Going back to teaching - part time functional skills. Am I kidding myself?

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I am a qualified teacher (English) but have been out of the classroom for over a decade. I have a freelance job that I LOVE, but it's not regular enough, and not making enough money.

I am considering functional skills tutoring, to FE students & adults. I am very passionate about ensuring people have the skills they need day-to-day, rather than teaching them poetry - for example. (Don't come for me, poetry-lovers!)

I don't want to go back into teaching full time in a secondary school. I want to keep my freelance job, but reduce it, and find something that I can do 2-3 days a week to supplement it.

Am I kidding myself that this is possible, or even a good idea? I'm 40, I've never taught FE/adult leaners and there are no 'functional skills tutor' jobs locally to me, so I don't even know where to start...

Any advice or thoughts from those who work in this area?

You have recent work experience in your freelance job so it’s not like you haven’t had a job.
Perhaps find some vacancies and reach out tentatively to the employer if they would consider you as a candidate.

I wanted to drop to part time and reached out to an employer for a part time role in teaching but outside what I’d been doing for the last 17 years. They said they would welcome an application and I’m in the role now!

it doesn’t hurt to try!

Also - could you maybe join some agencies to teach this area? Or get your foot into FE?

My son is doing functional skills maths and English at college ,he struggles academically ,and he's done maths and English GCSE twice and failed to improve last summer so we asked if he could be put on functional skills instead .

@Holidayissues Thanks. I know a load of teachers, but none near me. I might hit them up for 'what do I need to know' chats.
@x2boys I hope its a better fit for him, and he gets what he needs.

https://www.tcpartnership.ac.uk/careers They have functional skills jobs nationwide, you can leave your cv with them. A lot are connected to army barracks but not all of their contracts are.

My ex taught functional skills, and it was his absolute favourite group to teach. But once we moved out of London, he couldn't find a part-time teaching job for love, no money.

My DD has just done FS English with a tutor. She also does FS Maths and GCSE Maths & English.
We looked on Facebook, but eventually found her via a Tutoring Centre in local city.

My son is doing functional skills via an online tutor. Is remote teaching something you could do? You could broaden your search area if it is.

I teach functional skills but not in an FE setting, just look at the wages, I have looked into it but it is much lower than a teacher salary and often sessional so limited hours.

Yes, although sessional would allow me the flexibility to continue my other work perhaps. What setting do you teach in?

Potentially, thank you...

I went into FE at 41 as a course leader . I found the teaching really easy, in fact didn’t find it challenging enough and left after a few years. Could easily have condensed the 5 day week into 3 days. 95% of tge students were great, staff politics were awful.

Yes - staff politics was amongst the reason I left full time teaching in the first place.

But, it was a long time ago and I'm struggling to see how and where I can get 'in' on the functional skills front. I have reviewed past papers, marking schemes, I can easily update my own schemes of work etc. It just feels huge to get back in...

Does anyone on here teach Functional Skills English at the moment/recently?