INSET days for part time teacher

[MissusBea]

I am a job-share primary teacher contracted 0.6. I work Wed - Fri and the hours between 8am and 4:30pm are defined in my contract as 'directed time'. The school are 'requiring' me to attend an INSET on a Monday which will be unpaid.

To make matters worse, I have two toddlers at home who don't go to any form of childcare (DH - also a teacher - and I both work PT to share their care). DD is 20 months and will be distraught if left with a stranger and we have no local family or childcare, yet my boss has said that I have six weeks to sort the childcare out so he expects me to do that.
Can they really ask me to work unpaid and to put my toddlers into paid childcare - especially given that my toddlers will be very distressed? I offered to come and bring them but they said 'that wouldn't be ideal'- I agree, it will be a nightmare. But I am thinking of doing that nonetheless as I think there are no other options.

Are others of you PT teachers required to work INSET days unpaid and pay for childcare? I am not sure what the current expectations are these days but it seems really unreasonable of them to ask this. My job share partner is paid on Mondays and she will of course be there.

After a few rounds of emails between myself and SLT they have withdrawn the requirement for me to be there this time. Sounds like they have realised that they can't actually make me. So thankfully there will be no need to involve the union this time!

Good. I strongly advise you join a union if you aren't in one. All unions have rules about having to be a member before an incident arises if you want support.

I think it's worth considering that it's quite possible you work mon/tues at a different school and wed-from at this school. Would they be expecting you in if that were the case?

Sometimes it is useful to have a bit of give/flexibility. Other times worth being calm and firm.

I'm not a teacher but work 4 days for three different employers. They all have to accept that on days I'm not working for them in working elsewhere

I worked wed-fri and was required to do 2 inset days a year in my contract . Any others that would have been beneficial I would have claimed for but wouldn't have been in trouble if I said non couldn't go.

Were you paid for them Randytortoise?

I work 0.6 and any INSET I am required to attend outside of my working days (Mon-Wed) is paid as additional hours/overtime. I fulfil my .6 INSET requirement within my usual working days.

Yes. The ones that I wasn't contractually obliged to attend, that I attended because I thought would be useful were always I was always paid (I had to write out a claim for for them).

I used to work three days a week. If things were scheduled on my non working days (e.g. Masses - music teacher so had to be there to play) I would claim extra for them. Same for inset. I would attend if useful, wouldn't if not.

Sorry should have said this was for an independent prep school

I contacted my Union who wiped the floor with her. They said I shouldn't have to go in on my days off. It would be like telling a full time member of staff they had to go in on weekends.

This. Tell your head this, it would be like expecting everyone to have to do their INSET days on Saturdays, unpaid.