Full time teaching to part time - advice please

[flyingheart]

I have a 13 month dd and I am considering moving from ft to pt work. I am stressed and exhausted. I would love another baby in about a year and a half and know there is not a hope I could work full time with two little ones.

Should I be open with the head of the school about my thoughts and feelings. The doctor has just signed me off sick for a week, following a fever, and made it clear I need to rest.

I am so confused because I justified working full time by thinking my dd would attend the prep school I work at. This would mean reduced fees and us being together at start and end of day. If we go for number two then I simply could not carry on at this pace. My school does not have pt vacancies and does not entertain job sharing.

Any thoughts welcome as I need to straighten my head out!

ah, well where shall i start!!!! Nutshell - had to return to work f/t after ML as they refused flexi working - union involved. Off with stress after 6 months - way toooo much pressure - have no idea what the outcome will be - oh and I have twins!!!!
How long have you been back for?
Should you be open with the head? well thats a tricky one - if you really think they would not entertain reduced hrs then I dont see the point, if theres a chance they maybe.
I too tried to justify the return -well you have no choice initially else its pay back the mat leave, oh they will soon be 3 or 4 and at school bla bla.
Hmmm, lets think about it - they still need dropping off, picking up, a fresh mummy to make tea and play bath time games, bed time story, weekend trips, rainy day crafts, baking etc etc
And we are full time teachers, so, quick go to bed so i can get the laptop on, oh my god i havent planned for literacy, hell, i need to cut out those cards, weekend - when will they sleep i need to do some work? oh have you darling thats nice whilst marking books!!!!
oh i could go on email me if you need to
overall teaching and motherhood dont mix - ironic isnt it given all the hol advantages
oh and did you seethe C4 news last night - the pressure is going to be on schools big time come Sept!!!!

I went back in September...everything you have written about is ringing true with me. The extra time spent at school at the start and end of the day was valuable time and now that time is spent doing drop off/pick up. I am shoe horning everything in to a shorter day and don't even talk to me about marking lengthy year 6 creative writing that requires a lot of feedback.

And yes, I saw the news. The doctor has actually signed me off with stress too and is reassessing the situation in half term.

I just want to be a mum with vitality and a wife who is fun to be with! How Re you feeling now you are off?

hey fellow teachers! I am really stressed at the moment as I am preparing to return to work part time and it is really not being made easy. My head teacher has rejected the days i requested to work and I am unsure whether I can arrange childcare for the ones he has stated. Aside from that he has generally been very unhelpful and does not seem to understand maternity law very well. I could accept a transfer but it is better the devil you know? Could end up allocated somewhere which is a nightmare to get to etc!

My few cents -

I returned from ML Sept 2010 and went from FT class teacher to 2 days a week doing PPA cover in a primary school.

Pros of PT work:

No parents evening/reports to write

No assessment data to hand in and justify in pupil progress

I get 5 days a week at home

Cons:

No choice as to what I teach (whatever the FT teacher can't be bothered with so usually the 'dry' aspects of the curriculum)

No continuity of who I'm teaching, seems as soon as I get to know a class I'm moved to a different year group

No data means massive weighting is put on lesson observations, last one I had I was told to teach a specific area within a subject to a class I'd not taught before. Brilliant.

No chance of career progression (TLR/threshold etc)

No CPD - I lead 2 subjects, mentor an NQT and a volunteer who is training to become a TA but have been refused all requests for courses/training for these

Previous experience within the school is ignored (including CP issues - where I'd taught siblings so raised a concern)

Expected to attend all INSET days/meetings regardless of whether I work on that particular day (was initially expected to attend without pay)

No time given for extra responsibilities as 'you're hardly ever here!'

Still have to plan/mark/assess/make resources etc etc but marking can't be taken home unless on paper/in a special ppa cover book, resources hard to make without laminating equipment at home etc

Very little time to get the above done - This is my day

earliest I can drop at nursery is 7.45 - first in
arrive at work about 8.15 depending on traffic,
quickly set up (find out everything I'd planned for has changed),
out on morning duty at 8.40,
school starts 8.50,
teach until break,
break duty
Teach until lunch
20 min lunch (sit down for first time since getting out the car at 8.15 )
Lunch club
Ten minutes before end of lunch rush to a different year group, set up
Teach until home time
Staff meeting for an hour (and a bit!)
Meeting with FT teachers to feed back/check for next day
30 minutes to get everything sorted before I need to leave to pick up from Nursery
Arrive a nursery with 2 minutes to spare - last one out

I know all WOHP have to juggle their lives etc and I am lucky that I get plenty of time at home (ironically we do the least during half term etc as everywhere's so busy!) so I'm not whinging about being busy, just giving the example of what going PT means for me.

Please excuse typo's - have a child with a cold on my arm

Well thanks for all of your responses...was hoping for a more positive vibe from someone but it would appear you all feel the same as me, which in many respects is rather comforting.