21 years of teaching and I'm done

[everychildmatters]

The title says it all really. I'm 44 and totally exhausted, and that's with only teaching directly part-time in primary (currently Y6).
The job is nothing like the one I started out doing.
I'm now considering SEN tutoring (EHCP primary) as SEN is my absolute passion. It will be in homes, with children currently unable to access mainstream settings.
My biggest worry is it's not going to work financially? I need at least two students, a minimum of 20 hours pw. Below this and we're going to struggle to pay the rent, CT, food bills etc.
And of course holiday pay and pension affected too as through agency and not a permanent contract.
Any words of wisdom?

Are there any out of school services near you? Like hospital ed or home tuition through the local authority. A family member did it, teacher salary as in their mainstream job but less stress. There was different stress but an option

I’m 26 years in and totally done. Luckily I am only part time (and we have paid the mortgage off) so I know I ‘could’ leave if I had to, but kids are expensive so I’m still here till I can find a financially viable alternative.

I really hate it though, and definitely can’t do another Ofsted.

Are you planning to do EHCP tutoring instead of part time teaching or on top? It’s terrible pay round here-I looked into it once, because we have to pay £80 an hour as a school to use certain tutoring agencies, but the pay for the actual tutors themselves was rubbish!

@Redlocks28 Thank you. Teaching is just so exhausting, isn't it?
I've been offered a pay rate of £27 ph which isn't too bad considering I'm (still) only M6. I'd be dropping my current 2.5 days pw teaching.
I just worry that I won't get 20 hours pw consistently and we rely on my income as a family.

Have you ever taught in a SEN school? It's hard work, but if you're passionate about SEN, it can be a game changer.

@Thisismynewusernamedoyoulikeit I did for a year, but the physical assaults got too much in the end, and felt I couldn't work there when pregnant (was planning a baby).

Whilst obviously you need income remember to workout what savings you will make by not working at a school, things like not paying childcare, not having to commute....

@HPandthelastwish I'm incredibly fortunate in that we have no childcare costs as my amazing mum does a lot of the school runs and after-school care, bless her.
I would save a little on fuel.
But zero pay in August etc worries me... and if my students are ill/won't access the tuition, what then?

Exactly and 20 hrs pw will be full time really with travel time and still needing to plan

My family member that did out of school would have months where if the lesson was cancelled for hospital appointments etc wouldn't get paid it all depended on notice. Or they went back to school so had a wait for new people. I think 20 hours is ambitious if having to fit around your own family but you would be swapping job security for flexibility so can't have it both ways

If you are good, you will never be short of work if you tutor DC with EOTAS/EOTIS via their EHCPs. However, this work can be very different to working in a school setting, even a special school. Because packages are bespoke, the work can also be extremely varied. Not all DC have formal academic tuition. Some have academic subjects delivered in a less traditional way. Some have a tutor who focuses on life skills. Some have completely child led tuition. Some have tutors that go out into the community or to groups/therapies/APs with the child.

Some DC have packages that continue out of term time or have flexibility in their package which allows them to spread a 38/39 week package over more weeks.

Payment for missed or cancelled lessons would depend on your contract.

You wouldn’t have to work via an agency. I have 2 DC with EOTAS packages. None of the tutors we use are via an agency.

Depending on your knowledge and experience of SEN, there is an increasing demand (quite rightly because it shouldn’t be down to parents to organise and facilitate packages) for EOTAS co-ordinators. These professionals lead and co-ordinate EOTAS packages.

I'm not worried about 20 hours as currently I'm contracted 2.5 days (16 hrs) but...
Mon and Tues: 8 - 5.30 then at least an hour in the evening
Weds: 8 - 1.30 (very earliest I walk out of the door)
Thurs and Fri - days "off" but at the very least 2 hrs per day day working at home (sometimes more)
Sun - around 3 hrs working at home.
I barely see my 4 yo!
Not sure how this would compare in terms of workload?

@BrightYellowTrain May I ask...
With the tutors you use, are they regular in terms of hours? Do you use the same person or different people?
I'm not sure if I'd want to coordinate the packages as I'm very much a child-contact person. I could never be a SENDCO, for example. My passion is working directly with children, especially with SEMH.
Thank you for your help - very useful.

DS1 has 16 hours of tuition per week for 38 weeks of the year. He has other provision outside of term time but he doesn’t have tuition outside of term time. The tuition is via 4 tutors. It is always the same 4 tutors. Although the hours aren’t spread evenly across the tutors.

DS3 has 14 hours of tuition per week for 39 weeks of the year. He has other provision outside of term time but not tuition. The tuition is via 4 tutors. Although the hours aren’t spread evenly across the tutors. Three of the tutors are the same ones DS1 has. The English tutor is not because DS1 and DS3 need different focuses for English.

