Where to get a reference

[BoysRule]

I am a qualified teacher and have taught for ten years - however, I have had a couple of career breaks since having children and my last teaching job was three years ago. I recently went for a job and despite coming neck and neck with another candidate, as they could only get one reference for me they gave it to the other one.

My previous heads have all left and staffing has changed significantly in the schools so that the other teachers don't know me well enough. I have one reference from my last job but don't know where to get the other from.

I want to do something proactive while I wait for a role to come up that I can apply for. I am thinking of volunteering in a school for a few hours a week (all I can spare) in order to get a reference. However, I can't see how a teacher can give me a reference when all I would be doing is sitting outside a classroom listening to children read. Does anyone have any other ideas?

[Jamrollypolly]

I have the same predicament and don't know who to ask.

[MaraThonbar]

Do you have contact details for any of your former heads or line managers? I have given references for former colleagues after having moved on to another school.

[Glittermud]

I had this problem recently, so I've spent this half term volunteering in a local school supporting key pupils in a particular year with small group work. This means that the dept have got to know me, have seen that I'm a supportive and helpful colleague and the HOD had been able to confirm that I've taken measures to renew my curriculum knowledge, etc. Don't underestimate the impact that you can make ' just' by helping out. Good luck!

[WowOoo]

Volunteer and you'll get a reference.
I did this whilst my youngest was in pre-school. It was only for 4 hours a week, but i did as much as I could and got a short term job in the same school. I also worked in another for 2 hours a week.
Moved on now, but couldn't have done it without their initial support and working for free for a while.

[WowOoo]

Good luck, by the way!

[BoysRule]

Thank you everyone. I think volunteering and being very visible whilst doing it is the only way to get back into it.

[MaraThonbar]

Remember that one of the main reasons for two references is safeguarding; if the first attests to your professional skills and abilities then it may well be sufficient to have a more recent reference relating to your volunteer work.

[Fragglewump]

I did it by volunteering at my dcs school. But the first day I turned up they asked if I would do supply instead and that's what happened from then on!