Going part time?

[WombatStewForTea]

I'm currently on maternity leave and due back after Christmas. I had always planned to go back full time but now baby is here, and with not having the maternity leave I planned because of lockdown, I want to ask about going part-time.

The problem I have is my current head is leaving at the end of this academic year. A new head has been appointed but I haven't met them. Who and when do I ask about going part-time? I'd like to have an informal conversation before going down the official request route. I thought about approaching current head but they are quite anti part-time and I don't want them or other members of slt to say something to or influence the new head should the request not go down well. Also well aware that current head is insanely busy with the current situation!

I think it depends on how soon you want to go part time. I put in my application in October and it didn't get approved until June because the head had to approve and then we negociated wage and hours (I wanted 0.6 but they wanted to give me 0.8, if I were 0.8 and doing my entire tlr solo, I didn't want my tlr pay cut etc) and then it had to go to the govornors. This was with a school very anti part-time though. Equally I would be mindful that you can only put in 1 application every 12 months, so if this head rejects it (which they might given schools have no idea what to expect for next year and some schools are planning for smaller classes next year too which means they need more, not fewer teachers) you can't then ask the new head.
Have you tested the water with your line manager - they'll be timetabling at the moment and so will have a better idea over the next few weeks how feasible PT would be.

I'm primary so no line manager just the head so I haven't tested the water. I'd like to go straight to part time on my return in January but I would go back full time until Sept and then start the new year part time if that was an option. Alternatively I could take unpaid parental leave from Jan but could probably only afford to do it until June.

If we were in normal times I'd pop in to see everyone and have an informal chat with the current head but I know she's so snowed under with trying to manage the Covid situation I wouldn't be catching her on the right footing and know from experience it wouldn't stand in my favour

Do you know the person doing your mat cover? Would they be interested in a job share? The school might be more receptive if you found the other half of your part time and they already knew/were happy with their teaching?

Nope they wouldn't be up for it. There's one other part time pair and I know one half of that would like to go full time so I'm hoping there could be a straight swap. The only complication is me coming back mid year

In your position, I'd ask the head for a quick chat and mention it, and say you're planning to ask the next head. Then ask them formally.