Single mum and working full time.

[vicki6158]

Hi ladies. I need some advice. I’m trying to get back into work now my youngest is in school full time. Problem is, I have no idea what I’m going to do. Even if I get part time hours how do I cope with school holidays? I’m on my own 300 miles away from my friends and family after fleeing DA. I have zero help. How does everybody else do it?

Could you apply for term time roles (eg TA, school office, university admin) so you get the school holidays? Or I know a single mum who is a nanny, she's allowed to have her own child with her in the holidays.

I have been applying for roles in term time. There’s a kitchen assistant role going at my children’s school which will be perfect. The problem I have is that I haven’t worked in nearly a decade and I have no qualifications. So I’ve just been applying for anything and everything with the hopes that something will come up. To be honest I’m under a lot of pressure from the jobcentre, which is fair but it’s quite stressful.

The job centre may be able to get you a teaching assistant course which will strengthen applications.

Have you looked to see if there are holiday clubs available locally?

I have but a lot of them won’t take my youngest as she’s only 4 x

Will the job centre support you in doing a course?
When you say you have no qualifications what do you mean, none at all like no GCSE or equivalent or no degree/ professional qualifications?
If you don't have GCSE English or maths or an equivalent that would be my priority right now as it will massively hold you back.

In terms of what parents do in terms of childcare, term time only working and rely on UC to make up the gap, childminders or private nurserys that do breakfast and after-school clubs with school drop offs and pick up, holiday schemes during half-term.

Cashier work at a supermarket tends to be relatively flexible as there are a variety of shifts and it's the sort of job you leave when you finish for the day so can use the evening for studying to move onto something else you might enjoy more when the time comes.

It can be done, OP, but takes careful organising and forward planning. . You need to plan your life around the school.

While ds was at primary school, I applied for jobs that were within 10 mins drive of the school. That meant I could drop ds off at 8.40 and be at my desk at 9am.

DS went to afterschool club from 3pm until 6pm, allowing me to collect him at about 5.45.

That worked from reception until year 4. I was working for Vodafone and had a new boss who was truly nasty, knew I had to do school run, and kept organising 8.30am meetings to make my life difficult.

So I found another job, and carried on through year 5. Then after Xmas in year 6, the afterschool club decided it wouldn't run on Fridays, so for the last two terms, I took a late lunch on Friday, collected 10yo ds at 3pm, settled him at home with drink, snack, tv and phone, then went back to work from 3.30 until 5.30.

This was all before covid. Now I work from home 4 days a week, and school runs are easy. Plus I have a supportive boss, and work for a decent company.

For holidays, I took the same xmas as DS. The local council ran holiday clubs at Easter and in the summer, which DS liked, so I was always first as soon as their books opened. I usually booked 12-16 weeks in advance.

Plus I was friends with another single mum and we covered for each other for snow days, inset days and sickness.

By senior school you will be an expert project manager. You'll always refuel your car on a Sunday afternoon, have 5 clean school shirts ironed and ready to grab at a moment's notice, you'll know every bake sale, non-uniform day and school trip off by heart.😁

That’s a good idea. Thank you.

Try to find a decent employer, would be my top bit of advice. Can the job centre help you out with an IT skills course? Then you could apply for admin roles with local NHS or council?

Spend time looking at all the employers within a short distance of home & the school. Visit all their web sites and understand what they do. Then you'll have a better idea of what you are aiming at and the kind of roles available nearby.

You mention a job in a school kitchen - look for other similar roles - care homes, private schools, pubs - all have catering roles. Can the job centre help with a food hygiene certificate?

How are your IT skills?
Brush up on Microsoft software like word and excel, Power BI is a biggie at the moment if you have the skills.

Free courses on the OU, there is an autism one that is useful to do and you can talk about it in any school interviews.
If you want to be a TA type role read up on the National Curriculum, learn about phonics and key strategies. Pediatric first aid is a useful one for school jobs. Keeping children safe in schools legislation and other key information, read up on common safeguarding practises and common abbreviations like DSL, MASH, PREVENT. Even if you aren't experienced dropping in information on any of those in your application and interview will be helpful.

You may find some courses on these things for free at local libraries or adult education centres.