Inset days

[Perfect28]

Two working teacher parents to (luckily) just one child. Child has started school this year and we are finding inset days impossible to manage. 5 per year, usual wraparound childcare is closed on insets as they mirror the school. No family less than 300 miles away, my mum has come up twice now but she won't be able to come up 5 times a year for the next however many years. As we are teachers working from home or requesting annual leave is impossible. We can take parental leave but that has to be in blocks of one week at a time so not helpful here.

Just posting in case someone has any grand ideas or suggestions I've not yet mentioned. Otherwise I guess it will have to be sick days? Not hugely helpful when I'm already managing chronic illness.

Anyone?

I used to do that with my child sometimes. Other times my parents who lived quite a distance away would visit for a few days including the INSET day.

I'm pretty sure that's not legal.

Inset days are not on the same days, that's part of the problem. If they were I would request to do inset from home.

@ImImmortalNowBabyDollall perfectly legal, checked with union.

Most schools would try and avoid this option because they know it would piss off staff but they absolutely can do it.

Timetabling often isn't finalized until the end of summer term, leaving no wriggle room or even adequate time to hand in your notice.
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Ugh. I'm sorry. This is one of many reasons why my husband and I left teaching but I suppose if you enjoy your job that doesn't help.

Does your local secondary school or college offer childcare courses? Ours does and the students who study childcare need to get hands on experience so are often very keen to do babysitting.

Or how about one of the online agencies? (my friend used sitters.co.uk but I'm sure there are alternative options)

Oh gosh yes of course, apologies for my silly response.
Do look to see if there are ad hoc childcare providers, though. Maybe emergency Nannie’s? I know it’ll be pricey but if you’ve got no other option.

I don’t understand why your child being primary age makes any difference as to whether you can take them in with you?

On our inset days, staff often have small children with them from toddlers in buggies all the way up to year six. No one bats an eyelid and all in all they are very well behaved. Some let them sit in the library if they are old enough to entertain themselves otherwise they come into the training with us and read a book or play a game.

Never heard one person raise an objection to this.

I think you will need to book a babysitter. We used to use Sitters. We mostly used to use them for nights out, but did use them to cover a work day once or twice.

I have never taken my daughter to an INSET but colleagues have occasionally brought their small kids to INSETs and on days when there were strikes affecting some schools but not others. Talk to the Heads.

Thanks all. I'll investigate friends however challenging it would be.

Just think I needed a vent.

It's not our inset days that are the problem- it's his inset days. I can't take him to school whilst I'm teaching!

I have taught for nearly twenty five years in a range of schools and never seen this.

Yes, I went in with my dad in the 80s but that was a very different time!

Sorry I misunderstood 🫣

It's nowhere near as engaging though.

The OP is talking about her child’s INSET days, not hers.

I would see if a local childminder can do an odd day. If they are under ratio, they might well appreciate the money for a extra child all day occasionally.

DD's best friend's mum is a teacher. I'm always happy to have the bff (and her sisters!) here on inset days, if anything it's easier as they entertain each other. If you can get over the hurdle of getting to know other parents it will honestly be the easiest solution

This is very much the struggle that most of us face with more school holidays (13 weeks) than annual leave days from work (6 weeks).

For one off inset days, does your child have friends they can have a play date day with? You'd be able to repay the favour in the school holidays so it wouldn't be taking advantage. I'd happily take a child's mate along with us on an inset day out if I've managed to take annual leave for it.

I misunderstood that too!

Is there some reason you can't consider a paid babysitter OP?

I know from my own experience people can be funny about it but if you think about it, probably better to use someone with references and reviews than a random friend who may let you down - and owe them a favour too.

People who ARE funny about it sometimes then mention their local parents, numerous helpful siblings etc etc.

Not all of us have that!

Sometimes , the days match. Pray for that.
Both of you ask if you can bring your child in . I know some of DD’s teachers bring their child in on teaching days.
If you know any TA’s as his school (they don’t tend to do all insets ) ask if they would be willing to babysit him for a day , if the school allows it.
Do you have any friends with teens that might be free , and responsible enough and willing to make some extra cash?
If you can afford it, start occasionally using a babysitter now to develop a working relationship and a bond with your child. Then check if they’d be willing to do inset days too.
I know you don’t like this idea, but get close with other parents (you could just have one or two), and exchange playdates/childcare.

Hello,
You have to apply for parental leave in 1 week blocks, but at their discretion they can give it in smaller amounts.
Normally the “non-teaching”’parent would have to do INSET but because of your situation I would hope one or both schools weee sympathetic.
You could also say, while you know it is u pad you would set cover for the classes as a willing gesture.

It's not though is it, because holdiay clubs exist during the holidays and parents can book childcare.

Holiday clubs don't exist for inset days, not here at least.

Other jobs also have flexibility in working. You can choose your holiday, you can often buy more leave and potentially work from home or make up the hours. These options are not available for teachers.

Thank you. I will look into it but as I said it gives me extreme anxiety. It's also pretty challenging to get to know other parents when you're using a lot of wrap around care and not doing drop offs/pick ups.

Are childminders and babysitters not an option?

Childminders here are full and unlikely to have children for an ad hoc day.

Babysitters would be a possibility but a lot are only available evenings, so not a given.