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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

So if you want to return to work f/t, how on earth do you cover the holidays?

98 replies

BettyDouglas · 14/02/2011 11:57

I'd like to go back to work f/t after re-training. My 3rd DC will start school in Sept. But it has suddenly dawned on me how much holiday we will need to cover!

We have no family at all. I couldn't ask friends as I couldn't return the favour. I've spoken to local CMs but none can take all 3 for all school hols.

I'm starting to get a bit worried. What do you all do if you have no family to help?

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Original poster

BettyDouglas · 14/02/2011 12:04

OP posts:

LaCerbiatta · 14/02/2011 12:04

Holiday clubs? Split the days with your partner?

Is working from home an option for you? I wouldn't have dd at home with me while I'm working for a whole week, but the odd day is ok.

If everything else fails, you're entitled to parental leave (unpaid). If you can aford it....

We have no CM or familiy support near us, but my mother usually flies over to look after dd. For the Easter break and probably summer holidays we'll send dd to stay with the grandparents.

I know how hard it is... Good luck!

watfordmummy · 14/02/2011 12:05

we have no family either and have 2 ds. TBH holidays can be a nightmare we both try to work from home one day a week and then the boys do holiday clubs, which are expensive.

I think every working mum on here will sympathise with you.

Original poster

BettyDouglas · 14/02/2011 12:06

Can't find a holiday club local to us.
Unable to work from home and parental leave not an option as I'm just embarking on a new career as a SW.

Sadly, my children don't have any living GPs or aunts/uncles.

Thanks though!

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redskyatnight · 14/02/2011 12:07

DH and I split our leave between us. We "child swap" with other working parents (they have our DC one day, we have theirs another day). We then use holiday clubs to make up the shortfall.

IndigoBell · 14/02/2011 12:09

The school will have details of local holiday clubs, that you might not know about. They are often not very well advertised.

If there is an after school club on the school site, then they will probably have a holiday club as well.

mistlethrush · 14/02/2011 12:09

We found Kings Camps worked really well for our 5 yo last summer. And they do have some at half terms too - just need to check out your area.

Ds loved it and was very cross when we came to pick him up. We are also lucky that there is one conveniently on the route to my work - and they do reasonable drop off and pick up times too.

Some schools have their own holiday clubs. Some run clubs that can be booked by anyone - school near her runs 'magician' weeks and 'fairy princess' weeks etc.

We combine this with shipping him off to grandparents for a week here and there. We reassure ourselves that its good for him to have a good relationship with them and experience different things - but we've only got one so this option is possibly a bit easier.

northangerabbey · 14/02/2011 12:09

My ds is 16 now so not a problem but when he was younger I used a combination of:

him going to my parents (250 miles away) for a week in the summer and a few days at a time in the other hols

Using holiday playschemes

kidsharing, so I'd have his friend for the day so his mum could go to work and then she'd return the favour

DH occasionally taking a couple of days (though his job's pretty full on so couldn't rely on that)

When he was older, paying a teenager in the village to hang out with him, take him to the park, play ps3 with him etc.

It's never that bad once you get into the swing of it. I definitely recommend the kidshare idea, it's free and they're with their best friends.

Original poster

BettyDouglas · 14/02/2011 12:09

I was just thinking if we split/use our leave then we won't manage a holiday away together as a family.

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northangerabbey · 14/02/2011 12:09

Oh yes, and PGL for a week of the summer hols - great fun, cheap and again if they can go with a friend even better.

LaCerbiatta · 14/02/2011 12:09

I thought parental leave was a benefit all working parents are entitled to?

redskyatnight · 14/02/2011 12:10

No holiday clubs at all? What about near your place of work/DH's place of work?

Also, ask round and see what other working parents do - there may be an option you are not aware of.

(from my experience, it's finding somewhere for the child under 5 that is tricky - can you could put off going back to work until your youngest turns 5?)

Original poster

BettyDouglas · 14/02/2011 12:12

Yes, there is a school holiday club but it only runs 9-3pm Mon-Thurs. And it only takes them from 6yrs so DD2 wouldn't be able to go. There are no CMs who will do the wraparound care. There is no way DH can accomodate those hours and I couldn't either whilst starting a new career.

As mentioned, we have no grandparents, at all.
I don't mean to sound so negative.

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Original poster

BettyDouglas · 14/02/2011 12:15

Tugamommy, parental leave is unpaid. I may as well just not go back for a year IYSWIM. My youngest will just have turned 4 when she starts school in September.

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Acanthus · 14/02/2011 12:15

Look further afield for a proper holiday club. They do exist and the kids enjoy them. You need a " can do" attitude!

IndigoBell · 14/02/2011 12:16

I bet you can find a local teenager to do the wrap around care.

It all looks impossible before you've dived in. But once you've got a job it somehow all works out.....

Original poster

BettyDouglas · 14/02/2011 12:17

I will do, Acanthus. Don't think they'll have DD2 though!

It's just a nightmare with a DH who works long hours and is often away and no grandparents to help. I think I have been naive.

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northangerabbey · 14/02/2011 12:18

Agree with IndogoBell. You just have to do tons of research. The solution is there but you have to work hard to make it happen.

Grabaspoon · 14/02/2011 12:20

What about a childcare student from the local college.

They get some extra money and experience.

You get a crb'd student who has the same holidays as your children.

Original poster

BettyDouglas · 14/02/2011 12:21

Indigobell, it didn't occur to me that I would have to rely on a local teenager to help look after my 3 young children.

I don't mean that to sound snobby. I'm just a little amazed, I guess. I'm fortunate that I don't need to go back but I've studied hard and re-trained and I would really like to do it.

God, it must just be mind over matter if you have to!!

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Acanthus · 14/02/2011 12:21

I don't think you have. It only works out once you get started, somehow. When you know the specifics, you can address them but in the abstract it looks like a nightmare I agree.

Berelin · 14/02/2011 12:21

How about a summer aupair? he/she could collect them from the holiday club and look after them for a couple of hours until you get home.

We use a combination of the solutions mentioned so far (holiday clubs / week with the grandparents in an another country / holiday splitting /sharing with their friends' parents etc.) and have a lot more holiday to bridge - 9 weeks in summer. It usually works out fine.

redskyatnight · 14/02/2011 12:22

Where would you be sending your children before/after school? Do they provide holiday wraparound? If they don't, what do the parents who use the before/after school provision do?

To break this down for you - there are 62 days of holiday (not counting the bank holidays). If you and DH have 20 days each and take 10 days in common, you can cover 30 of those days. So you "only" have 32 days left to worry about.

Do none of your children's friends' parents work? If they do, suggest you have their DC one day so they can work, and then have theirs back another day. You can "save" quite a few days this way (especially if you do it with a few different parents).

Do you have a childcare information service in your area? Ask them about holiday clubs. Enquire at gyms/sports clubs/community centres. Often holiday clubs are not well advertised.

With three children how about "hiring" a childcare (or similar) student for the holidays?

bumblingbovine · 14/02/2011 12:22

I don't know where you live but you could try this

www.summerfun4kids.co.uk/

Acanthus · 14/02/2011 12:23

The local teenager would be someone on a Childcare course, or someone applying for a teacher training degree (for example) not any random 14yo!

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