Teacher training with young DC - realistic?

[fatterface]

I'm looking at applying for teacher training next year, possibly through a salaried school direct position. My children will be 2.5, 6 and 9 then. Has anyone done similar? Any comments on whether it is realistic?

[noblegiraffe]

Depends on whether you want to see your kids or not, and how much support you have so that someone can parent your kids while you work every evening and weekend.

Disclaimer: it might not be that bad, but it certainly won't be good.

[Finola1step]

Erm... The training year is really tough. The NQT year is the toughest of all. 2nd year is tough again because all the NQT support is gone. Year 3 gets a little easier. It's no surprise that something like 40% of new teachers are leaving in the first few years.

[Bunbaker]

The Schools Direct staff at DD's school work ridiculously long hours.

[jeee]

I've just finished my final placement (part time PGCE). About midway through the placement I had a mini-meltdown one weekend. That was when I'd worked for 13 hours on Saturday, started work at 8 am Sunday, and at 3 pm Sunday afternoon I still hadn't completed my work. Oh, and I'd worked until about 10 every night the previous week.

And the NQT year is supposed to be as bad as the placements. I'm planning on doing supply for a few months, to give me a bit of break before I start in on the proper work.

My dc are older than yours - when I started they were 5, 9, 11 and 12. I suppose what I'm saying is, yes, it's possible, but it will have considerable impact on your family life.

[DustInTheWind]

Do you have reliable cover for your children from early til late, and if they are ill?
Are you used to working for a long day of constant performance, then producing high-quality paperwork and analysis afterwards, for months on end?
Many have done similar, only you know if it's realistic given your own strengths and abilities and how good you are at juggling competing demands, some of which will be very emotionally-laden.
Do you have a partner, and are they realistic about how much extra they will be carrying for the duration?
Have you talked to others who have done the same scheme?

[Guyropes]

I wouldn't do it full time. But then my partner at the time worked away.

[hopelessadventure]

It'll be hard going but ultimately worthwhile.

I've got a place on the Schools Direct teacher training starting September 2015 and it'll be tough with my 3 who are slightly older at 9, 12 and 14. Having said that, the SCITT centre have been fab so far and have said themselves they'll put me in a school no more than 15 minutes from home which will definitely help.

Go for it ! I've put it off for so long and am so excited for next year - even if it does feel like a long way off !

[Chandon]

Doable if someone else (DH, DParents, PIL, nanny) can do all the kids/home stuff

[DontGotoRoehamptonUniversity]

Very difficult - even if your main placement is local, you will have to do a second placement - what are the guarantees on that? When I did SD last year, luckily DH was willing to take over everything, and those with small DC had GPs step in. Unless your DC or GPs can do the bulk of the child stuff, would not contemplate it. It is not a family-friendly career - you get the holidays, but the workload in the term time is phenomenal. I got through the year and passed, but decided not to do the NQT year - very relieved I didn't as my contemporaries are really struggling with the workload. I am doing supply and enjoying it, because my time is in the classroom, not spent on all the time wasting -consuming pointless stuff. Also I only agree to secondary work primary workload is insane.
And although I enjoy supply, we do not need the money - even full-time supply is not financially viable unless there is another main income and would be impossible if you had to pay for childcare..

[sanfairyanne]

honestly? why spend your whole life with other peoples kids while yours are so young? its 50:50 anyway whether you (ie any teacher) will stay more than a few years in the profession anyway so why waste their toddler/primary years?
but, yes, i do know people who have done it and they seemed to survive ok. now they do part time supply which suits them

[FATEdestiny]

Teacher training with young DC - realistic?

Possible. But not realistic.

[DustInTheWind]

I want hopeless to come back in seven years time and still be as positive and delighted that she chose this path. I really do.

[aliciaj]

Course you can. The only ones that leave are the ones with the flakey attitude of I might be able to do it I might not. If you put your mind to it you can do anything. I did something very similar with much younger children.

[Asleeponasunbeam]

It's bloody difficult as a part time teacher with 16 years experience and two small DC. What you're planning will be awful.

'Ultimately worthwhile'? Read some of the workload threads on here. I never thought I'd be the kind of teacher who warned others off, but I really am now.

[Jefferson]

Don't. Do. It.

That is all.

[Viviennemary]

I just wouldn't even consider it with the amount of extra hours, preparation and paperwork newly qualified teachers seem to have to put it.

[AskMeAnother]

Don't be ridiculous. Teaching will still be there when your youngest is 11. Spend your time with your own children, the people you love.

[CheckpointCharlie]

My six yr old sees me for about half an hour a day at the moment.
Obv holidays are better but it's a tough job.

Could you train in something else or are you set on teaching?

[QuickQuickSloe]

I did it with a 14 month old it very nearly killed me. The NQT year was also pretty bloody awful. I have survived though and am hoping it will get easier. A fantastic childminder got us through.

[threepiecesuite]

When I did my PGCE, I lived with my parents and had no children or other commitments. It was a good job because I was working 10 hours a day at the weekend and about 4 hours each weeknight.
Ten years in the job, I've gone down to part time. I have a school age DD and I'd never get any time with her.

Having a support network is needed and I'm lucky in that I have a long suffering dp (who doesn't teach, but admits that my job rules our life) and GPs on hand, but actually I missed my dd, and felt like I was giving 100% of myself to other people's kids with nothing left for my own. Hence part time.
I'm looking for a non-teaching job right now. I cannot put up with another 30 years of this pressure.

[Inertia]

It's realistic as long as you've either :

a) got a partner who will do literally everything at home and for the children; or
b) you have a team of nannies and housekeeping staff who will do everything at home and for the children; or
c) You have found a medically safe way to survive without sleep.

Honestly, it's tough. I'm a very experienced teacher who has recently returned to teaching, and my children are older than yours, but I'm working 8-6 every weekday, another 3/4 hours for 4 nights per week, and at least a day each weekend.

[bopoityboo3]

It'll be hard but worth it. I didn't have kids when I trained but had my first during second year of being qualified and returned to work when she was 16 wks old. It's all about utalising the non contact time working through lunch and break time, after school And being prepared to work once the kids are in bed is how I manage my stupid work load. That and having a dh who loves being home part time with the kids and totally supports me having a career.

[hopelessadventure]

I hope I'll still be positive in 7 yrs time too!!

[Chandon]

Do you have the support in place?

[bronya]

Not if you want to

a) keep your sanity
b) see your children
c) feel you are doing anything well - parenting, housework or children.

Would work just fine with older DC away at boarding school...