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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

Working mums - how do you manage to cover all the school hols?

22 replies

glamourbadger · 22/02/2011 17:22

My twins started in reception last Sept and the issue of holiday cover is starting to really stress me out! How do other mums cover all the days?

Neither me or my husband have family in the UK that can help. We have a lovely nanny that helps with our school run but she is committed to another family for the daytime hours so can't do a full day.

I get 25 days leave from work but it doesn't even cover the summer hols - can't imagine being able to take more than 3 weeks then anyway. Help!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

IndigoBell · 22/02/2011 17:25

School holiday club
Begging favours of friends
Taking unpaid leave

There are loads and loads of holiday clubs. The kids love them, and that's what they're there for.....

puttingmyfingeronit · 22/02/2011 17:26

Can you get an au pair?
You don't need to have them live with you - I have known people rent rooms locally for au pairs when they haven't had space.

GrimmaTheNome · 22/02/2011 17:27

School holiday club.

Stagger holidays a bit (so we'd have one holiday all together then DH or I would do things with DD separately).

whizzylala · 22/02/2011 17:38

I get an au pair for the summer, (and have had one from xmas to easter too) the coordination required to get to and from holiday clubs is too much for us and they are expensive too, I like the au pair option as they can chill at home aswell as go out on day trips / have play dates etc and it is that but more flexible so if you run late it doesn't matter. I don't know how other people manage to be honest as we don't have family nearby to rely on either.

Drizzela · 22/02/2011 17:50

Holiday clubs and staggering holidays. I am not with my DDs dad so we have two weeks off in the summer with her each and then we have a week off for each half term. Any other time we plan to use holiday clubs but havent done so yet.

DD is nearly 5.

A friend of mine who is with her DDs dad uses holiday clubs a lot. They have 2 weeks off in the summer each and the middle week croses over so they can do things together.

Its all a bit of a palava but it's only 6 years out of your whole working life. Do able

Dillie · 22/02/2011 18:03

I send my DD to kids club, and she loves it! They play/make/run around loads. She comes home cream crackered most days

I think it is good for them to mix with different kids. Are there any of the twins friends that go to one? My DD's best friend from her nursery/pre school goes to the same kids club and that has helped her settle in.

It is expensive so me and my hubby stagger holidays bar one week where we are all off together in the summer.

When my dd is older then my mum said she will have her to stay for a few days during a summer holiday (she lives 150 miles away)

lowprofile · 22/02/2011 18:05

I effectively don't make any money during the school holidays. Sometimes I earn less than the cost if I take the holiday week as a stand alone, but I prefer to see it as the bigger picture.

I have 1.5 days leave a week, my dh has 1 day leave a week, I arrange a play date 1 day a week (different friend every time so don't feel I'm putting on anyone), 1.5 days paid care. I use a school teacher for 1 day, so that the kids can go where they want to on the day, holiday club for the other 0.5 day.

DH and I have 1 week a year together as a family for annual holiday.

mmsmum · 22/02/2011 18:28

There are lots of holiday clubs/summer camps etc on, it's a huge industry. It's bank holidays, in-service days and random days off that are the problem. If I were working just now I would probably use up all my holiday time on those days and never get long enough off to go on an actual holiday. The only people I know who don't struggle are those with family that help.

mmsmum · 22/02/2011 18:30

I forgot to mention the two weeks over christmas and new year, I've never found child care for that. Has anyone else? I know there are child minders but you need to go on waiting lists with them which are years long round here

lowprofile · 22/02/2011 18:45

I use the TA at the children's schools for the awkward days mmsmum, as if my children aren't at school and it's not teacher training day they are 'free'.

LadyLapsang · 22/02/2011 19:22

Stagger holidays with your DH unless you are going away as a family;
Holiday clubs;
Double up with another family - haven't tried this myself;
Working different patterns during the holidays e.g. compressing your hours into long days and working opposite your DH; swapping a weekday off by working in the evening or at the weekends while your DH looks after the children;
Lobbying your workplace for on site holiday childcare.

mmsmum · 22/02/2011 19:23

What does TA mean? Dd's school has an after school care club and they do Easter, October and summer but nothing else (they aren't very good but that's another story)

lowprofile · 22/02/2011 19:25

Teaching Assistant

EcoLady · 22/02/2011 19:53

Out of School club for us too! They love it.

mumtolawyer · 22/02/2011 20:25

Holiday clubs. Lots of them. I prefer residential as DD loves that, but whatever is available. Fit for Sport is good in London (don't know about other places) KG Adventure is day and residential, there are even overseas ones if you are up for it.

girliefriend · 22/02/2011 20:32

Have you got friends with similiar aged children who are in the same boat that you could come to some arrangement with ie you help them out for a few days and they return the favour?

The summer hol is going to be the trickiest one for me, Im taking 2 wks annual leave, my mum is taking dd away on a little holiday for another wk but that still leaves 3 wks, at least 2 of those will be some sort of holiday club and the remaining wk will be a patchwork of friends!!!

It was so much eaiser when she was at nursery!!!

Original poster

glamourbadger · 22/02/2011 20:54

Wow - thanks for all the advice. I'll take a look at holiday clubs. Can anyone recommend one in North London? I'm around Highbury/Stokey way. I'll have a good Google.

Agree, was so much easier at nursery. I used to moan when they closed for 2 weeks over Christmas!

OP posts:

PlanetEarth · 22/02/2011 21:02

mmsmum, never found childcare for Christmas. We just have to cover that between us.

Yes, Bank Holidays, in-service days, etc. are a problem. Otherwise, lots of holiday clubs. We try to use different ones so they don't get bored - even our zoo runs one!

antimony · 23/02/2011 11:35

If you're in Stokey you have a great playscheme at the Bath House in Shacklewell. Scruffy, relaxed, kids love it, they do halfterm and holidays 9-6 and there are lots of outings.

LindyHemming · 23/02/2011 14:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TooTiredtoGoogle · 23/02/2011 15:42

We're in Holloway, so not far from you, and our local Children's Centre runs a fab holiday playscheme for 3-7 year olds.
Your local CC in Highbury will probably have the same as both Islington council.

vonnyh · 23/02/2011 15:48

After years of trying to work this out, I changed my hours to term time only. Yes it's less money, but also a lot less stressful! I know, I know, not everyone can do what I did, but it was the best solution for us.

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