When I returned to my full-time role as a lead practitioner following my first maternity leave, I did so for two reasons: firstly, for the money; secondly, for my sanity.  

Despite my consistent assertions that I wanted to work full-time, my headteacher and line manager both gently, but insistently, reminded me of our flexible-working policy - an offer I greatly admire, now that I realise the strides we are still to take in regards to flexible working in education.

However, less admirable, and often disempowering, was the shock from other mums and the perpetual presumption from colleagues that, as a mother, part-time working would be my natural choice. For me, working full-time over my two periods of maternity leave made sense. And no, I didn’t feel guilty about it.

Returning to work full-time as senior leader after maternity leave is not easy, though. There are certainly challenges and low points.

By the time of my return from my second maternity leave, I had adopted a survival routine, where success was measured purely by whether all children and students were alive by bedtime. 

And I am not alone here. Rebecca Cramer, director of education and co-founder of Reach Academy Feltham, remembers how she stood there “sobbing”, wearing only her tights and underwear, when her nanny arrived on her first day back at work as a headteacher. 

But despite the challenges, there are three key things that can make returning to full-time work easier, according to senior leaders working with the Maternity Teacher, Paternity Teacher (MTPT) project.

Back to teaching after maternity leave

As experts in the education system ourselves, we know that a childcare provider who instills confidence can make a huge difference to a parent’s’ peace of mind. For some, this means support from immediate or extended family members; for others, finding the right fit with a childminder, nanny or au pair. Knowing that both my children are provided with an educational, nurturing and consistent environment at their nursery has made drop-offs from the age of six months a delight. And there’s nothing like the deep relief of knowing all their messy play needs have been met in your absence.

Domestic support

Depressing research indicates that women still take on the lion’s share of domestic labour. The myth of the working mother who “does it all” is not just unhelpful - it is damaging. For many full-time teachers and leaders, support at home is essential to enjoying both personal and professional lives. This concept of equality varies from family to family: for assistant head and author Jennifer Webb, it means that her husband is the primary carer of their children, while for assistant head and founder of LitDrive, Kat Howard, it means airtight routines and weekly online grocery orders. For myself, there are three priceless luxuries that my wage allows me to have: a weekly cleaner, M&S ready meals and a half-termly Uber allowance to manage pinch points in the term, and a nursery pick-up.

Keep school and home separate

One of the hardest, but most helpful things of all, is to keep work at work as much as possible. Learning “not to be a perfectionist” and being “strict” with her time has allowed assistant headteacher Madeleine Fresko-Brown to safeguard her wellbeing and spend valuable time with her daughters during the week, including continuing to breastfeed after she returned to work. 

Even more importantly, leaders who are able to implement humane approaches to workload in order to spend time with their own families have a positive knock-on impact on the culture and practices in their schools. This means that by helping yourself to get more family time, you will be helping other parents to do the same.

Emma Sheppard is founder of the Maternity Teacher/Paternity Teacher Project and a lead practitioner for English