Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Feeling stuck with work, debt and no qualifications, where next?

2 replies

TeaAndSymumthy · 30/03/2026 13:02

I haven’t got many qualifications, I don’t have much experience. I have a really good work ethic, but I didn’t have much of an educational one. So I came straight out of school and into work.

I got super burnt out after working from home full time with two kids home and ended up quitting my job after a bit of a mental decline, now we’re super tight on money, I want back into full time work but I currently work part time in a school, term time only which works great for home/work life balance and doesn’t burn me out. I want to try and stay in school, try and be a TA but I work in a school where they’ve got plenty of staff and aren’t expecting to take on anytime soon.. plus my lack of TA qualifications.

I applied for my dream job recently (not in a school but something I don’t have the experience for, I just tried my luck) I didn’t get it and I’m just wondering where I go next. I feel like I’ve buggered up my life. I have no career, no money, a fair amount of debt.. and I just feel like I’m failing.

I can’t afford to do any kind of courses, go to college ect. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do to get myself where I want to be 😓 has anyone else successfully been in this position and got out of it? How? Winning the lottery is about my only chance 🫠

OP posts:
LIZS · 30/03/2026 13:15

Some TA courses are Government funded, especially if you don’t already have level 3 qualifications. Look for “Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools” as a start. You could do level 2 to get you going. Do you have English and Maths gcse passes? Could your current job provide relevant classroom experience for the course?

Bopabopstomp · 30/03/2026 13:19

Yes look at free online courses at your local college, both the ones near me do free part time online qualifications relevant to TAs. Look at free courses on Alison or those CPD certified courses that cost a tenner at a few different online places.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread