I work 5 days and hope to drop to 4 soon - which day would you drop? Esp if you were a primary teacher?!

[Caz10]

I've been working FT since August when dd was 8mths - missing her like mad and generally fed up with work, but can't afford to give up altogether. We reckon we could manage with what I'd get for 4 days, so I am going to apply for flexible working or whatever you call it next term.
Most of the teachers I know who do PT or 4 days have dropped either Friday or Thursday/Friday, but tbh you get all these Friday hols anyway, and Friday is a reasonably dossy day in our school with assembly etc. So I was thinking of asking for a Wednesday off so that I'd only ever have to work 2 days in a row iyswim - has anyone else done that? Or can anyone think of a reason why it would/wouldn't be a good idea? Thanks!

after DD1 maternity leave i did a gradual return to work and first went back 3 days - mon,tues,weds. The problem i had was that i was "out" for so long - weds 5pm til mon 9am is a big chunk of the week. I found it hard to keep up with what was going on, plus every monday i had that "back from holiday" feeling where it took me a couple of hours to get through my e-mails and gear back into it.
people who worked mon,weds,fri seemed to manage it better. they were only ever out of the office for a day, so it didn't seem to others like they were gone for most of the week like it did for me.

so short answer, try and go for weds!

Thanks all, interesting to hear everyone elses' experiences.

I work in quite a small school, people floating around here there and everywhere, there isn't a single class who has 1 teacher from Mon-Fri, I think that is a thing of the past in primary schools tbh. As scienceteacher said we have someone who does cover time, plus DHT who takes on some teaching time to free up staff to go to other stages, plus specialists, plus probationers who do work across various classes etc etc! So the "disruption" is already there.

I have to give 1 terms notice, so have to speak to HT around Easter hols to start this after summer - I feel sick with nerves already - she is v unnapproachable....eeek...

another vote for wednesdays - it's great on only ever have two days work ahead.

I'm working from home two days a week, Weds and Fridays.

Weds appealed as I wanted to have two full days in the office to crack on at the start of the week, but then still break the baby's week up by being home after two days. Back in Thurs to touch base, Fri from home.

I worked Fridays from home before I went on maternity leave this time. The only bad thing is that - and not sure what sort of job you have - Friday afternoons can get unexpectedly busy. People sometime sit on stuff literally all week and then think - well I really MUST get this out before the weekend. And then shoot something into your email inbox that you have to deal with before the weekend. This is a stinker, I have had many days where I thought I was going to be able to knock off around four and then found myself working until past seven. But then at least I'm not commuting too!!

sorry i've just seen you're a teacher. Doh.

I am a teacher and this year I don't work Wednesday. So long weekends are out - but as you say you get the bank holidays. I like only working 2 days (and I work long days, including evenings) and then nothing for a whole day.

I'd like to add my vote to the wednesdays off people. I'm plannning on dropping another day for a short time - anyone got thoughts on the best one?