Can you help me find a new career?

[BrandNewShinyThings]

I am a qualified teacher but have been working as a TA for several years because it fitted in with my children and allowed me to work in education without the ridiculous amount of stress teachers face. I left my job at the beginning of the Covid outbreak and am now in a position to consider where I'm going with my life.
I am 45 and so have potentially 20+ years left to work and I want to find something fulfilling that uses my skills. I am happy to retrain if I find the right opportunity.
As cheesy as it sounds, I really like helping others and feeling that I have made a difference. I loved those moments as a TA where I could see a change in a child's behaviour or learning because of something I had said or done. I loved building those relationships and getting to know their personalities. I'm not 100% set on working with children although its all I've known.
Any ideas oh wise MNetters? I don't need a huge income, job satisfaction is more important.
Thank you!

What about Occupational Therapy or or one of the allied healthcare professions?
Or working with those who have additional needs or learning difficulties?
Working for a charity?

Thanks. I was just thinking about Speech and Language therapy. I need to research how to get into it. I'll have a look at Occupational therapy too.

Yeah Speech and Language Therapy is a good one too.

In your situation where from what you say, a set amount of money isn't absolutely critical what about Private tuition and in parallel exam marking?

You choose the children you want to work with, you choose when it suits you to work, you can keep being flexible around your families needs.

Not the same stresses as a classroom environment. You can move on disruptive pupils and put extra effort into rewarding ones.

Any ideas oh wise MNetters? I don't need a huge income, job satisfaction is more important.
Thank you!

I agree re the job satisfaction and as a teacher, I feel the same about wanting something different for the next 25 years.

The tuition fees for 2/3 years to retrain as a SaLT or OT was prohibitive.

I've always thought that if I needed a career change that being a physio would be a great area.

Thanks for the ideas and thoughts. Tuition fees could be a killer and the nearest University I can find for Speech and Language is over an hour's drive away.
Need to give it more thought....

@Letseatgrandma have you come up with any ideas?
I'm not sure about being a tutor, I wonder if it would feel quite 'bitty' if that makes sense.

I go through phases of wanting to be an OT, EP, SaLT and working in a book shop.

I am truly sick of teaching. I must add, it’s not the kids-that’s the best bit of the job, but the contact time is such a small proportion of the job, I’m not sure that’s ‘enough’ anymore.

It’s the tuition fees though, that’s stopping me.

@Letseatgrandma I completely understand where you are coming from. The reasons you describe are exactly why I knew I couldn't be a teacher. But I do want more than a TA role now my kids are getting older and more independent. I feel now is the time to retrain before I get any older. Just not sure what as.

I'm a teacher and I'm going to retrain as a social worker in September it's a 22 month masters and I've got an NHS bursary so it's cost neutral! My background is in Sen support in very deprived areas but the part of the job that I loved the most was working with the families so that's why Ive chosen this direction. I'm 37 now will by 39 when I qualify...scared but excited!

Good for you clareykb that sounds really interesting. I'm sure you will love it.