Term time work

wannaberich2009

Hi, I was just after some advice really.

I'm a single mother to a 8 yr old and a 6 yr old. I am looking for some work to do either term time or maybe evenings.
Apart from a temp job I had a couple of yrs ago for a couple of months, I haven't worked for 8 yrs.
I have been researching, but it seems schools are the main places to look for term time only work.
Does anyone have any other ideas I could look into please.
Thank you

Bennifred

Other educational establishments would probably have term-time working - further education colleges, universities, etc. Councils, large retailers.......

starnight_2

nhs secretarial/clerical positions. I work as a clerical officer and know people who take term time.

chanie

YOur best bet is a school, or an organisation that maybe does business with a school, so may be quiet when schools are shut and so may be able to accommodate term time only.

I work in HR in the public sector (have worked in NHS) and I've only ever come across 1 term time only contract in all my years in HR.

The problem with term time only is who will cover the work when you aren't there. Also many people with children book leave over Christmas, summer and Easter. This is why (from what I've heard) retailers aren't keen on term time only.

I'm not trying to put you off, its just that from what I've seen, term time only jobs are the 'holy grail' and competition is really fierce. the best thing you can do is make yourself an employable as possible, so do training courses and volunteer in a school.

nw_mum

I agree, I'm looking myself for term time work so any advice welcome. I've looked at schools but there are a lot of people looking for the same work. Housing , council web sites are flexible too

wannaberich2009

Thanks for the replies. I was advised to do volunteering in a school, then after 6 months I could do a teaching assistant course. Suppose this is my best bet.
I was also thinking of going to a supermarket, maybe doing term time, then making up my hours in the holidays by doing evenings. I'm not sure how flexible they are, but its worth a go!

chanie

An alternative to term time only could be to see if there are any companies that would let you have the summer and/or Easter off. Companies are more likely to be able to cover slightly longer periods of time than odd weeks. You get many Uni students who work in retail and often want to work extra hours over the summer/Easter. However, they normally don't get half time off.

kingfisherblue

wannaberich2009 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I was advised to do volunteering in a school, then after 6 months I could do a teaching assistant course. Suppose this is my best bet.
I was also thinking of going to a supermarket, maybe doing term time, then making up my hours in the holidays by doing evenings. I'm not sure how flexible they are, but its worth a go!

You can do a teaching assistant course without having six months voluntary work - but you do need to work or volunteer in a school whilst you are on the course, as there will be tasks for you to complete with the pupils and staff. Be aware, though, that in some areas, there are few jobs but a large number of people who are qualified. Jobs often go to those already working or volunteering in the school. If you can offer something additional, it can make your application stand out. Community centres often offer courses that could be relevant, including paediatric first aid, sign language, or food hygiene.

You could also consider contacting educational publishers and asking if they have any sales positions - this would be term time, as there is no one there to sell to during the holidays.

Banks sometimes offer term time hours. I have a friend who works part time for HSBC and has all school holidays off.

Furny

I sympathise as I am in the same boat!.
I daily check the local County Council Job site & there are school jobs to fit in with the hours, Kitchen Assistants & Dinner ladies etc so that may be worth a try. I am just in the process of applying for a job at a college as the terms just about co-incide with my DS's school, but theres not a great deal out there where i live.
Good Luck

Spendless

Is the reason for wanting term-time due to an issue with childcare? I ask cos I went for a job interview in a school (office) and though it was def term-time it wasn't school hours. Wasn't the school my kids went to and was a distance from my house so I'd have needed to use the breakfast club.

I don't know if it's the same everywhere, but I do know someone working term-time only and she isn't allowed holidays at other times, so has a problem when it comes to sports days, concerts, special assemblies. Obviously not as much of a problem if you have a job where you can juggle hours from 1 day to another or work later or start earlier or perhaps if your child is at the school where you work and you are allowed to watch that way.

I work 9-3 4 days per week, so only have to pay for childcare when the kids are off school and for the times when AL doesn't cover. I am married though, obviously my hols wouldn't stretch enough if there was an absent parent who wasn't prepared to pull his weight.

You mention evening working too. I used to do this when mine were little, working in grocery stores, off-licences and a diy chain. Some woman I worked with combined this with a lunchtime assistants job which is usually around 1 hour-ish per day.

Around here, voluntary work is def the way in to classroom assistants/clerical staff. Catering staff seem advertised more often.

I also know a mum who was working at Boots on a nil hour contract, but obviously that's no good if you need 16 hours plus per week, as she found she got 'laid off' when the recession kicked in.

victoriaplum1

I used to have a term time only job in a University Library but Uni's don't have half terms and term dates differ to schools - Civil Service sometimes can accomodate term time only but they are shedding staff in alot of their departments - still may strick lucky though, check out admin jobs on civil service website. Higher Education colleges may also offer term time only and school cooks/assistants/office staff would fall into that category usually too. Have to say now I am in a position of having 2 young children and desperately needing a job I do wonder why I didn't stay as a Civil Servant or in the term time only job as finding it hard now to find work to fit in with partner and kids as partner works 2 shift system....hindsight is a wonderful thing.