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Original poster

Should I go full time for the job I want

28 replies

Todmom1 · 10/10/2025 12:11

So a TA job has come up in my eldest daughter’s school. It’s full time, school hours, term time and a year contract but might be extended. My youngest is nearly 3 and will go to the same school next year. But not reception until 2027. She’s currently in nursery 2 days.
I have mostly been a SAHM for 4 years until last year I took on a remote office job 3 days a week. I hated it and the team and had to leave. So I’m in between jobs. Could do with the extra income.
I really want a term time only job and a TA job in a school because of my teaching experience. And I have applied to this TA job. Which will start soon.
I’m nervous and torn as to whether if I get offered I should do it. It’s full time and I don’t think there is any room for negotiation. I feel guilty. How will we manage everything at home if I’m full time? And will be youngest adapt to full time hours too. It’s not great money but it’s the type of job I want to do and perfect that it’s in the same school. Just full time. Would you do it or not?

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 10/10/2025 12:12

Take it. Timing isn’t always perfect but sounds like the job is- you’ll find a new routine that’s all.

JM88Jen · 10/10/2025 18:15

I would go for it! 🙂

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 10/10/2025 18:56

Take it!! Jobs with those hours are like gold dust, and so valuable to working parents. It’s short term pain for long term gain.

IchiNiSanShiGo · 10/10/2025 18:58

Take it, you’ll make it work, and everyone will adjust. It’ll be fine, and really good for you. Good luck!

Swiftieswiftieswifties · 10/10/2025 19:02

I returned to work earlier this year after a career break and a temporary part time job has now become full time. It’s been quite a change for all of us but we have found our new normal. I really enjoy the job and it fits in super well with my kids too. If you’d have asked me last year could I work full time I would have said no way! But I am! So what I really mean is, apply and give it a go. What’s the worst that could happen?!

wishing you lots of luck OP X

ScoobyBooby · 10/10/2025 19:19

I’d go for it ! Good luck

Shr3dding · 10/10/2025 19:24

If it's school hours term time only I wouldn't call that full time, sounds perfect to me

BaileyHorse · 11/10/2025 15:19

Go for it! You’ll regret it if you don’t I think

PrincessHoneysuckle · 11/10/2025 15:37

I would.I did the same,got a t.a job a year before my son started secondary.Im now a pastoral manager and I love my job.Started a year before it was ideal.for our family but used after school clubs as couldn't make pick up

HewasH2O · 11/10/2025 15:44

Are you a single parent? If not, you share household stuff with your partner.

Please don't neglect building your career. It will be so useful to you in the future.

Mummy2one2016 · 11/10/2025 15:46

Go for it, these jobs dont come up often. I made the same decision two and half years ago. My son is slightly older than your child but the hours are perfect, plus you never need childcare in the holidays.

Easterchicken · 11/10/2025 15:54

Absolutely it's the best of both worlds and little one should get funding anyway

It's only term time and school hours so not many hours to worry about and you get to do all the fun things in holidays which are usually every 6/8 weeks or so. If it was me I'd definitely go for it

Nothingspecialhere · 11/10/2025 15:55

It’s not full time though, it’s school hours, likely 8:45-3:15 or similar. Full time would be until 5:30/6pm which would have a much bigger impact on childcare. It’s 5 days a week, but shorter hours. How will you not manage everything at home? You’ll likely be home 3:30/3:45, maybe 4pm picking up from nursery, but as it’s your child’s school will be close to home. No holiday working, no evening or weekend working required. People manage on much longer hours and have no problems.

JLou08 · 11/10/2025 16:01

I'd take it. It may be full time during term time but you have a lot more leave than any other job so it will even out and it will be so much easier for managing childcare.

DoOneBetty · 11/10/2025 16:04

It is a job a lot of people would kill for, term time and school hours only. Admittedly the pay is shit but you won't have to pay for any wrap around care usually and no holiday to cover. Most of the LSA/TAs I know took their child into school, sat them in the classroom they were working in and then the child walked down to their own classroom or was used by their actual teacher to help set things up because a child needs to be supervised.

And yes there were comments by parents in the playground and the head teacher's response was come and work as a TA and you too can have that 5 minutes of free childcare. Working hours were 8.45 - 3.15pm with 30 minutes for lunch and then 30 minutes of covering a 1 to 1 child whose 1 to 1 needed their lunch.

