Let mums work flexibly around staggered primary school starts, says TUC

1 September 2015

Around 400,000 working mothers have children starting primary school across England and Wales this September, which poses new challenges for their work-life balance. The TUC is calling on employers to be supportive of working parents (both mums and dads) and allow them to work flexibly to help manage their childcare over this period.

Most primary schools in the UK operate a staggered start for children entering reception classes, with youngsters required to attend just for morning or afternoon sessions for the first few weeks.

While this is important to ensure children can settle into their new environment, some working parents may find it difficult to fit their shifts and working patterns around these staggered starts, warns the TUC.

The TUC suggests bosses should listen seriously to requests from staff to work flexibly, to take holiday or to take unpaid parental leave over this period to help with childcare arrangements. There are of course lots of different types of families, and many working dads may need the same flexibilities.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The beginning of September marks a huge milestone for children starting reception class. But for many working mums this time of year can also be a logistical nightmare.

“It’s important that starting school is not rushed and that children take their time to become settled and confident in school. But some families will really struggle to juggle childcare arrangements alongside work, and bosses need to be sympathetic to flexible working, work from home and leave requests.

“Flexible working has been a roaring success for both staff and smart employers over the last decade – despite grumblings from some business lobbyists. Unions have always negotiated good flexible arrangements with progressive employers. That’s why every worker should be in a trade union, to get their voice heard and their interests represented.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The number of working mothers with children starting primary school in September 2015 has been estimated using Office for National Statistics data on live births between September 2010 and August 2011 and the number of employed women with dependent children aged two to four years old. The TUC estimate there are 392,997 working mums in England and Wales with a child starting school this autumn.

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- Congress 2015 will be held in the Brighton Centre from Sunday 13 September to Wednesday 16 September.

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Clare Santry  T: 020 7467 1372  M: 07717 531150  E: csantry@tuc.org.uk

Elly Gibson (Mon to Wed)  T: 020 7467 1337  M: 07900 910624  E: egibson@tuc.org.uk

Alex Rossiter  T: 020 7467 1285  M: 07887 572130  E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk
Kay Atwal (Thur and Fri)  T: 020 7467 1385  M: 07941 547469  E: katwal@tuc.org.uk