Why is it so hard to get a term-time only job!

[Monsooon]

Honestly, finding a term-time only job feels impossible! My eldest just started primary in September and my youngest is in preschool, so I need something that fits in between school hours. Obviously the search is a lot more limited, but when you do get an interview, especially for ones in schools, they make you interview against other people at the same time. It’s just awful and really stressful. You’d think there’d be more options for parents in this situation, but it’s like we’re expected to just figure it all out somehow! I’m literally gonna have a breakdown soon.

Lots of places have "core hours" where you're only expected to be there say 10-3 ish and the rest of the work can be fitted in as suits you. Would something like this work?

Sounds like you've never had a job before ...
Term time jobs are like gold dust as many other parents want them and yes you will be up against many others do you think you'd be the only one ?
Many others manage to raise a family and work full time/shifts etc I know it takes a lot of juggling and hard work but it depends on your own drive

I'm term time only in a school and agree they're like gold dust, once you have one you're very unlikely to let it go! In our office, we've been here 20, 15 & 11 years between us and will probably all be here until we retire! If you have a childcare qualification you could look at becoming a TA and then you'll have more opportunities and could get jobs through agencies who offer long term contracts etc. At our school a few of the TA's have got jobs by doing TA apprenticeships then being offered positions once qualified.

With 2 children, you probably can't afford to work as a TA.

The year we had 1 in yrR (plus breakfast club and ASC) and and one in nursery with 30 hrs free but having to pay the remaining 20hrs a week, our childcare bill was more than DH earned as a TA.

Why not consider being a childminder OP, mine used to only work term time only which suited me as I did/do. She was used by a lot of teachers who didn't need the childcare in the holidays. Or work all year round, point is you can still be with your kids and make money when they're at school. In a school:TA, lunchtime supervisor, admin, lab tech, retrain as a teacher. Outside of schools: some local authorities, civil service, zero hours type contracts in retail, and some private companies are becoming much more forward thinking now. They are of course harder to find as jobs go, but there are out there.

If you do fancy being in a school perhaps try volunteering at first - a bit of reading with the kids to get your face known and some experience for your CV. SEND schools often advertise for staff due to the need for higher staff to child ratios and good ones can provide excellent training for career changers.

You need to train in something that you can offer appointments for or just take on a job at a time.
hairdressing? Lashes? Nails? Consultancy? Painting and decorating? Arts and crafts?

Not necessarily. I never missed a sports day, play or event when my son was young, despite working in a school. I've been there 18 years now and he's grown up but they were quite understanding. Some schools are more understanding than others.

@Monsooon Because everyone would like to have these hours and fit in with childcare needs. Or just work from 9-1pm for the same reason.

Not sure if anyone has suggested tutoring?

You’d think there’d be more options for parents in this situation, but it’s like we’re expected to just figure it all out somehow! I’m literally gonna have a breakdown soon.

And the children’s other parent is doing what……?

You have had years to sort out childcare in readiness for this. The majority of parents have to juggle - it’s not on employers to provide a smorgasbord of options for you.

I already stated that I’ve only been applying for term time only roles on my new term and TES. When did I ever say I was expecting employers offering all year round contracts to offer term time ones to me? Please read. Like I said also which you didn’t read, is that my child was in nursery but I moved him to a pre school of the school where his sibling goes. You don’t know me or my situation, I don’t have usual support like many others do. Instead of your unhelpful comment which was pointless and brought nothing to the discussion, why not make a suggestion?? Horrible attitude you. Tell me about your life and all the support you had won’t you

God fordbid anyone comes to you for advice

Most of these examples already have significant delays. There are also often people who want to work in the holidays, especially students. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

I go to all of mine. My children are only young once and I had them with the full intention of working around them rather than them around me.

There are jobs out there where you can have what you need. However, for many you need to have been there for a while in the first place.

Have you looked at special education? Staff ratios are higher so there are more positions available.

It’s physically and emotionally demanding and definitely not for everyone (often there is a high staff turnover as people realise they don’t enjoy the jobs) but might be suitable.

Had zero support, actually. Family thousands of miles away. DH and I both made changes to enable us to work and cover childcare. I worked nights while he worked days for several years.

So I have walked in those shoes and I have never worked part time or term time only or expected the perfect job to land in my lap. (Nor would I have been the only one making changes to my working arrangements to support a shared child.)

Truth hurts, does it?

Why are you even on here? Let me assume about you too. You sound miserable and hard done by. Bitter.

Bet you did… well use that same energy and get off this post because you added nothing but half a pence.

The bit about the other parent is a valid question though.
If you and their dad each take off 4 weeks separately, that's 8 weeks covered between you. Then the other 6 weeks can be covered by

• 2 weeks leave as a family
• 4 weeks - a mix of holiday clubs /unpaid parental leave

But you are assuming that both parents work somewhere that will allow them annual leave during the school holidays when some employers end up with employees fighting over those dates. Parental leave can also be postponed if there is a business need to do so.

It’s not just school hols. OP wants to only work inside school hours as well. If the kids dad did drop off or pick up it would open up other options for OP (as well as showing kids that both parents can do parenting, not just one of them).

working nights is an excellent option. i have known many mothers do this, i tried it myself

Yabu to expect it - we need to bear these things in mind when we have kids ! The vast majority of workplaces want people all year round.

I don’t work Mondays which automatically makes holidays a bit easier

another colleage also works 80%+ over 5 days which makes the terms a bit easier but doesn’t help with the holidays at all

wheb the kids were very small I ran my own business and chose to work term time only. Other than working in/with a school that’s your only option. Yes it’s a PITA and very expensive! It helps a lot as they get older if you can wfh