33 of the best term-time only jobs

As a parent, you're already a bit of an expert at working with children. So, if you worked as a teacher before having kids, why not go back to the classroom?

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a Return to Teaching programme for mums and dads who've taken a career break to start a family.

Not only is teaching a fantastic term-time job, but it means you can have flexible work that fits around your family. There will probably be some lesson planning to do in the holidays, but you can be totally flexible about when you do it.

After years spent persuading your child to eat their vegetables, you're no doubt a natural salesperson by now.

A role in telesales means you’ll either be based in a call centre or at home and lots of companies offer term-time only roles, so there's a lot of potential for flexibility.

The NHS isn't just about nursing ... With more than 300 career options to choose from, many of them offering term-time only hours and flexible working, a job within the NHS could be just what you're looking for.

From administrative assistant to roles in management, there are many jobs that don't require medical experience.

Check the NHS jobs website to find out more.

If you've got a good eye for an image, you can use these skills and sell your photos. Let's face it, you’ve probably taken THOUSANDS of photos of your child by now, so any skills you have will have been well and truly honed during your time as a SAHP (stay-at-home parent).

All you need to do is register with online stock photo agencies like Fotolia or Pixabay – and get uploading. Anything from street signs to trees in your local park goes and, if they like your photos, every time someone pays to use one, you get a cut of the money.

Before and after-school clubs aren't only super useful for parents who are already working, they’re also a great option if you’re looking for a job.

Term-time only clubs are often run by schools or at venues like your local community centre. Apply to be a supervisor and help look after the kids – from running activities to serving snacks – until home time.

It's basically what you’d be doing at home, but this way, you’re getting paid for it!

Love being a SAHP but keen to get back into work?

A great way to ensure you only work term-time – and from home – is by going freelance and setting your own hours.

If you have a skill you could sell into a company on a contract basis (for example, writing, social media or marketing), this could be a great opportunity for you.

And even if you haven't worked since having your child, don't worry – everything will come flooding back as soon as you get started again. Promise!

For advice and tips from other freelance mums, check out our work forums.

If anyone knows how to multitask, it's a parent. After all, who else could entertain a child, make dinner, do the online food shop and run a Hoover round – all at the same time?

Put those skills to use in the workplace by taking a job as a school receptionist. You'll use your multitasking skills to the max! You'll also need good admin skills and to be comfortable dealing with other parents.

Has your child spent months nagging you for a pet rabbit, hamster or guinea pig?

Then why not start up a small animal boarding business, looking after other people’s pets when they go on holiday? The beauty of running your own business means you decide when you work – ideal for a term-time only job.

On average, you could charge around £5 a day to care for a small pet at your house – you can charge more if you’re looking after bigger animals, like cats or dogs.

You'll need special insurance, so research beforehand is a must.

They don't call you the party pro for nothing. OK, perhaps it's just you that calls yourself that, but if organising parties is your thing and you've got a bit of a flair for sales, you could be brilliant at direct selling: organising shopping parties to sell anything from Tupperware and jewellery to Avon products .

You get paid commission for everything you sell and can choose the hours you work.

You’ve supported your own child through their quizzes, tests and exams so why not put that skill to good use by marking exam papers?

You’ll need certain qualifications to be a marker, but you could earn between £500-£1,000 per set of exam papers. Plus, there's something very appealing about having all the right answers. Take a look at exam board websites, like OCR or AQA , for details about becoming a marker.

Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol and – when the kids have gone to bed – Love Island. As a parent, your TV certainly gets a LOT of use, and we bet you have a thing or two to say about Curtis dumping Amy and Jordan's treatment of Anna!

Rather than sharing your opinions with your partner and watching them go in one ear and out the other, why not get paid for watching the programmes you love (not cartoons!) by working as a TV reviewer?

Search online for companies like The Viewers, which puts together research panels for new programmes and also wants feedback on current TV shows.

You could earn £40-£70 for a group discussion.

After helping your child with their phonics, teaching them to read and diligently practicing times tables, you're already pretty well-prepared for a job as a teaching assistant.

You don't need a degree, but different schools have different entry requirements. With a starting salary of up to £15,000, it's a great term-time job option.

If you've been enjoying a new hobby since your child was born – from making jewellery to collecting vintage items – or have always had a go-to interest, why not turn it into a business?

You could set up an online shop on a website like Etsy and sell your products. In the school holidays, it's up to you if you accept commissions or take time off to enjoy being with your kids!

After years spent teaching your child to cross the road safely, you're totally ready for this job ...

Term-time jobs for school crossing patrols – affectionately know as lollipop ladies and men – are often advertised on local jobsites and council websites.

You may also see notices on your school noticeboard. There's no age limit to be a lollipop lady, or man, and often you have the option to job-share.

Parenting life is FULL of admin – from school forms to staying on top of all the birthday party invitations.

With those well-honed organisational skills you'd ace a job as a university administrator – your family wall planner certainly suggests so, anyway.

If you live in a university town or even near a college, contact them directly or look on local job sites for any roles. Most will be term-time only.

Ever feel like all you do is ferry your child around? Well, why not consider getting paid for it by working as a school minibus driver?

Lots of schools use minibuses to pick up and drop off students. The best part is, when school breaks up for the holidays, so do you!

You’ll need Category D1 on your driver’s licence to drive a minibus – contact the DVLA for more details.

When you become a parent, you quickly realise you can do anything you put your mind to (and yes, that does include convincing your little one to go to bed.)

