Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Flip

Original poster

Part time pros and cons

18 replies

eggofmantumbi · 31/05/2020 14:37

Hoping for some experiences / things I might've missed/ misunderstood....

Currently in maternity leave. I've still got a good while left but I'm really re-evaluating my life really, which I was planning on anyway, but Coronavirus has made more stark.

2 girls. 1st will be just over 4 when I go back and a few months from starting primary. Second will be about 1 when I go back.

I'm currently FT class teacher (gave up HOD as of September).

I'm considering going back PT, but when I've looked at finances of it, it seems a bit bonkers. If I want a clear day off, I've been advised to request 0.6 but day in happy to exceed that whilst keeping my day off. If I want to days I'm assuming the advice would be 0.4. on that basis I've worked out what is have left after childcare for each of those options and the differences are massive.

DH is a lecturer so could do 1 or 2 days of drop off/ pick ups once oldest is in school, but on the other days is back really late.

I guess what I'm wondering is, had anyone been in a similar situation and can tell me the pros and cons of their choices.

My heart says request 3 days, my head says FT.....

OP posts:

Meredusoleil · 31/05/2020 20:08

I went PT 0.6 after returning from mat leave with Dd1 (nearly 12 years ago now) and have never looked back since. For a little while afterwards, I did think it was career suicide to be honest with you as there was no way I could have been promoted to HoD. But then I realised the work/life balance was so much more valuable than the extra money and stress I would have got from staying ft or even at 0.8!

Most of my colleagues have chosen to return full time after the first mat leave but then dropped to part time after subsequent dc. Perhaps if you're worried about finances or career progression, that may be a better long term plan for you?

PenOrPencil · 31/05/2020 20:16

I don’t understand why you have been advised to go for 0.6 for one day off?

I was 0.8 (1 day off) for years and it really saved my sanity and allowed me to have the weekend off. The gained quality of life was worth the financial hit for me.

Daisy169 · 31/05/2020 20:35

I do 3 days (2 of these being slightly longer so a little more than 0.6).

For me, the work life balance is absolutely fantastic. I doubt I'll get promoted working 0.6 but I don't mind right now, although my children are younger than yours. I might go back up when they're much older (teens perhaps) but financially it works just about and makes me happy right now.

sakura06 · 31/05/2020 21:23

By 'clear day off' do you mean a day without planning, marking etc.? The school should really be giving you two whole days off on 0.6. Also, with children the ages yours are, working parts of 4 days for 0.6 would not make sense.

0.6 gives you a nice balance. I've done 2 years of 0.8 and worked very long hours still. 0.6 was much more manageable.

Original poster

eggofmantumbi · 01/06/2020 01:44

Thanks for your responses. The school business manager said that to GUARANTEE 1 day off, I should request 0.6 or more, just in case it otherwise wouldn't be possible to timetable the 0.8 over 4 days. His thinking was that way if almost certainly get more than 0.6, but would definitely get the day off.

I'm convinced I'm going to go down to 3 days now, so just need to decide when to go back .

Career wise I'm not bothered. I've done HOD for 10 years and have been so much happier since dropping it

OP posts:

NCTDN · 01/06/2020 07:23

@Daisy169 how can you do slightly longer days to be over 0.6?
I'm 0.6 after dd2 and couldn't do more except the occasional day on supply (in my usual school). I work one of my days'off' at home but that frees a day to do house stuff, food shopping etc and then I get a clear weekend. I love having 2 days when I can do the school run both ways.

Daisy169 · 01/06/2020 08:40

I do 3 days, but 2 of those days include after school meetings, which I'm paid for so it's slightly more than 0.3. I can't remember the exact percentage that I do.

Daisy169 · 01/06/2020 10:35

Sorry meant 0.6!

MrsMime · 01/06/2020 18:34

I went back after maternity leave on 0.6 but have changed it recently to 0.78. Slightly shorter 4th day and 5th off. It works really well for me. I also have a TLR which means my salary isn't hugely different from a FT post.

