Childcare and teaching

[Aaliah1234]

Hi all

I am teacher and last year I was an NQT. I want to go back to work when my mat leave ends in July but been looking around at childcare and it seems almost impossible. I am on MPS2 and thinking of going 3 days part time. I've told the head at my school and he said to make a decision and inform school by mid feb.

How are other teachers paying for childcare?

What age are dc? Nursery years are crippling, financially, but it’s more manageable now they are at school. We also don’t have holiday care to pay for!

My baby is only 6 months. He will be one by the time I go back.

A childminder may be happy to take a baby for term-time only sessions. That is probably your best option to look at.

See if there are any nurseries locally that are attached to a school. My LO is going to one of those when I go back and because of that I only have to pay for term time hours but it is split over the 12 months, which makes it much more affordable.

Our nursery offers term time only with the option of additional hours in the holiday.

My biggest problem with childcare is my school won’t tell me until July which days I am working the following academic year and over the two week timetable I work different days. But that it probably just my school

No chaos, not just your school!

I have a couple of teacher clients and they don't get their days until July. I've had to end contracts because I can't accommodate day changes.

I'm in the same situation with days changing and finding out in July.

Thanks all. With PT work do you think it's affordable?

Who works full time? How does that work. Could you tell me roughly how much it might leave me at the end of month. Sorry I don't want to know anyone's salary but just a rough idea. I'm in an awful situation at home so really don't want to stay home next year.

Does it have an impact on the child's development particularly if they are not home from the age of 1. I feel like my baby might not have a proper bond with me. I know that sounds awful but it's my first baby and really would like some input. Thank you.

There is someone who is willing to look after baby for £8ph. Is that too much?

Two kids in nursery while teaching- barely made any money. But paid into pension and climbed up pay scale. It's for a short while. Part time. Used a nursery, so ended up paying over the holidays too- but it's tricky to get round that.

I went back after maternity leave asking for 3 days a week. In reality my hours were split over 5 days. I had to pay for full time child care for a part time wage so in my case it wasn't worth it. This was many moons ago and child care bills were certainly more than our mortgage. I gave up faffing around with part time hours and joined a different profession altogether.

Oh, and please don't worry about justifying going back. Your child will be absolutely fine! You'll have the holidays together- more than other jobs will get.

Wanted to offer some reassurance here. Teacher here and I went back to work when both of mine were just 6 months old. They went to a childminder (the same one for both) who was/is fab. I chose a childminder because it was a home from home environment. They both have a fabulous bond with her, she has been like a second mum to them. It has not affected them developmentally one little bit and, actually, socially, it helped when it came to schooling etc as they were used to being away from me. Even now the 15yr old teen boy will go and see her for a chat over a cup of tea of his own volition.

It is never easy leaving them so young but with the right person they will thrive.

Costs wise, financially it is very very difficult when they are young but it is worth it in the long run. And it does get better when they get 3yr funding and also when they go to school. I have just one more year before DD goes to secondary and at that point I will be childcare free!!!

My problem with childcare is my school won’t tell me until July which days I am working the following academic year and over the two week timetable I work different days. Our nursery offers term time only with the option of additional hours in the holiday...

There are some primary schools with on site nurseries. Depending where you are located you might find one of those. They don't open in school holidays which keeps costs down, as many nurseries charge year round regardless of what you need (and have to as you're blocking a slot even if not sending your child).

You might find a childminder with their own children also prepared to mind and change term time only.

Costs vary geographically - get on the phone and phone lots of childminders and nurseries and ask for their rates and t&cs (don't forget they won't all include the same things- check whether prices include food, nappies, trips or not before discounting one that looks expensive).

If you choose a good provider it won't affect your bond. Working full time will be hard because you'll have to do all your preparation and marking when your child is in bed though. 4 days would allow you to do most of that on the 5th day if you use 5 days of childcare and enjoy being with your child in the evening and at weekends, without driving yourself into a state of intense sleep deprivation.

My situation was like scurry and Linda - school had a two week timetable and refused to even try to give me 3 days per week - I was in school 9 days out of ten but paid for a 3 day week. Obviously had to pay full time childcare as my day off wasn't every week. I was then always assigned cover lessons when on site, even though I wasn't being paid, so only had one day clear per fortnight to do preparation and marking instead of a day per week for that and a day per week with my child, as I'd hoped "3 days per week" would mean.

If you get offered a bum deal like that don't bite to try to be helpful. In the end I only went back long enough to avoid paying back maternity pay and registered as a childminder myself, which actually left me better off and was much nicer!

Evelyn - I was given a timetable Rilke that once- in every day for 3 days a week worth of hours. Loads of trapped time, and needing childcare full time- ridiculous. I asked them if they really thought it was reasonable and we managed to make enough changes for it to work. I probably would have asked the unions for help if it had not been resolve.

I did question it graffiti but was told it was "for the children" and classes Must Not be Split between teachers (secondary, core subject so lessons 4 days per week for every class). Obviously I wasn't given any top sets either, although mine had done very well the year before... My school had only one other part time teacher, and one other mother with preschool children teaching (not the same teacher) and the head was a misogynistic bully (said all the right things in meetings/ in front of witnesses, told me in the corridor that I should think hard about where my loyalties were and either come back full time or leave "and be a mum", as part time teachers are not committed to the school).

I might put more effort into fighting it nowadays, but it was well over a decade ago and I've long since left teaching.

I went back full time as a head of department both times when my sons were 6 months. I found an amazing childminder for three days, term time only contract, splitting the payments equally over 12 months. DS1 went to nursery when he was older for extra socialisation etc. But the home environment of a childminder is lovely when they are smaller. And much more flexible and accommodating. MIL and DH do the other two days.

Please don’t worry about a bond! Both my boys are so close to me. We have a lovely time in the evening, on weekends and holidays. It makes that time even more special

Ive had numerous babies from 6 months old over the years the worry mum will loose the bond and it will go to the new carer is really common but doe snot happen baby knows who mum is and that bond is always strong, as a cm I get a strong bond to the children too but not the same as mummies. The children often come full time from 7am to 6pm 5 days a week so its nice for them to have someone who knows them well. Typically they stay right through to starting senior school sometimes longer.
In my area of London the rate is £4 to £5 an hour and contracts for term time only are available often with an option to spread payments over the year.
Their is the flexibility to cover extra hours like parents evenings,
If your days change their is flexibility for cm's to continue with your child if they risk assess and can provide the same quality of care under the continuity of care part of the EYFS.
Child-minders work to the same standards and often have the same qualifications or higher than that required to be a nursery manager. They can accept the same tax schemes as other settings and funded places.

Gosh Evelyn that's awful. Makes a massive difference to work for someone who "gets it".
I'd also been there a long time which helps. Sorry you had a crap experience.

I am a childminder . Primary is easier than secondary to accommodate due to 3 week timetables in secondary but love term time contracts as it gives me more time with my Ds.

The cost of childcare sounds expensive . My advice go visit a few childminders , nursery see what is right for you. Ask about term time hours ask about flexibility .

I have done extra hours when teachers have parents evening . Do you have a support system for that . Will someone be able to care for little one after closing time

I've had a look at a few childminders. Although it's still expensive and would leave me little at the end of the month, I think it's still better for me to work both financially and mentally. I don't even know if the head would accept a three day request but I'll give it a shot. I don't want to go full time as I have loads of responsibility at home so I think that would drain me physically and Would leave little time for spending with baby.

Are the rates for nurseries the same as childminders?

No the rates do not tend to be the same obviously it depends on your area though. In general childminders are cheaper than nurseries some offer day rates that are cheaper than hourly ones.