Childcare days

[mnahmnah]

Hi

Out of interest, could you please tell me what you are entitled to as a secondary teacher in terms of childcare days?

In my school we are entitled to three paid, on separate occasions. You cannot use any of them consecutively. Any others are unpaid.

I have already used two of mine this year. Once because I had no childcare for my youngest that day. The other because my eldest had chickenpox. My husband had to take the week off work for the rest of the pox, and he doesn’t get paid for any time off he has. So that was quite a hit. Now my youngest has pox! So another week or so to sort. If I use my last childcare day, that leaves us with nothing for the rest of the year. Yet I can have sick leave for myself for 5 days, on a number of occasions. It seems an unfair balance.

Doesn’t this lead us to lie and say we’re ill instead of our child? I’ve never done this and of course would never want to. But clearly with chickenpox it’s unavoidable for at least a week that your child needs care.

Is your school an academy? Do they follow ‘The Burgundy Book? Are you in a union? My understanding is that you can request unpaid parental leave in emergency situations and the limit is quite generous however it is unpaid. However this I believe is in line with other jobs. Having paid time off from my understand for childcare is very generous. I would check out your unions website if you need support in requesting the time.

Six days paid at my last school (LA), five days paid at my current school (MAT). Six months paid sick at my former school, 25 days paid sick at my current school which increases every year you work there up to 25 weeks I think.

Wow captain. Sounds good! 6 days at an LA school is still twice what I get.

Not an academy, no. No idea how much I can have unpaid. But after husband losing a week’s pay a couple of weeks ago we really can’t afford another hit

10 days a year paid. My husband gets the same. So we can cover 20 days a year. Any further unpaid days are covered by medical insurance, so we'd still get paid.
We're abroad, though. Both at private schools but with state medical cover.

We have 5 days paid for any 'non sickness absence' so that's usually childcare, elderly relative, moving house, funerals, graduation ceremony, close family wedding etc. After that it is unpaid. Tbh I think that's fair as it was massively abused in the past before they got stricter. I know some LA near us are all unpaid.
I'm sure a few people do go 'off sick'.
Is there anyone else that can help out at all?

MIL usually would but she hasn’t had it herself and also prioritises our niece, so wouldn’t want her to get it from her house.

My mum is actually visiting at the moment. But we don’t feel we can trust her with him for a whole week. She’s old, unwell at the moment, generally ditzy, and still does things we’ve repeatedly asked her not to in terms of safety - sharp knives and scissors in reach etc

Just phone in sick yourself if you can't take the financial hit.
Needs must sometimes

Yeah others at work have said that in previous discussion on the topic. That unfortunately their policy forces us into it. But I would feel truly awful lying

I’m actually wondering if the childminder might still take him. He’s not unwell at all. Still full of energy, happy and eating. I know some childminders will

One day is official and rest unpaid. But I have taken one or two more than that and still been paid. I know of others who have had warning letters though after one. Not sure why.

I’d just say I was ill to be honest.

We only get unpaid leave for childcare. It’s rubbish.

Oh no! Academy by any chance?