single mum..work!?!.how is it possible??

emmell

My neice and sister in law have both overcome the school holiday bit by taking jobs at schools.
They'll admit it's not very glamorous, school dinners, but it works for them. Both started on relief but one has now got permanent.
ML.

jennihen

Hi Mz Jones!
A lot of my friends are also single working parents and we rely on each other to look after the younger ones during the holidays. It doesn't cost anything and the children are entertained, supervised and safe. Does your son have many friends in a similar position?

Hammyman

MzJones wrote: »

Many thanks for the construtive replies, I will look into the working mums link, thanks for that.

In the past I worked in finance,

Any good at book-keeping? You could set up business doing the books for small companies and self employed traders.

As for working with kids at school, jobs to suit the hours are few and far between. My missus is lucky that she has a job that starts at 9.30am and finishes at 2.30pm.

Hammyman

paulwf wrote: »

OP you ask about the 12 year old being left alone after school...the comments at the end of a recent BBC News Magazine article are worth a read:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8704827.stm

I was a "latchkey kid" in the late 1970's at the ripe old age of 8. Both parents worked. I got back from school around 4pm and they turned up around 5.30pm. I didn't die, end up in hospital, burn the house down, get lost on the way home from school etc etc etc. In fact, I thought it was great as I got to choose what to watch on telly

My eldest son at 12 was more than capable of getting himself home and looking after himself if he needed to. He knew how to use the phone and call up us or grandparents etc if needed.

jlj_2

Hello,
Would it be possible for you to maybe get a job in school as a classroom assistant? That way you'd get holidays off which would make things much easier for you. Hope you find something that suits you and your children soon.

hurricanewyn

Hi OP - I know it seems daunting, but it can be done.
Some options are working for a school (especially if you can get a job in your children's school) - they should be on your local council's website.
Or working for the council itself - even if you start full time they'll usually have flexi (I work for a LA and after six months I was eligble to request a change in my working hours so was able to decrease my hours to 9-3.15 which means I can walk the kids to & from school. I still have to sort out holidays, but any that me & OH can't manage we use the local holiday club). Our local council also runs free playschemes from 9-3 during the easter holidays, half terms and school holidays.
I know Sainsburys offers term-time working, perhaps the other supermarkets do too?
You could also work from home as a self-employed Childminder? wouldn't suit everyone, I know, but it might be an answer...

tiff

I'm not a single parent, and I work in a school but I would be happy to leave my 12 year old for an hour or so after school. Some of his friends have their own key and let themselves in till the parents get home from work.

Firey668

If the kid is 12years old they are more than old enough and should be totally capable of looking after themself/feeding themself/entertaining themself for the few hours between when they return from school and you return from work!

zzzLazyDaisy

MzJones wrote: »

My mortgage isn't huge and I do get help, not housing benifit but the same department, they'll only pay half which means I have to pay the extra £200,

When you start working you will not get any help towards your mortgage although you may get some council tax benefit, and as other have said you should get tax credits.

If you go to entitledto.com and have a play with various salary figures, you will see what you would be entitled to. Unfortunately it often works out that you are better off financially just working the minimum 16 hours.

concerned43

you won't be moving onto JSA until late October so you have plenty of time to plan. There is one thing being available for work (JSA requirement) and another actually getting a job! If childcare is impossible then you can argue this case with JCP - have a look at this for more info.
http://www.cpag.org.uk/cro/wrb/wrb208/Lone_parents.htm