Ideal working pattern with reception and nursery age children?

[wishIwasonholiday10]

I currently work 4 days (0.8FTE) and DD goes to nursery 4 days a week. I am wondering what working pattern would work best after maternity leave with DC2 when DD will be starting reception and DC2 going to nursery. I will probably continue to work 0.8FTE for financial reasons (although would prefer less) and my work is very flexible about which hours I work as it doesn't affect other team members. I do however want to stick to working within normal working hours (8:30am-5pm) as I need some downtime myself in the evenings before bed and like to be home in time to make dinner.

Other relevant info:
-DH works full time but has Friday afternoons off. Would be able to pick up DD from school but wouldn't get to nursery in time to only pay for the morning session.
-DD has a medical condition that means she might get more tired than other kids so worried about how she will deal with long days of reception and after school club. She is fine for full days at nursery but still naps at the moment.

The main options I can see:

1. I could continue with my current pattern so DC2 wouldn't have to do 4 days at nursery but DD would need 3 days after school club.
2. I could do 3 full days and 2 half days or possibly 2 full days and 3 shorter days if I'm careful with the hours or cut back slightly. Would mean less after school club for DD but 5 days nursery for DC2 and expensive nursery fees even if they get picked up earlier on my short days.

What would you do in this situation? In theory I have some time to decide but nursery has a crazy long waiting list and we almost missed out last time so will have to sign DC2 up for nursery soon.

Can you do 4 days over 5 and work school hours?

When I have worked 0.8FTE, it was always school hours over 5 days. But with some flexibility, like a few times a month I’d work one like 12 hour day, due to travel, and then I’d take a day off in lieu. Dh works flexibly (he’s the boss) so he could always do the school run those days.

I'm currently doing 0.6 FTE over three days whilst DD2 adjusts to nursery routine etc (and I try and get her out of the cosleeping habit). But from September I'm going to do 0.6 FTE over 4 days so that i can finish in time for school pick up and the only days DD1 will need after school will be the days I go to the office. It has been a not insignificant income drop for us but I worked FT inbetween DD1 and DD2, and I feel like I want to take some of that time back as i dont think we'll be having a third child. I considered compressed hours but like you, frankly I don't want the pressure of having to work in the evenings after bath / bed routine. I'm planning on going to 0.8 or FT compressed once DD2 is settled into school and I have a bit more flexibility.

Thanks all for your thoughts. I got a bit distracted by other things going on but I been been thinking about the options some more. It seems that school hours over 5 days is popular and I might try that. My only concern is having to pay full time nursery for DC2 which will be expensive even with the funding and DC2 won't have the experience of an extra day at home with me. I have enjoyed being able to take DD1 swimming on my day off and just giving her a bit of downtime.