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Primary education

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Part-time teacher and Ofsted call on non-working day, what is expected?

28 replies

YellowDaisies123 · 27/07/2026 22:27

So im going back to teaching in September, 3 days a week (wednesday-friday). My school is due Ofsted anytime. We will get the call on a Monday which is a non working day for me. I'm going part time because my little one is under 2 so I have childcare commitments as well as choosing to be more available for her.
I have a feeling it'll be an expectation that ALL staff will be required to attend once the call has come in both on the Monday after school and the Tuesday. My husband works and is self employed but doesn't work from home so going in at the drop of a hat is a no no for me on a Monday - I cant just leave my daughter and have nobody to just pass her to at short notice. I can however go in on the Tuesday as my husband can take it off if he's aware the day before. My question is, has anyone else been in this situation? I know I'll be made to feel guilty for not attending on the Monday but what do you do? Any experiences and thoughts would be highly appreciated! Just to also add, im not SLT and my partner teacher is a paid trainee apprentice who has 50% responsibility and teaches Monday and Tuesday.

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JJWT · 29/07/2026 19:42

No. Its strictly business as usual. If that was me I wouldn't know about it until Weds morning. If its a normal school you may be observed on the Weds or Thurs. (We're a large 5 campus FE so get more notice and a longer visit). What can you even do on the other days, its not as if you'd have a timetable? Having been pt for years I'd strongly advise you not to have teams or work emails on your phone and do not log on to your work laptop on your days off. This job is like grout, it spreads into all available gaps. Learn to switch off or you'll be earning a pt wage while constantly thinking about work.

CookieTin · 29/07/2026 19:44

Having looked more at the thread, there is some misinformation here as your directed time allowance is pro rata not determined by working days (i.e colleagues who don't work staff meeting days are expected to attend a pro rata number of meetings). If the head called a staff meeting or asked for you to use non-contact directed time you could not refuse simply on the basis of the working day.

Teenmumgoingcrazy · 30/07/2026 08:31

YellowDaisies123 · 27/07/2026 22:27

So im going back to teaching in September, 3 days a week (wednesday-friday). My school is due Ofsted anytime. We will get the call on a Monday which is a non working day for me. I'm going part time because my little one is under 2 so I have childcare commitments as well as choosing to be more available for her.
I have a feeling it'll be an expectation that ALL staff will be required to attend once the call has come in both on the Monday after school and the Tuesday. My husband works and is self employed but doesn't work from home so going in at the drop of a hat is a no no for me on a Monday - I cant just leave my daughter and have nobody to just pass her to at short notice. I can however go in on the Tuesday as my husband can take it off if he's aware the day before. My question is, has anyone else been in this situation? I know I'll be made to feel guilty for not attending on the Monday but what do you do? Any experiences and thoughts would be highly appreciated! Just to also add, im not SLT and my partner teacher is a paid trainee apprentice who has 50% responsibility and teaches Monday and Tuesday.

Until you know, there’s no point getting stressed over it.

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