CheesecakeAddict · 03/06/2020 22:24

I went back FT after mat leave and it nearly killed me juggling all those balls (but I kept subject leadership and had no support at all at home). Going down to just 0.8 was the best thing I ever did (I wanted 0.6 and this was their compromise) and I didn't find it difficult to get back into FT work when I was ready.

Ploughingthrough · 04/06/2020 03:07

I've done various combos. After DC1 I went back 0.8. I like this because I had one day with her, and I didn't get dumped with all the difficult classes - managed to keep my exam groups etc. When DC2 was around 20 months I worked 0.6 in a different school. Actually I didn't like this. The pay was low for the stress, I didn't get given great classes and I didn't feel part of the school community. When DC were 5 and 3 I went back full time as I got an HoD opportunity. I had to be VERY organised with childcare, and DH had to adapt his working pattern a bit to do school drop offs. We also had to batch cook a lot of food but actually, full time is not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I was better connecting with my job, still had holidays with the kids, the pay made it worthwhile too and we enjoyed a better quality of life through having more money.

Elsa8 · 04/06/2020 12:48

I work 0.6 and love it, I don’t currently intend to return to FT as my work life is great! I was so stressed when I worked FT, I think that bit of breathing room is wonderful. I have two small children, but when they’re both in school I intend to stay at 0.6 and then one of my days off will be for household jobs, cleaning and shopping, the other day off will probably be work - but then no marking or planning in the evenings or weekends.

Elsa8 · 04/06/2020 12:48

work life balance even!

Meredusoleil · 04/06/2020 15:23

This is pretty much how I feel. Really don't want to have to go back FT ever, if at all possible 👌

Original poster

eggofmantumbi · 04/06/2020 15:42

I'm pretty certain I'll request 0.6 from September 2021. I'll probably go back in April (Coronavirus has made me want some extra time off) and is be happy to do whatever for that last term.
I was HOD in two different schools for 7 years. The role for me got worse and worse in terms of pressure so I can't see me wanting to do anything extra until the girls are much older.

Thanks so much for all your input

OP posts:

ValancyRedfern · 06/06/2020 09:57

I did 0.8 until dd started school and it was great. What I loved was that I was still in school enough to be involved in everything (most kids and staff didn't even realise I wasn't in on a Friday), but I got a lovely extra day with dd once a week. Financially it made no sense as I was still running the school show etc so working way more than 0.8 really, but it was worth it for that day.

WombatChocolate · 07/06/2020 18:47

I worked 0.6 for about 8 years - secondary - that gave me 2 days off - usually Fri and Mon. It was good when my 2 were little, but I found being in school just 3 days with v few free periods quite stressful and I had to do a lot of marking at home.

I then did a couple of years full-time doing maternity leaves. Didn't like it - just so so exhausted. Decided I wouldn't do full time again.

Now on about my 3rd year of 0.8 with a day off. It is good. Being in 4 days with just an extra free period or 2 makes the time in school feel not quite so manic, although it's still very hectic. If I work hard in the evenings of my working days, I can avoid school work on my day off and weekend. Having the day off saves my sanity and being an old crone means I'm top of the scales and earn a decent amount through working 4 days and avoid the higher rate of tax. But my 2 are older now and able to manage themselves much more, so me needing to work in the evenings etc is okay.

I love having a day off. I usually spend 2/3 hours on household jobs, which I enjoy because it's not school and I have time to do them. Then I might have a coffee with a friend or just relax a bit. One day a week of that stuff keeps me sane and is enough for now - I no longer feel I need 2 days at home like I used to. And it's good to know I'm feeding a decent chunk into my pension etc by being not too far off full time.

A lot of it depends on your school. If they will want you in every day, you lose a lot of the benefits. If you go for 0.6 I would be keen to push for 2 full days off.

Original poster

eggofmantumbi · 08/06/2020 22:07

My school are generally really understanding of people wanting days off , but also do always stress they can't guarantee it, I'm confident they'd do their best.

In the first instance I'm going to request 3 days I think. If really like to be there more when my oldest starts school and it will give me more time with the youngest. I can always review after a year anyway.

OP posts:

Flip