What are you supposed to do with your kids during the school holidays if you work ?

ellay864

Have you/your wife been with your employer for more than 26 weeks? If you have, you may well have the statutory right to ask for flexible working which may be part-time, term time, job share or other options that help you sort out childcare. Check out here
Many many companies recognise the problems and do make concessions to staff so they can look after kids during holidays. But you'll always have times you jsut have to take that odd day off work...welcome to the wonderful world of working parenthood!!

I note in one post you said it's a while off but it will come round soon and you do need to get something in place. Others have already asked how you're going to manage before and after school; many schools offer provisions for this but not all do so don't assume again that the school will sort this out for you.

I did actualy find one solution that was never intended...divorce makes it easier as they go to their dads for half the holidays lol

LadyMariannaKL

There is always Parental Leave.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Parentalleaveandflexibleworking/DG_10029416

I have used it in the past, saved enough moeny to tide us over and booked PL to cover the holidays where I didn't manage to get placements in the local holiday clubs.

inkie

I worked for the NHS and negotiated to work around school hours during term-time (worked 30 hours, but spread over 5 days). In the holidays the girls went to the NHS Holiday club. What we have also done in the past is my DH and I have worked opposite each other - i.e. he has worked during the week, and I worked 2 long days at the weekend, therefore no childcare issues - like ships in the night though!

Not an issue now as I gave up nursing/midwifery and am now a minister and so plan my work to work from home during the hols, or if I go in to the church, then they just come along with me.

code-a-holic

Lots of good suggestions there. I am part of the management for a playgroup, so many parents have had these questions. Around here choices are very limited. Rural villages dont have the holiday clubs and after school clubs I can see on offer on this thread. I know the local leisure centre does a 4 week days a week but with 30 places available covering a 30 mile circle It would be a struggle and is age 8-11 i believe! Close as it gets here. my eldest went to a childminder when i went back to work, but I gave up when I realised I wasnt spending enough time with him for my liking. Im seeing more and more mums switching to teacher careers just becuase it was not cost effective paying for childcare in the holidays. A close friend gave up being a police women as it worked out over the summer holiday she ended up £250 out of pocket - not to mention the closest available childminder was a extra 20 miles on the way to work!
I partly envy the families with grandparents that will do childcare - my mother laughed at the idea of it ('Done my child rearing thank you') - but I also feel sorry for the grandparents who feel they have to do the childcare.

thunderbird

I hate the school holidays for this reason! I take annual leave to cover some of it, the rest of the time they go to a holiday club near my work. It is for 4-11 year olds and as mine are now 9 and 11 it can seem a bit 'young' for them. I am not looking forward to when my eldest is 11 and I have to sort out something else. There seems to be a gap in childcare from 11 years up to when they are old enough to be left by themselves.

mum2twinsx2

Im just in this dilemma myself, my eldest two started school in september and i have just returned to work after maternity leave. So xmas holiday childcare will be required.
I found out the private nursery they attended before going to school and that my youngest attended now runs holiday club so will being using that. They are use to the nursery as they went there from 8months until august, and they pick and drop them off at school two days a week.

Sometimes its worth asking other parents at the school what they do for childcare out of term time. Ringing around your nurseries near you see if any do holiday club.

seven-day-weekend

code-a-holic wrote: »

I partly envy the families with grandparents that will do childcare - my mother laughed at the idea of it ('Done my child rearing thank you') - but I also feel sorry for the grandparents who feel they have to do the childcare.

I don't have any grandchildren, but if I had no way would I look after them virtually full-time. I've done my bit. It's not my job, nor my responsibility.

If grandparents WANT to do childcare, fine, but I personally know of several who have felt pressurised into it and have put their own lives on hold as a result.

I still think that with a bit of creative thinking ( and possibly a bit of downsizing) there should be no need for much paid childcare in a two parent family.

onlyroz

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I still think that with a bit of creative thinking ( and possibly a bit of downsizing) there should be no need for much paid childcare in a two parent family.

And what about those women who *want* to have a career?

Kimberley82

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

One partner work days, and one nights. Or, one work weekdays and one weekends.

Single parents could work this out between them (wages topped up with tax credits if they are working at least 16 hours a week).

Then you don't need a childminder/nanny/babysitter/after school club/nursery/other-assorted-childcare.

Have you ever tried working all night then looking after children all day then working all night again? People need sleep.

Imp

onlyroz wrote: »

And what about those women who *want* to have a career?

Maybe they should rank their *wants* and decide which of their *wants* is the most important to them.