If I hand my notice in today...

[Butterfly94]

Do I still have to work until Christmas holidays, or can I stop working on 1st Nov? We're losing money with childcare costs and my school is absolutely awful, and the first day back has just confirmed this! I want to get out ASAP 😂

It depends. Are you a teacher? Is it a state school?

Sorry, that would have been handy to say! Yes, state secondary English teacher, no TLR, back from maternity leave in May.

Christmas unless they'll agree to let you go sooner.

It would be Christmas unless you can negotiate an early release at half term.

Whether the head agrees will likely depend on whether they could find a suitable replacement.

I remember the days of expensive childcare 😔 but it's worth considering the long term - it is a relatively short time before they start to get some funded hours. If you can afford to, it may be worth gritting your teeth through it. Obviously, if not, that's different.

If you can afford it and your school is awful, then of course, look for another school.

@PumpkinPie2016 we've got the funded hours for DD1, £550 a month, and full wack with DD2 at £950 a month. We've got tax free childcare, and yet we're still losing £800 a month with me being in work. With me not being in work we're positive again. We literally cannot afford for me to go into work, as we were expecting the funded hours to make things a lot cheaper!

I might have to beg to be able to leave at half term. It's a new headteacher though, so who knows how he could feel about it!

Ah, sorry to hear that @Butterfly94 it's rubbish that childcare is so expensive! I only had one and that was bad enough 😔

I hope you get sorted!

Doctors sick note off for 3 months for stress, which is what you are under because of debt?

Thanks all, I think it might have to be that @Reigateforever ! First time ever that I've woken up stressed about money.

If your head does release you early will you have o pay back your maternity pay?

The amount of notice needed in teaching is crazy.

Not sure so you should look into the law, can you ´work out notice ´ while off sick?

It is crazy, I hate this! Is it 13 weeks for maternity pay? Not sure if this includes the summer holidays..

I'll call my union today and see what they say.

So NASWUT have said that it must be December 31st, but I can talk to my head to negotiate an earlier finish date and see what he says. So fingers crossed that goes well next week!

Good luck 🍀