Having kids with medical and/or ADHD/Autism... advice needed about teaching job! What job could I do?

[BookArt55]

I have two children who are 7 and 4 years old, i am a single parent. Eldest has a lifelong condition which requires appointments over 3 hospitals, over 80 ear infections is a knock on effect of that condition. He has ADHD, and I've been advised to look into an Autism diagnosis and an ECHP. He's had 4 operations in 6 months, possibly another soon. School attendance is 65% due to illness, appointments, operations.
My daughter has 15 allergies and speech and language therapy. Both kids are allergic to pollen so reactions are happening frequently right now. Doctors say i am doing everything I can to manage everything, they have no further advice to support the allergic reactions.

Advice- how does everyone manage working? I'm a teacher and it is becoming impossible.

School have been understanding, I work 4 days. But their understanding has now come to an end.

Lastly, my ex and I do not coparent effectively. CAO in place, he doesn't follow medical advice so unable to use him for support. He is emotionally abusive, which is also documented in the Children's Arrangement Order. He is now taking me back to court... more time off work!

I also have autoimmune conditions which with this level of stress and pressure have really started to flare up.

I think the only way forward is to leave teaching, which part of me is gutted about. Although it is getting harder.

Does anyone have any suggestions of roles that are part time, working from home a bit, and in an imaginary world it would be term time only... I think it am looking for a unicorn! But I don't think i can keep going like this.

I don't know how what to do! Any advice? Solidarity?

That sounds really difficult. I was a teacher so know how difficult it is! A few ideas at random:

Become a teacher for looked after children for your local virtual school. Perhaps you might be able to squeeze your own appointments in around visits, rather than needing to get in cover.

Set up and run your own tuition business, also subcontracting to other tutors.

Teach home educated children, perhaps for your local authority.

Term time isn't guaranteed (rare outside of schools), but I think local authority roles would be a good shout, in terms of being willing to discuss flexibility and accommodations around caring roles. Often councils have job fairs aimed at breaking barriers to get people into work, keep a look out for something like that if you want to feel more confident before applying. There would be a lot of crossover re your transferable skills from teaching and experience with disability. Good luck!

There are very few jobs that are part time, term time only, hybrid and flexible, sadly. Yes, council or virtual school jobs are a bit more flexible but those roles are competitive and rare.

That sounds difficult. My daughter has two autistic children, one of which is not in school so she has had to give up work as she is EOTAS so all over the place. She is married though so at least they have one income coming in. Firstly are you claiming DLA for one or both kids and can you get PIP for yourself? Home tutoring is probably the most flexible and given the number of kids out of school it might be quite easy. Can you do supply teaching which might be more flexible?

I'm about to apply for DLA for my son, I hadn't even considered it before until recently because for us this is just our normal. Majnly because he needs play therapy so this money could pay for it. don't know if my allergy child would be eligible... I really have no idea.

Thanks for the ideas regarding jobs! Only ever wanted to be a teacher, that's all I've really ever done. So trying to see what transferable skills I have.

I was a Head of Year and all that entails, and now an Art teacher. I was a TA for a year. Otherwise a bit of shop and bar work.