Feeling torn regarding my job

[Moneyordream]

I have always wanted to work in a school, dreamed of being a teacher when I was younger. Unfortunately life didn't pan out but now I have been working as a SEN teaching assistant for 2 years. I love my job, even in the hard days I like making an impact on the young lives I work with. However, due to the holidays my monthly wage is lightly lower as my salary is split over the full year.
With the cost of living going up the squeeze has been felt, my DH works hard and still this month we have ended up with little to no money left and we have another week to get paid.
I have the option to go back into a previous career which is significantly higher salary, it's a good job that I do well but honestly I didn't enjoy.
So the options are 1) stay in a job I love, with the school holidays off with my children but have to make further cut backs and struggle 2) go back to my old career to earn more so we would manage better.
I am stuck, my DH has said he will support any decision I make but I feel so torn I don't know what to do

That is a tough dilemma. How much did you dislike your previous role and how much better off will it make you ie is it significantly better off or just marginal? You have school holidays off now so would you have to pay for childcare during the holidays?

Sorry I see you said significantly higher...! I think I would have to go back then, the cost of living I cannot see decreasing anytime soon - its brutal at the minute but worrying about money all of the time is a horrible place to be.

I don't know TA contracts work, but could you pick up other work during the school holidays?

What level of TA are you and is there any chance that you could get promotion as a TA to a HLTA? Do you have any expertise that you could offer outside of school hours? I know TAs who have done specialist childminding/care for SEND children before and after school.
TA pay is shocking considering they work with some pretty challenging pupils. They are expected to do so much more than when the role was first designed but pay rates don’t reflect this.

Could you get a holiday job for some extra money during the holidays? I used to work in a support role in a school and would work summer jobs in a bar or art gallery to increase my earnings over the year

Thank you for the replies:
Some staff have arranged with families to do personal care for some children in our school during holidays so that would be an option if a family needed respite help etc.
When a HLTA role comes up I can apply to train to do it but currently none are available. I'm currently learning BSL to help increase my specialisation within our school to include communication.
Honestly working a school like ours is hard but no day is the same and I have learnt so much but the amount of work I do, including taking stuff home the pay is shocking.

The cost of living hit this month with our gas and electric, we are on prepayment currently and it has douled the amount we putting on every week.
Childcare wise my MIL is great and would have my 4 year old so it may be worth looking into a summer job if I can, would I get taxed highly on a second job?

Is there another option? As you said, picking extra respite care shifts, or overnight residential care work?

I would move to the higher paid job. Being short kf money each month is the sort of misery that can't be fixed without more money, and I would bet if younstay you would become resentful about your wage and not enjoy the job anyway.

Having enough money to pay the bills and have leftovers means you have room to create more joyful experiences in life, even if that just means not being so stressed you can read a novel without being distracted.

Fast forward a year - which decision would bring you the most peace? Choose that.

Could you pick up holiday club work during the school holidays? Somewhere your own children could attend too?

I would go back to your previous career but put in a solid plan in place to do teacher training SEN for as soon as it would be financially feasible.

I think it's worth investigating what extra jobs you can take on in current role.

You clearly get so much fulfilment from your role and as your DC gets older as will MIL so having a term time role is helpful.

Look at what options are available. Something that also occurred to me is you could also do evening or weekend babysitting which is pretty well paid if you can find somewhere to register.

It’s difficult my personal opinion you can’t put a price on a job you enjoy and the holidays is a plus too but if your struggling I can see your problem. Perhaps if it’s a short term problem of a year or 2 then you could go back to teaching after saving ?.
It’s such a shame though could teachers are a blessing. Good luck op .