No annual leave left during school holiday and no childcare

[ExcitingTimes2023]

Hi!

I was hoping someone could advise on what they do in this situation.

I have 2 children, a 18 month old and a 3 year old. My eldest is an august baby and she goes to school this September. The annual leave calender for this coming year opened a couple of weeks ago, I went to book some time off to cover some (not all) of the school holidays. I understand it has to be fair so I was hoping to book a couple of weeks and my partner we do the same. And we could request alternate shifts the remaining weeks to ensure one of us are home with the children (both shift workers).

However already there is no annual leave during the school holidays left so I’m not sure what we are going to do for childcare. Like I said we could request alternate shifts but I’m not sure our departments would honour that every single school holiday week, and it would mean we spend no time together as a family. I understand it has to be fair and I wasn’t expecting to have all the time off during the holidays but to get zero weeks off during my child’s first 6 months of school just seams a bit unfair. I spoke to my senior who was sympathetic but couldn’t help.

now I know there are holiday clubs and when my child is a bit older I’m sure she would manage but she is very shy and reserved at the moment and very nervous in new settings and hates places which was really noisy, so I’m not keen to use these until she is a little more confident in herself. I also have a younger child to drop off at nursery so logistics would be a nightmare to get to work on time. What other options are available childcare wise during the holidays? or am I just going to have to come to terms with alternate shifts and no quality family time during holidays?

Im just feeling a bit gutted as my first child starting school is overwhelming as it is without having to worry about this. If she was one of these confident children that just gets on with everyone I wouldn’t be worrying so much but I just know my daughter! Next year I’m literally going to be stood at the annual leave folder the second it opens to get a good few weeks booked!

Not that it matters as everyone is entitled to book their annual leave when suits them, but at least half of the school holiday leave has been booked by people with no children or people who’s children have fled the nest so I guess that adds to why I feel so deflated. but I’m trying to remind myself that I don’t get a say when or why other people need to use their leave. Trying to stay impartial is hard though.

Some people near me hire university students to provide care. Basically a short-term nanny situation.

My sister took the financial hit of unpaid parental leave every summer because there just wasn't enough annual leave for her and her partner. They both did this and just took it on the chin.

Once your child gets older holiday clubs and parental swaps are good where you have someone else's child for the day and they do the same for you in return. The killers are usually the inset days. I had my friend's children for 2 of those each year because there was no childcare for that.

@Sweepgarden no have been there over 6 years. I know their calendar year and every year they have given all staff the oppertunity to book 2 weeks as priority. Once all who wanted to have booked their 2 weeks they open the rest of the annual leave allowance. This is the first year I have been there they haven’t done it. So yes, I didn’t feel the need to rush in as I could book 2 weeks when I returned the following week (obviously not the case), my partner could book 2 weeks and we could alternate the rest if we needed to. We will work it out as a family. We always do. I was just looking for helpful advice for childcare. Not criticism

Your work sounds horribly disorganised! That's really poor of them. It's this kind of thing that lead to people to stop going above and beyond or quiet quitting.

For childcare I'd try nursery as a first option.
They might be happy to have your oldest partly because nurseries are often quieter when schools are off as parents take younger siblings out.

Beyond that id try childminders.

But id also speak with HR and ask them to put the previous system back in place as it does sound much faster. Id also ask in they could issues the calender 12 month in advance very difficult to plan summer if you have loads of kids off

@Needspaceforlego yes before I have even had to tackle school holidays I have in past years questioned why they open the annual leave calender so close to the actual calender year, but they said this is what has worked for the for them for years and the rest of them team was always happy. I’ll question again once the dust has settled as I feel everything is just raw and emotion fuelled at the moment and I do love my work so don’t want to rustle feathers. I am one of the quieter team members so I do feel I get walked over sometimes. But my team is genuinely a great bunch of professionals and I really hope I can work through all the is coz I don’t want to leave over annual leave. But I do need to ensure I can cover child care for the next few years as my second will start school aswell in three years. X

I can’t really understand why those without children have booked school holidays but take it as a lesson learned to book immediately in the future. Presumably this is from September?

