Primary School teacher wanting to return to work part-time

[Bayliss1]

Hi
I am new to this site and need some help and advice please!!
I am currently on maternity leave from my full time primary teaching post and am due to return to work in May after having a full 12 months off. After some discussions my husband and I have decided it will be best for me to return to work part time (4 days per week). I need to obviously go to speak to the headteacher about this as he thinks I am returning to a full time post. I am needing help with reasons to give the headteacher as I don't feel he would simply accept me saying it's because I don't want to be away from my chd for 5 days!!!! I also want help with justifying the day I want out of the classroom (I want to work Tuesday to Friday) ... my reason is childcare but is this acceptable for me to say this???
Any help and advice is very much appreciated!!! Thank you!!!

Just a thought, but could you work full time until the end of the academic year? Just might make life easier for the head if you give this as an option and then go pt from September? It might be a different answer that way?

You will need to make a formal application for flexible working, not just speak to the Head teacher. As far as specifying days goes, I wouldnt mention that you want a specific day off due to childcare, as at the end of the day, this isnt your employers problem. If it makes no odds to them, then they may be fine, but I guess a lot will depend on how easy or difficult it is to organise staffing for the day you don't work. Obviously your class will be in school 5 days so the job will need to be done by someone!

I second Potterings point about perhaps suggesting you complete the school year on your original contract. Another thought: it may be easier for the school if you were to do 3 days rather than 4, as it may be easier for them to find a job sharer for the remaining two days rather than one. There aren't so many people out there who are prepared to work just one day, whereas two is probably easier to cover. If you are still holding out for 4, then again, you may need to be more flexible about your day off, because if the school looks to appoint a one-day person to cover your day off, a Monday probably wouldnt be the optimum day for them. If I were employed just to work one day a week, I definitely wouldnt do it on a Monday or a Friday, because that would curtail any chance of long weekends away, and I wouldnt have thought many people would be prepared to do that just for the sake of one day a weeks work.

Youre thinking this through in good time though so hopefully you can put in a good application and get hours which suit you and the school

Remember they dont have to accept your application to work pt at all. Like the other posters say, be prepared to be flexible. Good luck with your negotiation.

Thank you for the responses. Working full time until the end of the academic year does seem a good idea but then I'm missing time with my young child when she is the reason I want to go part time. I do think the headteacher will understand my reasons because he is very family orientated but we will see!! I'm going to see him hopefully tomorrow so I will let you know the outcome. Fingers crossed!!!

PS I help with the written application I will need to make would be a great help!!

Thanks again!

It is true that to be refused I would need to be given valid reasons???

Yes there are several reasons For which they can turn down an application, and not being able to recruit to cover the rest of the job would be a valid one so it is in your interests to be flexible. Other reasons would be if it incurred additional costs to the employer, or put additional burden on colleagues or affected the business adversely etc. If your employer is family oriented then I'm sure they will be keen to make it work, but its best not to be too rigid in what you're expecting, as it's a two way street

I have just gone from 3 days to 4 days as a primary teacher, and can i just say that if money is not ther reason I would reccommend going three days with a young child as the balance is good and people at work treat you more like a part time employee. When I was three days a week, I was given more support to complete tasks and my job share took over class admin issues for her share of the week. Now I am 4 days a member of the SMT does my 4 th day, so all class teaching responsibilites are mine, just as if i was full time. On the flip side I have more control of my class and feel a full member of the school, but just thought id mention it.

Thanks for that missmapp, good to hear your feelings. Money is the issue for not going to 3 days unfortunately!! I do still want the main responsibility for the class (I may regret saying that when I am juggling a young child with teaching!!!) I'm just nervous about speaking to the HT and getting my words all wrong!!!!

I have spoken to the head today and he was quite ok about me going part time but I have to persuade the school governors about the day I want out the classroom!! He thought my reasons of childcare and assessment were good ones so I now need to write the letter!!

Nest of luck Bayliss. Let us know how you get on.