Does this type of job exist?

[Lauren87Ellis]

Really need some ideas on what I can do Job wise.

I have 3 children 8, 5 and 3. I’ve not worked since the company I worked for closed during lock down 3 months before I had our 3rd child. I had worked for the same company (leisure management) for 14 years full time and then going 3/4 days a week after having first child. I had set shifts and help from my parents.

Fast forward to now we’ve been scraping by for the last 3 plus years on husbands salary which is decent 50k but doesn’t go far when you have 4 children including step daughter who is now living with us full time. 

I really want to start contributing money wise once 3 year old goes to nursery in September but I feel stuck as our 8 year old has SEN and just about manages to go to school every day but would go absolutely catatonic at the idea of anyone else taking him or picking him up he 
literally will not stay with anyone but me or his Dad. I would only be able to earn a very basic wage now so having to pay for wrap around care 1, wouldn’t be an option with eldest and 2, paying for 3 children would basically wipe out most of what I could earn. Especially during school holidays.

Husband works long hours 7-7 sometimes later and is regularly asked to work away which means I can’t really work evenings.

Obviously what would be ideal is a term time only job at a school but these are in such demand and I have zero experience.

Im thinking do supermarkets do zero hour contracts so i could work loads during term time and then just one or two weekend shift during the holidays and would they allow me to just work say 9:30- 2:30 everyday. They must have loads of shift options available? Does anyone do this type of Job is it a thing and does it work or are there other options im not thinking of?

[Octavia64]

Term time only jobs at schools are less in demand than they used to be.

You'd probably find it easier than you think to get a job there.

[JackSpaniels]

Do you have a L2 qualification in English and Maths? (actually that is probably optional now)
Can you speak English?

That is all that you need to be a TA in a school. There is more of a crisis shortage of support staff than teachers- but the money is low and you only get paid for 44 weeks off the year (term time plus holiday pay)

[EndlesslyDistracted]

One of my relatives is an agency TA, she works in all the different schools in her area and loves it, the pay is atrocious but she finds it really rewarding.

[SilverGlitterBaubles]

Agree with PPs a TA or admin role at a school or some other educational setting would be ideal.

[StealthMama]

Contact centre jobs offer home working now. Have a look at some of the big insurance firms who can offer both home working and flexible hours/ party time shifts in between school. Salary and benefits will be better than working in a school too.

[MollyButton]

There is a bit of a crisis of workers in general. So I would also look at things like retail (Aldi or Lidl) who pay well and might be able to offer something flexible.
And as a parent of someone with SEN, I would suggest you try to get at least a third "trusted " adult around if at all possible for those "just in case" moments.

[chocolateisavegetable]

I do an admin job for a County Council and a colleague does term time only. It’s incredibly flexible - never an issue to swap hours around.

[HairLikeAnEasterEgg]

I think your background in leisure management would put you in a good position for a school administrator role. I'd imagine there must be lots of transferable skills you could bring. Look at private schools too - even longer holidays!

[Lauren87Ellis]

Thank you for all the your responses it’s definitely made me feel a lot more positive about finding something that will work.

I think it’s a mixture of being at home for over 3 years that has knocked my confidence and having limited availability that has made me feel I would be bottom of the pile and just a bit stuck.

[BoredAndBroke]

At home for three years is NOT a stumbling block. It’s an easy story to tell: your successful career in leisure management stalled due to Covid business contraction; you have enjoyed parenting full time since then; now you’re excited to get back into paid employment as you no longer have a toddler to care for but still need that flexibility around family commitments whilst your kids are young and demanding.

As a hiring manager I hear this story on endless loop!

Your situation is trickier than most as you have a child with SEN but it’s possible - you just have to be prepared to fail a bit without getting disheartened.

[Lauren87Ellis]

Thank you @BoredAndBroke that’s really encouraging to hear.

[nervousskier24]

The issue you may have is that unless you work at your dc's school they would have to go into some sort of childcare before / after school.

I think it's unlikely that you'd find something just within the school day unless mid day assistant. Having said that I think some of the TA's just work the mornings and then finish after lunch.

[Lauren87Ellis]

DCs school have just advertised 2 TA apprenticeship positions working towards level 3, it just doesn’t mention how much it pays.

[StealthMama]

Here's an example of the remote work I referenced.

uk.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=cbcb976ffabff7cc&from=serp&xpse=SoB067I3CEit5QwI1B0LbzkdCdPP&xkcb=SoBw67M3CEiSl_RGqR0MbzkdCdPP

Personally if you go into TA work you'll be stuck there for life. If you enjoy it and don't want particular progression then fine, but if you want to progress I would get back in at a corporate where other opportunities become available to you either in the same business or because you gain experience that is relevant elsewhere.

This is fairly easy, no stress work that pays prob 5k more than an apprenticeship too whilst you balance home life.

[daisychain01]

Could you start to dip your toe back into work and build your confidence by volunteering for a charity, doing some general admin. They will undoubtedly give you basic training and it would get you used to using software such as Microsoft Office etc.

Youd get the flexibility you need in terms of hours during the week and could feasibly have time off for school holidays or dip in and out to take care of the children when they're off school.

[fightingthedogforadonut]

I have a child with SEND. I work 21 hours a week in an admin role for a membership organisation. It's very flexible. Hybrid working. Found my job advertised on workingmums.co.uk. (Also don't forget Mumsnet have jobs pages.)

I do echo what a previous poster says about having trusted adults etc to call upon in a crisis.

[howshouldibehave]

Obviously what would be ideal is a term time only job at a school but these are in such demand and I have zero experience.

There are plenty of TA jobs in school available-they will be very low pay and you would I obviously still need wraparound care unless it was at your children’s school. They will probably be working 1:1 with children with very high needs- possibly non-verbal, in nappies, PEG-fed, physical/lashing out etc. We are struggling to recruit at the moment due to the low pay and what the job requires.