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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

Parents that work full time - how do you manage the school holidays?

30 replies

Pinkjenny · 22/03/2011 12:53

Dd starts school in September, I will be working:

Monday 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 10am - 2pm
Wednesday 10am - 2pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Ds will be in nursery MOnday - Wednesday, and with my mum on a Thursday and Friday. I have just calculated that for the M, T and W on the holiday weeks, dh and I will need to take 28 days out of our holiday entitlements.

I don't think the school has a holiday club, but I have emailed them to ask. How do you configure it in your family?

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androbbob · 22/03/2011 13:26

Oh the perennial problem!

Its called using firends and family and being organised! It is a pain in the bum and means that you rarely get a two week family holiday.

I am off two days each of the two easter weeks - so DD and DS will go to my Mum's one day and holiday club / nursery for the other day.

We use a holiday club at another school - they are usually open to all school children - but it depends upon how pliable your kids are to being shoved in there - helps if a friend is going.

This hol club is open in the summer for 2 weeks and two days - we are off for two weeks and there is then a week where we have no childcare for DD. HJoping DH is off two of the days, my mum for two days (not consecutive at it is too much) and then SIL for the other day - but I will have to repay the favour another week.

It is not ideal but kind of works for us. Working at home is not an option for me, but may be for some.

JemimaMop · 22/03/2011 13:31

See if another local school has a holiday club. Several children who attend other schools use the holiday club at my DC's school.

Ormirian · 22/03/2011 13:34

Dh is a teacher!

I can't tell you how bloody wonderful that is!

But we did have to cope for about 7 years before he went back to teaching. Mixture of CM, GPs, and annual leave taken by both of us at different times. When they oldest 2 got old enough we used hol clubs whilst youngest when to GPs alone as they were too elderly by then to cope with all 3 for a whole day.

Juggling is the answer. And string and sealing wax.

MadreInglese · 22/03/2011 13:34

like this

Lizcat · 22/03/2011 13:40

So this year I will use around 4 weeks of my holiday, 8 weeks holiday club, 4 weeks child minder, 1 week at PGL and 1 week with my Mum. So a real mix and match.

Iklboo · 22/03/2011 13:42

I am massively, massively blessed and eternally grateful that my folks, DH's mum & DH's dad are all fit, able & well enough to look after DS for us (so much so that we have to work out a rota for who has him & when).
I'm eternally grateful. DH can also work his hours around at least one day per holiday and I can build up flexi time to add onto my annual leave.

BeenBeta · 22/03/2011 13:42

Holiday clubs. Its the only way.

LaCerbiatta · 22/03/2011 13:46

Can your mum have him one extra day per week duyring the holidays? Can you compress your hours so that you do one long day and then have a day off?
You can also take parental leave.

We have some help with grand-parents, use the holiday club, sometimes dd stays one day at home while I'm working from home and also I've bought all the extra holidays my company would allow.

Also, you can look after your ds's friends on one day and then have the parents retribute the favour.

scurryfunge · 22/03/2011 13:46

Do you have the space for an au pair?

Original poster

Pinkjenny · 22/03/2011 13:47

Madreinglese

OK, I was wondering whether there was a secret solution I wasn't coming up with or privvy to. Clearly not.

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Original poster

Pinkjenny · 22/03/2011 13:48

tugamommy - ds is sorted, he is only 1yo. It's dd that is going to school, and my mum works the other 3 days per week.

Looks like we'll just need to cope amongst all the other working parents.

scurry - an au pair? Er, no.

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MadreInglese · 22/03/2011 13:55

we can't afford holiday clubs but are very lucky that we have my parents and a couple of close friends who don't work in the holidays so they help out some days and then DP & I take the remaining odd days off (sometimes having friends kids back)

couldn't do it without their help and an excel spreadsheet!

scurryfunge · 22/03/2011 13:55

Sorry, au pairs are suitable for school age children but didn't realise your youngest was only one -definitely not suitable for an au pair then.

When they are older though, it is a pretty good solution if you have a spare bedroom.

Original poster

Pinkjenny · 22/03/2011 13:56

Yes, a spreadsheet will be a must

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Desperateforthinnerthighs · 22/03/2011 14:30

I work full time but drop down to three days per week during holiday times. DS's school had a holiday club which has now shut............not sure yet what to do, really hoping they open another one!

Acinonyx · 22/03/2011 19:38

I have a childminder who takes dd after school and for full days in the holidays. She charges the afterschool rate during term time and a daily fee for the holidays. I don't work FT but some of her other mindees are there FT. I couldn't manage otherwise.

Sinkingfeeling · 22/03/2011 19:44

We use a mixture of the holiday club in another local school (our own school doesn't have one) and a part-time nanny. Last summer dh and I both took one day a week as annual leave, but this year we're both off for 2 full weeks together. The two older dcs are going to Cub camp for a week, but we'll still need to use holiday club/annual leave for youngest dc that week. The secret is definitely making plans well in advance and booking it all in, so everyone knows what's happening.

AbigailS · 22/03/2011 19:51

Your school might keep a list of local child minders, ours does. I do know of a group of working parents that arrange a rota between themselves. I'm lucky as a teacher I get the holidays and only use a child minder in term-time, so she has my spaces in the holidays. If I need to go into work in holiday time, my poor DC have to come with me, but they seem happy to play or use a laptop.

crazycarol · 22/03/2011 20:33

Holiday club (at another school), grandparents, uncle, auntie, I do long hours on the days I can so I can get extra days off. Annual holidays as a family are usually 1 week away with dh & me having a week off on either side (ie not together!). DD is a little older now and goes off for a 1 week activity holiday (she loves it), and this year will be 15 so starting not to worry about it anymore as she is old enough (& responsible enough) to be left by herself for a while. It will come to you one day.

pointythings · 22/03/2011 20:55

I work broadly 8.15 - 4.15 with an hour's commute each day, DH works 7 till 4 (but much shorter commute). We rely on our local before- and after-school club who run a holiday scheme for the school age kids. It's pricy but very good indeed and luckily we can afford it. I work in the NHS, over 10 years' service so I get a lot of paid leave, which helps. It all costs but having said that it's still a lot less than two lots of full-time nursery fees which we had to pay when the DCs were both little.

Lonnie · 22/03/2011 21:17

I work 2 afternoons and kids are either in holiday clubs or (older ones) stays home.

I havent conisdered what full time working friends do I may ask a few if they are in need of help.

Clary · 23/03/2011 13:35

I have posted this before but we both used to work 4 days/week, (not the same day off) which left 3 days/week to cover.

Used to juggle holidays and only take one fortnight together; this generally left us with a week of holiday clubs in the summer, maybe another bitty week of a day of Gran, a day of a pal (maybe do a swap) and a day of brother or similar.

Summer was always the worst; half term only a week and once we had our days off and maybe a bank hol then it was just an odd day or two, usually sorted with rellies or friends.

Lots of other people are in similar situation so if you ask about early you can often sort something. I have 3 DC so it's a bit harder but not impossible.

I say "used to" btw because I now work in education - I try to help anyone else who is struggling with offers of childcare esp in summer as I know how it can be.

cory · 23/03/2011 15:23

Childminder.

MrsH75 · 23/03/2011 15:28

Childminder. Costs us a small fortune.

Original poster

Pinkjenny · 23/03/2011 16:38

I have formulated my spreadsheet, twas terribly exciting.

Just need to wait until April 26th to make sure she's actually got in to the blardy school, and then the scheduling will commence.

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