Part time work options - what works best when you have pre-school and school age kids?

[katsh]

Hi, I am considering a return to work after some time away. I have worked since having children but not with this particular combination of ages ! I have 2 dcs at school ( years 4 and 2) and a 1yr old. I can either work a) full time in term time and have school holidays off b) 3 days each week or c) 5 school length days. I can see advantages and disadvantages to all 3 and just wondered if anyone who has a mix of pre-school and school age children has any wisdom to offer on the subject. Thank you.

Have you thought of Usborne Books? You can pick and chose the hours you work and if need be you can take the little one with you. My DD is 2 (today infact!) and she comes with me to all the preschool events I do and she loves them.

I fyou are interested in finding out more then please feel free to email me at [email protected]

Angela x

Thanks Angela, it's not so much the job that I'm looking for - I have a job to return to -it's more the pattern of work that I am trying to think about. I have 3 ways that I could work part time and i'm trying to work out the pros and cons of each of them

Oh okay thats fair enough. If it was me then I would probably say about working school length days. (it was what I always said I would do if I had of gone back to the Bank) HTH

Angela

I have 2 school age and a pre-schooler and have dithered around a bit on this question. When dd3 was a baby I did arrange work so I had time off with her in the week but as she got older, about 3.5, I went back 5 shortish days on the basis it was fairer on the others to have more of my days off in their holidays. By then she was very happy in childcare anyway though.

So not really any wisdom except you have to work out which matters most to you - seeing your baby alone during the week, or having more time off in the holidays with all 3.

financially if you pay for childcare it's a lot cheaper to work the school hours and pay for childcare for one than work more in the holidays when you'll have to pay for childcare for 3.

thanks fennel - yes good point on the childcare costs.