Advice on working hours single mother

[Clogsaregreat]

I am a single mother to an 8 year old DS. I work full time for the NHS in a non patient facing job. In my team there is myself and 2 other same band colleagues. 1 of these has flexible working and every Friday off (no dependents). The other is full time. My team leader is a higher band and works full time but with flexibility to work from home whenever is suitable for her (no dependents). The other team leader has the same flexibility to work from home whenever she chooses. The overall manager works a short week with set days off.
Working from home is a viable option as we are non clinical facing, our office is v crowded, we can get access to the server from home.
However I have been told by the team leader that she wants me in every day. She cant tell me why specifically but has said i need to be onsite. I am currently working from home 1 day a week and commuting in 4 days a week and balancing childcare around this. My team leader has recommended I send my son to my brothers 150 miles away for the summer to faciliate me being onsite every day. I feel so stressed. I am struggling to rationalise why i have no flexibility for my week when the whole team works flexible hours. Advice please on what to do. Leaving isnt an option at the moment.

Have you put in an official flexible working request? If not do this as a starting point.

Yes before covid i was working a flexible 37.5 hour week of shorter and longer days. When the virus started we were encouraged to work from home and this worked v well for me. I was allowed to work from home 1 day a week. Now I have asked for that to continue but my team leader wants me in every day even though she works from home. Should i submit a new flex working request? How would it stand where I am the only one not permitted to WFH or is this reasonable?

Do you have childcare on the day you are planning to WFH? Could it be that your manager does not want to agree to you working a day knowing you have DS at home that day?

Not giving you a reason? Sorry to bring it up but could they believe that you are not doing your working hours/getting on with the job?

Sorry I'm unclear on whether you have actually submitted a request in writing? If you have your manager needs to respond in writing and a clear business reason needs to be given to turn it down.

Go through official channels and you'll then know the reason they have said no and then have the right to appeal.