Returning to teaching

[alien11]

Hi, I'm after some advice really about how to get back to teaching. I qualified in 2009 and completed my NQT year before leaving to have my daughter. I'm not familiar with the new primary curriculum and and wondering if anyone knows of any courses to refresh my teaching knowledge? I'm looking at returning to sept 2015 so want to prep before applying for any jobs.
Oh and I contacted local schools for volunteer work but no takers.

Thanks in advance.

[temporarilyjerry]

Could you do some supply teaching? This would help you to become familiar with the new curriculum without the pressure of class teaching.

'Back-to-teaching' courses have suffered from the cuts in many areas.

[DownByTheRiverside]

You mean a maternity leave or such? Because as a supply teacher, you don't get much exposition on the curriculum, it's just thrown at you and they expect you to manage.
Supply would get you used to teaching again, but for info on the new curriculum and demands in planning and assess,ment, your best hope is a lot of online research and the TES forums. I know that the Hamilton Trust is upgrading their plans and resources to make them in line with the new NC.
Might be worth subscribing. And get yourself a copy of the NC document.

[alien11]

Thanks :) just thinking supply cover to begin with so I can be flexible re available for my daughter. Will check out Hamilton trust aswell.

[DownByTheRiverside]

On supply, it can be hard going if you have young children, I'm out of the house between 7.30am until 5.30ish most days. Good experience if you aren't too reliant on having a reasonable income.

[alien11]

Yes I'm ok income wise so it's just a top up really. I'm up and ready for the day for 6 anyway so just childcare I would have to cover. In the long term I would like a 2 day a week job but they obviously have the extra days for various events which will be hard to cover.

[DownByTheRiverside]

Lots of jobshares going in the SE, it's proving a tough career to do full-time if you want a life as well. So you could definitely look for two or three days a week with a good chance of finding it.

[alien11]

Oh that's positive thank you! Appreciate all the tips and advice

[pippinleaf]

I wouldn't appoint a teacher who'd had a load of time out and just did a 'back to teaching' course. Far better to get into schools and become a reliable supply teacher. Our supply teachers quite often come along to staff meetings and training days without pay. I'd be keen to employ them if they wanted back in to teaching.

[alien11]

Thanks pippinleaf I thought the same when I was emailed details of courses that were going to cost me a fair bit. I'll try again with contacting local schools in the hope for some volunteer work.
From what I have read I think my plan at the moment is to research the new curriculum as much as I can and get myself some voluntary work. Then try with supply.

[pippinleaf]

Save yourself the bother with researching the new curriculum. Many schools haven't started working with it yet and every school that has is doing it differently. Be brave and just get yourself back in the classroom. Write a one page cv, with a photo, and call in to local schools and ask for a short appointment with the head/deputy/person who sorts supply. Hand over your cv and have a quick chat saying you're available x,y,z and would be happy to do a day for free so they can see what you're like. I'd LOVE it if local supply teachers did this (the photo just helps them remember you after you've gone). Then if you can get to be a reliable regular somewhere your name will be top of the list when maternity cover, long term sick and eventual job comes up (providing you're good)

[DownByTheRiverside]

If she's been out of the maelstrom for 5 years, and has only a year as an NQT under her belt, she needs to know the vocabulary, methods, strategies and expectations that are in the classroom now.
How else will she demonstrate that she's a good teacher? If I taught the way that was considered good 5 years ago, I'd get RI on a lesson obs now.
It's part of what makes the job so stressful for so many in primary, the shifting ground under your feet.

[alien11]

I think a combination of volunteering and asking if I can sit in lessons to see how they go now may be my best bet. I'll try and gain as much teaching experience as possible. Quite scary prospect that I may just be so out of the loop I won't be able to go back to teaching after simply being home with my child

[DownByTheRiverside]

You sound very motivated and organised, so you should be fine!
It could also be that I'm old, weary and finding all the changes far too confusing and intense; all opinions on here are from a narrow, personal perspective.
I left the classroom after 30 years and I'm loving supply work.

[alien11]

Wow that's a good career in teaching :) I'm hoping to get back into it and have no breaks so can work my backside off and get somewhere. At the mo I only have one child but if by a miracle I have another I will then be back on the pursuit for a career :-)
All the advice has been so helpful and opened my eyes to how teaching is now. It changes so rapidly it's so easy to be out of the loop very quickly.

[phlebasconsidered]

I disagree, downby. I returned after 6 years out, and what's more, changed sector from secondary to primary. I put in a lot of effort, but the teaching skills haven't changed. What is measured, quantified and judged has. As long as you are aware of that, it's fine. I found that many strategies were the same as years gone, except under new names, many were rejigged, but identifiable, and most were really easily understood by anyone with a brain.

The main issue is "only ayear as an NQT", because we all know that year was mental, loads of work and crazy. But if you think about it, if that's the only experience you have, it's perfect! Because it IS loads of work returning after a break. It was in fact, like my NQT year. Plus, everyone is afloat with the new curriculum. A perfect time for returners, in fact!