Not sure how this would compare in terms of workload?

It would depend on the specifics of what you are commissioned to do.

For example, DSs have comprehensive EOTAS packages that include paid time for things like tutors to prep, sending a summary email afterwards, writing reports, preparing for and attending termly MDTs and the AR on top of the actual tuition hours.

From your last post, co-ordinating/leading EOTAS/EOTIS packages would not be for you.

@BrightYellowTrain Ah thank you - that all makes sense. Is it possible for me to tutor without going through an agency? Obviously they take a cut of the pay!
Do the tutors come to.your home?
I would be very much primary-based so I guess my work would be rather different when compared to secondary.
I've been sent two EHCPs via the agency I work for and honestly - the idea of working with both of these children fills me with joy 💖
But not sure if financially I can do it.

I’m similar age and with as many years teaching experience to you OP I am exhausted and for the first time in my career I have started to suffer with anxiety because of the toxic work environment and constant stress . Says it all gone midnight and just going to bed after sitting at a laptop all evening working out data and interventions . There’s got to be me something else out there for burnt out teachers jaded and utterly fed up of the job - sorry not much help to your original question but know exactly how you are feeling

@Upwiththelark76 I'm with you; my anxiety and insomnia is through the roof!
I am just trying really hard to find a way out of class teaching, but at the same time I have to pay the rent! 😞

Not all tutors who work with DC with EOTAS/EOTIS packages work via an agency.

DS1 and DS3 have tuition at home. Not everyone does though. Some have tuition in the community e.g. a cafe or library. Some have tuition in a building funded by the LA e.g. a church hall, community centre or rented office space. Some have online tuition.

DS1 had EOTAS in primary. DS3 didn’t. When younger DS1 had 10 hours of tuition from 1 tutor. Then as the hours increased as he moved through KS2 he added in another tutor who was able to specialise a bit more. Then another. Then another.

All DSs’ tuition is alongside other provision. Their packages don’t only consist of tuition.

Just so you know, better paid tuition is possible. £27ph is quite low if you are a SEN specialist. DS1 has HLTAs as part of his package (he needs 2:1 because of his needs and also because of safeguarding) and they are paid more than that.

Working with those with EOTAS packages isn’t easier than working in schools. It is different. However, it can be just as stressful as working in schools. And, at times, there can be just as much bureaucracy.

@BrightYellowTrain Thank you. £27 ph is comparable to what I'm earning as a teacher, but interesting to know it sounds a little on the low side to you. I imagine this is because obviously the agency I'm working for take a cut from the rate the LA pays.
But unsure how else to go about it?

We have an LA tutor for DD10 due to SEMH and inability to access school at the moment. She was only allocated 3hrs a week though. Her tutor did say though they the school Chris is at the moment is keeping her very busy and that she’s here there and everywhere!

unfortunately there are a lot of children unable to access mainstream settings right now.

she comes to our home, at the moment she’s building up a rapport with DD and brings things with her that DD can play with. Her favourite being her kinetic sand at the minute!

Last year my friend quit teaching and became a foster parent to send children. She absolutely loves it, and wishes she had done it years ago

@macap I'm so pleased your DD is being well supported. She's a similar age to one of the children I will be working with if I can find a way of making this work.
I've been thinking about it again and again. I know it will be challenging, but it feels so much like the right thing to do.
So hard though as it's head vs heart 😞@SprostenGreen f I had a spare room I would 100% have done this. I've worked with some inspirational children in care ❤️

The worry with EOTAS or any kind of tutoring, is the lack of security-pension/sick pay etc. That’s why I haven’t left yet.

Are you the same poster from previous threads who has been working as an HLTA and has a place next year to do a counselling course which was the long term aim? Apologies if not-you just sounded like them.

My local authority seem to recruit SEN experts a lot. Also, what about agencies?

But unsure how else to go about it?

Some work for alternative provision providers rather than an agency.

Those who don’t work for APs/agencies/the LA, etc. either work directly self employed or as an employed professional. Which depends on the individual’s circumstances/the package.

£27ph may be in line with your current salary, but it isn’t really possible to make a meaningful comparison like that. They are totally different ball games, especially SEN specialist tuition.

@macap DD may have other provision as well as tuition hours, but if not and DD can cope with more than 3hrs a week in any form (not just tuition), the LA should be providing more. 3 hours is not a suitable, full-time education.

£27ph may be in line with your current salary, but it isn’t really possible to make a meaningful comparison like that. They are totally different ball games

I agree with this. You need to look at the big picture/long game!

What happens with your pension? If you are unwell for a day..week…get cancer and can’t work for 3 months? What about holiday pay? Lots of tutoring jobs, you are only paid for the minutes you work and the job security is poor-especially if you are the main wage-earner.