Become a teaching assistant for better work/life balance?

[DoubleCheeseForNeville]

I currently have a well established career in HR, in a role that's somewhere between HR Manager and HR Director. I have DD aged 8 and DS aged 5. I don't mind the work, although I don't love it - it's something I fell into in my early 20s, not anything I ever set out to do. I'm pretty well paid so between me and DH, we're fairly comfortable. If I hadn't taken two maternity leaves, I know I'd definitely be HR Director by now, and I know I can probably get to that stage but it'll mean going full time for sure, and I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to that.

I currently work Monday to Thursday from home. DH works from home too, and his work is pretty flexible so we manage to juggle childcare and pick ups etc between us without having to pay for after school clubs etc during term time. Longer school holidays (Easter, Summer etc) we do use clubs and it can be quite expensive and the DC don't always love it. Sounds silly but I really miss them when they're out all day and I feel sad I'm not doing things with them, especially on those glorious long summer holiday days. I often feel resentful I'm stuck working instead of being with them. I know they'd both rather be with me as well. DS in particular is quite clingy to me. My job is also quite stressful as it's a fast paced growing company led by a young ambitious CEO (who is brilliant but exhausting) and I'm often knackered and a bit stressed out.

I have a friend who's a TA, and she's always saying how great it is that she gets so much time off, never has to pay for childcare and gets to spend so much time with her kids. It's made me think, should I look for a role as a TA, given that I'm not in love with my career? Or would I be stupid to take such a big drop in salary for the sake of better work/life balance? We'd be able to manage financially if DH's salary stays the same (which it should), but it feels like a big risk.

Would love to hear from any TAs...I feel in a bit of a pickle (although appreciate its completely self-imposed!)

Op completely remove the factor of clingy child from the equation. That can flip overnight.

I'd also say that at the moment with the cost of living rising exponentially and the possibility of a recession, I'd be inclined to keep the imperfect, but decently-paid job for a year or two (maybe you can do volunteer work at school like helping with reading?) to see how things go. £650-1000 per month is sadly likely to be worth less than it seems now (which is still not a lot) soon and the spending power from your husband's income will be similarly impacted. If there's a recession and you're the newest/newer TA, any job cuts will be most likely to impact you.

I'd say discount this if your life's dream was to be a TA and you and your husband either had no possibility of financial worries or material things (including heating, eating and transport) are of little importance to you and your children.

I’d agree with job cuts - school budgets are limited and TA tiles are nice to haves unless you have a child with a specific need. These are harder to come by given parents have to fight for support for their child and it’s a long process. But as the child ages their needs may reduce.

TA’s hours are based on child needs so a child who needs support moves schools the hours are reduced - top heave year 6 group leaves for high school, hours get reduced.

I know some who’ve been through the whole of the child’s school life to then lose their jobs completely as they are no longer required.

Last in / first out happens a lot.

We also see a lot of new TAs who are under the impression this is an easy job fully of reading and lovely polite children who skip into school! They don’t. It’s hard work. Same as two kids at home are hard work - only very few breaks!

@Fedupsotired Ah, that makes sense! The vast majority of our TAs are 1:1 dealing with extremely challenging behaviour so doing stuff within the normal school day is impossible.

@TerrifiedandWorried it's so hard though sometimes and I wish SLT would pay to be honest as we end up having to put the 1:1s together and try and cover with various act activities, it works for some children but is incredibly disruptive for others

not all schools expect TAs for inset days, my school doesn't, they never come in so it wouldn't be an issue.

I assume their pay is reduced by 5 days as a result though, so reflected in their contract and overall salary.

@Abraxan yes that's right

At my school the hours are 8.30 to 3.30, half an hour for lunch. Also occasional after school 45 min training - claimed as overtime.

We wouldn't employ someone with no experience or training - being a parent wouldn't cut it. (Used to but not now.) We would expect a college level 2 course plus work placement experience.

We have a school business manager but they don't get 13 weeks holiday a year like teaching staff and TAs do, so are not off all summer holidays.

We have 3 office staff - different levels but again expect qualifications of some sort and experience.