There are lots of possible reasons -

Married to a teacher
Going on holiday with family who have school age children
Going to a wedding in the school holidays
Just felt like it

Correct. Luckily my child doesn’t start until September so I didn’t need any of the summer holidays off. But all the half terms from October to march had been snapped up. I hindsite I should have message a collegue asking them to put my name down for 2 weeks but I didn’t think I needed to based on previous years. But there you go. The cards just didn’t fall on my table I guess.

im going to speak to my senior when the dust settles about having a better system for booking leave, and to be able to book more in advance then opening the leave year march when it starts in April. as obviously this has been a nightmare. I’m just very thankful I only have 6 months between sept and the new holiday year to muddle through and not all year.

Prior to children term time annual leave suited me down to the ground. And I have had zero problems while they have been at nursery. This is my first time dealing with ‘competition’ for school holiday annual leave and guess I have been a little naive. Lessons learned for the future and lots of helpful advise and experiences to take on board.

I used to book time off in Easter to spend with my niece as I am her Mum figure. People without school age children have every right to book leave the same as those with school age children.

@Sweepgarden

Reasons not to travel in school holidays if you don’t have to (married to teachers aside who have no choice)

Very busy.
Very expensive.
Very hot in high summer in most European destinations.

Obviously those with school aged children have no choice. We are going ourselves over the Easter holidays with our grandchildren but are retired so no need to book leave. When I worked it was generally those with children at school and those who are married to teachers who wanted school holidays. When we travel now it is always out of school holidays unless travelling with family.

Maybe see if you can book unpaid parental leave?

Also be mindful your school may have a transition period. I ended up booking my child back into nursery right through the summer and two weeks into September! They were pretty empty as so many people take their kids out when the 30 hours funding ends so there should be more availability

Ahh it’s other holidays you want not summer. Don’t panic my summer born child was accepted into the holiday clubs age 4 in October. There are some pretty reasonably priced

you will find once school starts and there is a WhatsApp group for reception year, the parents discuss these things together and often the parents of shy kids book the holiday clubs they know their friends are going to so they have a buddy there.

Goodness there are some very unpleasant responses on here from some people who have taken offence at the suggestion that a young mum with a school aged child be disgruntled at getting no annual leave out of term time.

Hopefully you and your partner can organise shifts to cover October, Christmas and Feb half term and maybe plan for a nice Easter break next year by booking your leave asap. A child minder could be an option rather than holiday clubs if your daughter is not the outgoing type.

https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave or sports camp

With regards to people taking annual leave when they have big kids or no kids please don't judge. I was term time so for my family to holiday my 2 adult kids and hubby had to take leave during the summer.

Tell us you know nothing about shift work….🙄

My employer offers the opportunity to ‘buy’ additional leave, would that be an option? Otherwise, unpaid leave.
Welcome to being a working parent, it’s what we all have to juggle. You really need to forward plan.
Most holiday clubs where I am will take them from the summer before they start school but I’m in Scotland where I think kids start a bit older (4.5- 5.5).
A childminder might be a better option for you.
Next year get your leave requests in early!

Easiest solution and will have long term benefits is to wait until September 2026 before your daughter starts school. It’s not to late to decline the place and apply for reception next year using the protocol for your council.

I haven't read the full thread but do you have any colleagues who you could speak to with regards to shifts

In my old job, me and one other girl had kids and nobody else did so we tried to work the holidays out between us so neither of us had expensive childcare - for example She'd take the full October holidays one year and I'd take a long weekend then opposite next year - we'd try and split the Christmas break rather than take the full time off with our kids
It made it fair we were both getting time rather than all or nothing
Someone might not realise and offer to accommodate along as your not expecting the full lot xx