JOB- WHAT DO PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO?

[GReD677]

I haven't worked in around 3 years, eldest is 3 youngest is 18months.
Really want to get back to work 2 days a week, I do feel a bit selfish but just feel like i need to for my own wellbeing.

My eldest is going to school next year Septemeber 2027 and needing something that allows me to pick her up drop her off and have half terms off.

I did a online L3 TA course last year and passed took around a year but I am just not sure I want to do that job, seen so many bad things about how TA's get treated and expecting far too much, unless my daughter actually attends the school were i would he working in still will not be able to drop her off and pick her up.
Im thinking of cleaning - can be flexable and choose own hours but i clean my place all day every day and just would be exhausting!

What do people actually do?!

I was a sahm for 5 years, returning to work when my youngest turned 2 (only childcare in my village was from 2yrs onwards). I am a qualified primary teacher working as early years teacher in the nursery at my kids school

I did early shifts. Husband started at 9:30 and did breakfast and drop off. I finished early and raced to school. Had reciprocal agreements with friends for emergencies. Never used wraparound in term time. Holidays were AL, kids club and grandparents. Both of us had careers and shortish commutes.

Look at admin roles for large organisations or local authority or similar. Some are fairly well known for accommodating wfh and flexibility with hours.

For example, you might find an employer that employs you for 2 full days but you spread the hours over 3.

Annualised hours are a possibility.

Wfh always helps fit more work hours into the time as you aren’t travelling to an office or similar.

All employers are now required to consider flexible working requests.

Do a bit of research, 🧐 and figure out your priorities.

Ive 3 DC & no one I know has a job that enables them to work term time & do drop off & pick up.

Me & DH work flexibly from home 2/3 days week each (the rest in an office) so we share drop offs but DC go to after school club every night.

We split holidays as much as we can (rarely off together unless we're actually away on holiday) & the rest of the time we use holiday care, grandparents of swap days with our DCs friends parents.

There is no magical term time only job that enables drop offs & pick ups!

It's difficult. I only wanted to work 9-3 so that I can do school drop off and pick up.
I've only been able to do that because my first child started school about 6 months after I came back to work from maternity with my second child. So I already knew I wanted to reduce my hours and was able to make that request before coming back to work. They wanted me to return so accepted the reduced hours. No reduced workload though so its tough.
It's really difficult if you don't have that option to ask a current employer for the flexibility. They seem much more open to those requests when returning than for new employees. I wasn't able to find any new job that would work with my desired hours and I did look.
I think I've been lucky though. We could afford the drop in salary and my work accepted my request.