As for home, you work out a schedule for things like laundry and meal prep etc. You will be home at 3.30pm every day, plenty of time to get a lot of things done. Your youngest will adapt like many have to when put into full time nursery etc.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 11/10/2025 17:58

Do it!! I'm in a somewhat similar situation. I work short hours term time and thought I'd look for longer hours once youngest starts secondary next year. But then an opportunity came up this year and although I wasn't quite ready I knew it was a good deal and probably wont come up again. I now have to leave 15 mins before DD and come home 20 mins later, it's only minutes but she has to lock up and deal with the dog etc. I lost my mid day few hours of grocery shopping and laundry etc so I found it a bit tricky at the start but it's just a matter of making changes in routine and delegating a few extra chores to the kids, dh has taken on some extra tasks too. It's hard to make changes when people are used to a certain way of things. I've found the first few weeks really stressful because I fell behind on things but 6 weeks in and it's going well most of the time. Being off during school holidays is a blessing and most people would love it.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 11/10/2025 18:01

It's only just full time tbh. And there won't the room to negotiate down.

But I'd take it, super convenient

Julimia · 11/10/2025 18:37

Yes yes yes ! You want it, you do it. You will explain to your children that the benefits will be shared by you all. Youve tried what you didn't like now downstairs you will enjoy. Good luck.

DisenchantedDewberry · 11/10/2025 19:01

I worked as an LSA on a full time contract. While kids are small its incredibly difficult in school jobs because rules around sickness and days off are quite strict. If you have reliable childcare if your youngest is poorly thats fine, if you dont and you'd be the one needing to be off work I would reconsider full time education roles. Our school had an attendance policy, no more than 10 days off in any year period 🙈 now if you factor in all of the possible sicknesses for yourself and youngest its laughable. Not only that but you might not be allowed to go to concerts and sports days (speaking from personal experience) hopefully these things aren't across the board but our school/headteacher and council really sucked. Many of my colleagues left for other roles as did I as the work/life balance isn't actually there when you have your own family, even though the hours of work make it sound perfect!
A lot of the girls who do agency work really prefer it and you can be booked for months ahead at a time if the school need you/like you. Would that be worth doing?

DisenchantedDewberry · 11/10/2025 19:03

Sorry I dont want to be the only negative experience on your post 😅 it all depends on the school though honestly, its worth applying for but absolutely find out what their policies are regarding illness etc.

AquaShark · 11/10/2025 20:21

A term time only, school hours job is going to be so helpful when both your girls are in primary school so this is a great opportunity. And it's not ridiculously long hours for your youngest at nursery now.
Finally it's just a 1 Yr contract initially,so if it doesn't feel like the right move for you abd your family it doesn't have to be forever

Coffeeismyfriend1 · 11/10/2025 20:49

Teacher here, I have always worked full time. So glad we don’t have to stress about holiday child care (although sometimes wish I did have a day to myself when the kids are arguing 🙈)

Due to my husbands job we only had to have them in childcare 3 or 4 days a week but my eldest did 8-5 sometimes 6 from 7 months old, presumably your youngest wouldn’t need to do that length as you’ll finish earlier. You should get some funded hours too, which will help with the cost. Once they are both in school you will have a school hours job and no childcare issues.

PloddingAlong21 · 12/10/2025 09:09

Do it.

youngest will adapt easily.

Most families work full time and survive just fine.

abbynabby23 · 12/10/2025 09:28

Todmom1 · 10/10/2025 12:11

So a TA job has come up in my eldest daughter’s school. It’s full time, school hours, term time and a year contract but might be extended. My youngest is nearly 3 and will go to the same school next year. But not reception until 2027. She’s currently in nursery 2 days.
I have mostly been a SAHM for 4 years until last year I took on a remote office job 3 days a week. I hated it and the team and had to leave. So I’m in between jobs. Could do with the extra income.
I really want a term time only job and a TA job in a school because of my teaching experience. And I have applied to this TA job. Which will start soon.
I’m nervous and torn as to whether if I get offered I should do it. It’s full time and I don’t think there is any room for negotiation. I feel guilty. How will we manage everything at home if I’m full time? And will be youngest adapt to full time hours too. It’s not great money but it’s the type of job I want to do and perfect that it’s in the same school. Just full time. Would you do it or not?

Yeap. I mean these days most of the people work and manage their kids & home too. So it’s nothing crazy! Your partner needs to help too. My main question is though do your kids want you to work in the same school? I would hate it if my parents worked in the same school as I go to!

Pineapples198 · 12/10/2025 09:47

I work full time in a school. TA hours are generally shorter than they would be in a corporate office job. 7 hours a day plus half hour break is standard. So you will doing 8-3:30 or 8:30-3 which personally I think are great hours. You have all school holidays off and TA’s don’t usually have to work the 5 inset days either unless there’s a training on for all staff. Our TA’s have worked half a day out of our 5 inset days. If you want to go back to work you can’t find a better set up in my opinion unless you work short days during school time (but they can be all year round)