Would you do more hours for less money for a term time only contract?

[Zippidydoodah]

Maybe a clumsy title but just that.

Part time all year round, or full time hours but term time only, and for less money?

I have to decide if I want to give up my days off in the week to be off all the school holidays. I have some people saying it’s a complete no-brainer but I’d like a balanced range of views, if possible?

thank you!

I hated never having the chance to be in the house when the kids were not

I’ve done all the various term time/part time options. Any job plus kids is a juggling act.
Term time was the worst when I did 5 days a week, I changed to 4 days a week to make it less unbearable- as mentioned no time off for primary school events/sickness or appointments makes life really hard as I had no other family support. So I was working or had kids with me at doctors appointments etc.

Currently doing full time 37 hours - actually feel like I have enough time to do my job, I get full pay and loads of annual leave. It’s the best fit for me but my children are both now at secondary school.

No I wouldn’t, I work part time all year round as my days off in the week are vital for decompressing and catching up on jobs. I take my annual leave when I can during the school holidays. I can only imagine it being an awful slog working full time term time and then full on kids all through the holidays, when would you actually get any time off. I have friends who do 4 days a week on a term time contract and that seems to work well for them.

I went term time only this year, one of my children has send so holiday clubs aren't an option right now. It's taken a huge pressure off grandparents and I suppose parental guilt. However, im exhausted and snappy at times! When my colleagues ask how my holidays have been i want to shout its not a holiday!
Once both are at secondary we plan for me to return to all year round.
Pay wise, I loose a couple of hundred.

I’m sorry, I missed this message earlier. The roles are quite similar really.

I’m still so conflicted about this. If only I could just try it out for a bit with the possibility of going back to my current role!

Please dont if you are a conveyancing solicitor. Ours worked term time only and only school hours. Total waste of time and money.

I think you need to write out the personal pros and cons for both.

for me it would be the term time option. But my four are 6 and under. So very different to you.

if you enjoy your current role, and are managing the holidays, grass might not be greener. Are the older ones at a stage where they could cover the days holiday club isn’t possible.

Also bear in mind that when advertising jobs lots of school jobs show full time equivalent pay not actual.

There is generally very little allowance for starting middle or upper banding and once you hit the top of the band you cant increase your wages other than changing or jobs or the couple of % the unions secure.

with falling birthrates, schools are contracting in size in my area, so reducing the total headcount the school takes in and thus as they are paid by the government per pupil headcount of staff. Schools are in a tough spot economically in the last 8 years cost of exercise books have doubled…. The amount they receive has not! If your job is secure and you enjoy it - the grass is not always greener!

OP I have always been TTO and I tried swapping recently to 3 days per week all year round. I lasted 6 months and swapped back because what I hadn't factored in was that I still needed to take time off in school hols but now it wasn't guaranteed - suddenly 3 of us were wanting the same week off in August, Christmas eve off etc - and we all had to scramble for it/names put in a hat. Couldn't book holidays in advance etc as we didn't know if we would be the lucky ones etc. Think carefully about this part as I hadn't. I do 4 days TTO if that helps. Is there an option of any hybrid/to swap a day off? That's another option for inset cover/sports days etc. x

Thank you for the replies! Just to note that the TTO job is not in a school, and I am guaranteed the holiday I choose in my current job. I feel very lucky to be honest.

My little one just melted my heart, though, which made me think I should do it so that he doesn’t have to do holiday club and/or put up with me attempting to wfh in the holidays.

@MatchaLatteTastesLikeCrap
4 days TTO would be a dream come true! 😊

It definitely works for us for the moment though it's less money of course. I'm not in a school either just incredibly lucky that my employer is receptive to it. Good luck with your decision I know how difficult it is!

Thank you so much ☺️

Which jobs are TTO and not schools?

I have posted to OP upthread re what I would do but as a “retired, forced out” solicitor I’m pleased to see such things exist.

@Zippidydoodahhappy to start a new chat re term time only if that helps but very interesting