am I doing the right thing? 3 days long hours vs 5 days school hours/term time

[merrilymay]

I am about to leave my current job (3 days a week but including sat and sun) to become a TA at DD1's new school, where she will start in reception in September. I also have DD2 age 2. It is a big career change and something I have wanted to do for a long time - I applied for the job not really thinking I would get it, and was very surprised (and pleased) when I did!

It was advertised as 25 hours, so I figured I would have at least 1 day off in the week. Now they say actually they are making the post 30 hours . I don't know the exact hours yet, I will find out more when I speak to the class teacher next week, but now I am dreading that it might end up being full time school hours.

It sounds ridiculous but I'm in tears at the thought of not having any full days at home with my 2yo anymore. But I have been so sick of working weekends and having no family time - plus I work long hours at the moment, on the days I work I usually don't see the kids before they go to bed, so the actual length of time I will be out of the house will be about the same anyway.

It just seems such a big change for DD2, she will go from 1 full day a week at nursery to 5 days a week with a childminder 8-3.30. And, by the time I've paid the childminder, I won't have made any money anyway.

But people tell me it's so tough to get a TA job, let alone one at your DC's school. And if I stick it out, in 2 years time DD2 will be at the school too and my childcare costs will be pretty much nothing.

I just feel really torn, and miserable at the thought of leaving her and I'm tempted to forget the whole thing... but then I think I might seriously regret it in a couple of years time.

It seems a bit mean to advertise for 25 hours and give you the job and then say sorry we need 30 hours.

I work as a TA and used to do about 32 hours to start with . It was very tough but mine were older. i hated having no time to do anything and spending weekends cleaning and chores.

Now I work part time. so much better.

the pay is a bit crap though so watch your childminding doesn't make it expensive and not worthwhile.

shame you can't do 4 days.

I know, I am in 2 minds whether to ring tje school and say I can only commit to 4 days. When I asked about working hours they were quite vague and said it depended on the teacher.

My plan B was to quit my job anyway and do a 1 day a week TA course while getting some volunteer experience. Now I almost wish I could do that instead.

I think you should have a frank conversation with the hiring manager. Given that they (presumably) advertised the job at 25 hrs. Say that you are prepared to do the 30 hours, but you applied on the basis of 25 hrs and it will be very tough for you to do more. Ask them if there is a way they can be flexible...

Like Relaxed, I would approach the school and do as she says, but if that doesn't work, then I think I would probably stick it out. I know it is tough working until 3.30 every day, but really there are lots of potential benefits to consider to this...

*If your youngest goes to bed at 7, and you finish at 3.30 you'll have a minimum of at least 3 and a half hours with your child every day.

*Once she's 3, you'll have the 15 hours funded childcare... that will be a big help financially.

*You'll also have all the weekends together as a family.

*If you currently work weekends, so the time you'll lose out with DD2, you'll gain with DD1 - how much time will you really get with DD1 if she's at school during the week, and you work weekends...?

• You'll also have all the school holidays together. Its rarely much more than 6 weeks between holidays (usually just the autumn term).

• Finally, the most important thing is the long term benefits for both your DDS. You'll be in a job where you can collect them every day from school (this is something I consider to be very important, but seems to be overlooked so much. Your children will need you after school as much, if not more than when they were little!), you'll be there for sports days and assemblies etc... You won't get any of this if you work as a TA in a different school.

And yes, getting a TA job in your child's school can be as rare as hen's teeth. I know lots of women who would tear their right arms off to get a job like this. One of my friends recently got a TA job (but not at her daughter's school) and I think she said that there were over 80 applicants for her job. Its not an opportunity I would throw away in a hurry.

Incidentally, I work school hours (teaching, but not at my children's school) and made the decision to work when they were little to get the benefits once they were at school. That time goes so quickly, you've got what 2 more years? My youngest is now in reception, and I know my sacrifice of part time working for those 3 years now means that I can now look forward to the next 11 years of being there after school every day and around every school holiday and I am so glad that I made the decision to work - getting the hours I have got is rarer than hen's teeth too, so I consider myself very fortunate.

Good luck with your decision whatever you decide.

I would love a job working the hours your new one has, you'll see your kids every morning and afternoon plus all through the holidays with no childcare costs or worries. Please take it ( or let me have it!)

thank you all for helping me see the bigger picture! Especially MrsLetch - it's good to hear from someone who is a few years down the line. You are right, the next 2 years will go in the blink of an eye, and then both girls will benefit hugely from having me there every day to take them to school, pick them up etc. I also hadn't thought about the assemblies, sports day, school plays etc but you are right of course - if I was in a different school I may well have to miss them.

I had actually drafted an email saying I can only commit to 4 days, but now I've decided I am just going to suck it up and wait and see what hours they give me (when they finally get around to telling me which class I will be with...)

I would love to get a job like that! Could I just ask what qualifications / training / experience you needed? Dd1 is starting school this year, dd2 is starting next year and I'm currently on maternity leave with dc3. I have no idea how I will fit my current job round them at the moment so looking at alternatives...

Sorry for the hijack

I agree with what mrsletch says she said it in a much better way than I was going to

lilibreeze, I think I have been very lucky - I am on the committee at DD1's preschool and have done lots of volunteering there, so the preschool head very kindly wrote me a fabulous reference, which I think helped a lot. The only other experience I had was a few months of volunteering 1 day a week in a local promary school about 5 years ago (I was planning on doing a pgce so wanted to get some experience - then I fell pregnant so things didn't quite work out the way I had planned and I never did the pgce!)

As I said upthread, my plan B was to do a 1 day a week course at the local college to get a Level 3 TA qualification. To do that it was 1 day in college, and you had to volunteer in a school 1 day a week at the same time. If you have a look around I'm sure you will find similar courses near you.

Thanks for the info - I'm sure you're right that all the volunteering has helped - and especially the great reference - I've heard before there is a huge amount of competition for T.A jobs.

Hope you manage to agree hours you're happy with - congratulations on getting the job

Hi, I popped on here to look at maternity pay stuff but stumbled across your post! Im only 14wks with my first so don't have children....however, in terms of feeling guilty about leaving ur child with a childminder, I would really try not to worry....I have worked in nurseries and have nannied before and the children are always happy, sociable and well looked after, plus, just think how happy they will be every school holiday when they know they will have their mum around every day! i am a teacher now, working in a secondary school and the holidays are going to be a god send (I imagine) as has been mentioned before, the half terms do whiz by and then you will get lots of quality time with both children. The cost/pay aspect is crap....Ive had a bit of a heart attack when looking into childcare costs....but like you say, once they are both at school it will be like a dream job....good luck with whatever you decide x