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?

This really is the most likely straightforward solution. Build your own village.

You can’t expect him to go through life without friends because it suits you better?

Yes it’s fine. And he won’t be 5 forever.

I'm curious, do you think it's fine to be rude to people on the internet?

Have you ever wondered about how the task of 'building a village" is womens work?

You also sound very ignorant about autism. It's not a choice.

Goodbye!

Actually that's only if you are in receipt of DLA or PIP for the child, we are not.

It's clearly not 'very straightforward' or this thread wouldn't exist.

Thanks though, helpful.

In my local area there is a Facebook page for Nannies, Childminders and Babysitters where you can post and see if there is anyone who would offer this sort of provision for odd days (and then of course you would vet them). There is also childcare.co.uk which you could use to find suitable providers.

Absolutely yes! I regularly take my kids best friend for inset days. I did two on the trot this term. Crucially the family “swap” days either at term time weekends or of days where school finish on the Thursday and then they have my son on the Friday. It’s so useful!

We discovered that the Outdoor Pursuits Centre in the area does year round ‘holiday club’. You can book for inset or actual school holidays, but they also do home education sessions and emergency childcare everyday, so if the school closes for a boiler issues or whatever you can book them for a day of bushcraft, water skills etc

How do I 'vet' them beyond just meeting them and getting a 'vibe'?

Is there any way I can actually check?

I would ask them about the first aid certificate, their latest DBS check, ask for their references and ask if you can contact them directly to verify the reference. It’s many years since I’ve had to do this, but this would be a starting point.

Ive asked ChatGPT and here’s the response:

Vetting a babysitter properly is less about one “test” and more about building confidence step by step. Think of it as a mix of background checking, observing how they interact with your child, and trusting your instincts.

Start with recommendations. The safest route is usually someone who comes via people you trust—friends, school parents, or local groups. If you’re using platforms like about:blank Bubble or https://www.childcare.co.uk/, check profiles carefully for reviews and verification badges.

Then have a proper conversation or interview—even if it’s informal. Ask about:

Previous childcare experience (ages, routines, challenges)
What they’d do in common scenarios (e.g. child won’t sleep, minor injury)
Availability and reliability
Basic safety knowledge (first aid, allergies, emergency contacts)

Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions—it’s normal and expected.

Next, check references. Ideally speak to at least one or two previous families. Ask:

Were they reliable and punctual?
How did they handle discipline?
Would you hire them again?

In the UK, you can also ask about a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service). It’s not mandatory for casual babysitters, but a current DBS adds reassurance.

Before leaving them fully in charge, do a trial run and see how they interact with your child.

Finally, trust your gut feeling. Even if everything looks good on paper, if something feels off, it’s okay to walk away.

If you want, I can help you put together a quick checklist you can actually use when meeting someone—it makes the whole process much easier 👍

OP, try the Marvellous Babysitting app. Norland Nannies (all vetted, DBS checked, super duper trained) who do ad-hoc childcare/babysitting. We live near Norland College so we have a glut of Norlanders nearby signed up on the app and they’ve all been incredible with our little one.

(We have done short “sits” with the Norlanders in question first (often with us elsewhere in the house or just across the road) before a longer one to check that our DS likes them. They’ve all been totally fine with that)

Thank you I'll check it out!

My friend has worked as a nanny for years & has done ad hoc days for families in emergencies. She is on a site where you can search for your area & see their profiles (like dating apps!) might be worth a search?

We were in the same boat. We took our primary age children into school with us on their inset days and they sat in our classrooms whilst we taught. I am aware some schools do not allow this though, but it was actually ok

I can see that it might not work if you had horrendous classes though, but in my experience most teens were better behaved with littlies in the room and enjoyed helping take care of them.

Yeah sorry this is also where i lost sympathy for you, as other posters have said.

Consider Christmas holidays for example, where many professions have to work days that Holiday Clubs are not open. Many people still have to work Boxing day for example.

I teach PSHE, it's 2026. I don't think anyone would be particularly pleased with a 5 year old sat in a class of teenagers learning about consent. 😂

Boxing day is a bank holiday. If you had read the full post I've already said it's difficult for all working parents and we don't have it the hardest, we just have a particular situation..
I don't need your sympathy. But thanks for your unkind post anyway.

I’m not a massive fan of childminders personally so i would take up the previous suggestion of contacting other class parents and asking for help. They may also have babysitting contacts as well.

If i already had the day off and had my 5 year old with me, and one of his friends needed help for the day, it would be my pleasure to help out.

Exactly, boxing day is a bank holiday where people still work but even fewer childcare options are available. That’s my point.

Sorry but my interpretation of this thread is that people are trying to help and you are coming back with excuses for most suggestions.

Oh I would add that you might think it’s a maaaaaasssiive favour but things are often closed on inset days or every activity is expensive. It’s actually easier I find to have my 5 yo in the house+park trip when h me has a friend with them entertaining each other.

@Iocanepowder

I've thanked multiple posters??

Or come back with a follow up question, is that unacceptable for you?

Wow.

Taking unpaid parental leave is not only for those in receipt of benefits.

friends help out friends, you and your husband need to share the load of building your village, for both the sake of you and your child.

buildings village is only “woman’s work” if you let it be

and any family who has 2 working parents and a child at school will encounter the difficulties of inset days and even more across the school holidays - that you have covered. So I’d say non teaching parents have this part more difficult.

people have given you advice and you’ve pretty much shit it all down.

glad you had your vent though

This - as a teacher too this is what I’ve had to
do a couple of times but works well.

I appreciate the nd aspect but it’s also one where forcing yourself does help a bit as well, and you do need someone to help out here so could be an opportunity to help yourself and child develop some strategies

Can you read? Requesting it as single days is available to parents of disabled children, for everyone else it must be requested in week blocks. It's incredibly frustrating having to repeat myself several times.

Oh well looks like you’re stuck then. Good luck.