contract for nearly all EOTAS referrals and I don't want to work privately as won't have the same protections.

There will be DC with EOTAS/EOTIS/C in your area who don’t have the LA commission provision via the one agency you currently work for. The LA may not be open about this, but it will be the case.

@inthequietofdawn I've looked into it, but here the LA seem to have pretty much exclusivity with the one agency - I have even approached them directly. But will keep an eye out...

There will be other roles available. LAs often like to portray that 99.9% of provision is via a certain provider or a small select number of approved providers, but LAs lie. It isn’t the case in any LA.

@inthequietofdawn How does one find this out?

Often via word of mouth from parents of DC with EOTAS/EOTIS.

@inthequietofdawn Not sure how I'd find them though? As obviously the ones I am working with already have provision through the agency that employ me?

You can find the EOTAS/EOTIS community by asking around. Some of those you already tutor for may be in contact with the wider community. Some may know of other providers even if they receive your tutoring. Some (anyone with a good package) may also have other provision as well as the tutoring you provide. Not a comment on your ability, but IME/IMO it is easier for good and experienced tutors to find parents because people are more willing to pass information on.

You could also find the EOTAS/EOTIS community on social media e.g. many LAs have EOTAS Facebook groups and there are some national EOTAS facebook groups - although you should check before joining because some are only for parents, not professionals/providers.

@inthequietofdawn Yes as long as it through a reputatable agency it would work. I wouldn't want to do online - very much prefer f2f.

I really do understand that you love the work but there is something fundamentally unfair about those terms and conditions. More than once I have found myself slightly brainwashed into remaining in roles that really weren’t paying me what I was worth. You know how it goes: the clients are lovely, your manager is lovely…but is it really worth my staying? But perhaps the rewards come in other forms, as you have described.

Why not take on even an hour or two of mainstream tutoring? You could do it with your eyes closed and it could be put towards the holiday periods.

@BadSkiingMum I've looked into tutoring mainstream e.g. over holidays/evenings, but there doesn't seem to be the demand? Especially for primary.
The other difficulty is anyone can advertise themselves as a tutor. For example, we have a ln 18 yo in the village who offers GCSE tuition and is much cheaper than I am as she obviously doesn't have QTS.

Are there any grammar schools near you? There is a lot of demand for 11+ tutoring where I am and some 'keen' parents start this in year 4!

@Moonnstarz That's a good idea, but they would probably want someone cheaper than me if it's just for 11+? Perhaps I'm too expensive at £32 ph?
No grammar schools near me, but some private ones.

You might need to do some group sessions as that would be too much, the groups near me are around £25. But I guess if 1:1 then you can charge more.
Some also do a summer holiday crash course, think that is 3 mornings in a row for £150!

@Moonnstarz Yes it would have to be private - just checked and no grammar schools at all in county! I certainly never did the 11+ as there was never a grammar option and my parents couldn't have afforded private.

Honestly, just start advertising yourself on FB and emphasise your qualifications and experience. Somebody will bite.

Literacy, numeracy, even spelling and handwriting might be of interest to parents.

The eighteen-year-old will do it for a while and then move on with her life. She is unlikely to be serious competition.

Sorry not read whole thread - but in future summers, if you previously taught secondary you could do some exam marking, and put the money away for holiday clubs for your little one plus nice days out for you. I do it and it’s a bit manic on top of teaching FT, but only for a few weeks, then I see the money (around £1500) as my ‘treat money’. The paper I mark has a deadline before summer holidays, so marking doesn’t cut into holiday time.

@Drivingselfmad I've only ever taught mainstream primary. Would it still work?

There is loads of demand for primary tutoring. If you have experience of high needs SEN I reckon you’d be particularly in demand for parents with lower level SEN. I’ve got friends who are spending a fortune on specialist dyslexia tutors. I also don’t think you’d be too expensive at £32 an hour. Going rate for music lessons seems to be £25 for half an hour now. I’d be expecting £40-50 for a tutor in my county. It doesn’t really matter if your competition is an unqualified 18 year old. I would never use that type of tutor for my own kids. My nephew did tutoring at that age and I always wondered who the hell was hiring him (it seemed quite lucrative).