A job within the Civil Service could be ideal, as flexible working is common and you can negotiate term-time only positions and work in anything from housing to education. Feeling like you're making a change is also really satisfying.

From weaning through to family meals, being a parent tests your cooking skills to the max.

It's no surprise then that research suggests mums spends a lengthy three years of their adult life in the kitchen. Put your cookery skills to good use by working as a cook in a school, nursery or preschool.

The hours are usually from around 11.30am to 2.30pm, leaving you free to do the school drop-off, pick-up and potentially also see your little one in the lunchtime queue.

And if cooking isn't your thing but you still fancy working in a school, how about being a lunchtime supervisor?

Sometimes also known as dinner ladies, supervisors look after the kids in the dining hall and may keep an eye on them in the playground at lunchtime, too.

See if any schools in your area have vacancies.

If you worked as a nurse or midwife before having kids and are looking for a term-time role, why not put your skills to use as a school nurse? You'll be able to spot a child telling porkies a mile off.

School nurses do child health assessments, home visits, immunisation clinics and are either based in a school or a health centre.

School nurses are either employed by the NHS or by schools directly, so keep an eye out for vacancies.

From CBeebies to Education City, you're probably over-familiar with kids' websites.

Website testers explore a website for an hour and then share their thoughts about it – each session could earn you around £40.

Some companies also pay online testers just to make sure websites are intuitive and easy to navigate. Take a look at websites such as User Testing or Respondent to get started.

It seems like only yesterday your child was a cute toddler.

And, even though they're now at school, you can still put your messy play talents to good use by working in a preschool or nursery as a key worker.

You'll need an NVQ qualification or diploma, and many nurseries offer term-time only roles.

Problem-solving, patience, creative thinking ... these are just some of the skills you've perfected as a SAHP trying to keep the kids under control.

Use these attributes by applying for short-term contract work, there is often a selection of term-time only vacancies.

Roles could be anything from admin to project management. Have a browse on job websites like Indeed and Total Jobs for any opportunities near you.

If you miss the days when you walked for hours with your baby in their pram, you can still get your steps in by becoming a dog walker.

You can charge £10-£15 per dog, per hour – just don't book in too many at the same time to avoid tangled leads and a chorus of barking when a squirrel runs past!

You can limit it to term-time only if you don't want the hassle of looking after pets AND kids in the school holidays.

Parents know all the best cleaning hacks . Felt tip on the walls? Got it. Spilt milk on the carpet? Sorted.

Why not charge other people for your expert cleaning skills?

As an independent cleaner, you could make anything from £7-£15 an hour, according to the latest industry figures and depending on where you live. The hours you work are totally up to you, unless you sign up with a company.

If you play an instrument to a high level, share your talent by teaching others as a private music teacher.

You could charge up to £60 an hour depending on your experience. For more information on becoming a tutor, visit Impact Tutors .

Find yourself reminiscing about your chemistry teacher who made everything fun? That could be you!

School tutors are in high demand so if you're strong in a subject such as maths, English or languages – or perhaps you qualified as a teacher but didn't enjoy teaching – this could be an option for you.

Although you don't need any specific qualifications to tutor, it's a good idea to be DBS-checked as you'll be working with children. A DBS check helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. Find out more about it here .

If you love singing or drama, why not set up a local toddler group for parents with little ones to come to? You'll make some new friends and you're helping out your fellow parents.

From baby sensory to messy play, find out what's missing or is in demand near you and go from there.

Some well-known groups even have franchises that help you set up quickly and easily. Take a look at what's already out there, like Monkey Music and Jo Jingles .

You've got memories of your own mum saying, 'what am I, a taxi driver?' ringing through your head, but she might have actually been onto something ...

If you have a UK driving license, years of driving experience in the city you're based, a safe car (and no road-rage!), becoming an Uber or Lyft driver could offer the flexible term-time work you need.

For safety reasons you'll have access to people's photos and information before you decide whether to accept them into your car or not. Simply sign up via the app.

Being an Airbnb host is perfect for families with a bit of extra space in their home.

Whether you've got a spare room going, an annexe or an empty flat or house, you can control when that space is available to 'rent' to guests and set your own house rules.

Sign up to be a host on the app – don't let those empty rooms go to waste!

If you've got a passion for fitness, why not take a course and qualify to become a fitness instructor?

Most fitness instructors are freelance and so can choose when they teach classes. You can either teach at leisure centres and gyms or set up your own class in a village hall or online.

You'll need an official qualification such as:

Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing
Level 2 Gym Instructor Course

Many companies offer these courses online or in person, so you can choose which suits you best.

Virtual assistants help small businesses and individuals with their admin. Most VAs work from home, so you can fit it round the kids.

If you fancy taking on a VA role or doing admin from home during term time, look out for agencies that specialise in providing assistants to businesses. That way, you can take on projects that fit around your schedule.

As most parents know, kids' calendars are usually packed with after-school sports and activities, from swimming lessons to trampolining.

If you're a fan of a particular sport, you could retrain to be a coach. Lots of kids' clubs only run during term time. And if it's a sport your kids enjoy, even better as they can come along, too.

Working in a term-time job can also be a great solution to getting the right work/ family balance for you – and your kids.

Check your local newspaper for vacancies, check at your local library, or scour the wanted ads in shop windows. If you're interested in working with kids, you could also ask at local schools.

Don't forget to update your CV and brush on your interview technique before you apply.