PGCE with a 1 year old in tow.

[Laambkins]

Ok, so I'm sure there has been plenty of threads about this - but I'm new and haven't read any of them.

My DD is currently 7 months and I'm considering starting my PGCE this September. Does anyone have any experience to share? I can't think whether it's best to leave it until she's a bit older? The other thing is, we are going to try for another baby soon and can't work out whether it's best to do one while (possibly) pregnant and with a 1 year old or later on with (possibly) 2 children.
Sorry if this is a bit of a ramble!!

I did a PGCE many years ago when I was a carefree, dependent free student and it was hard enough.

I think you can manage it, of course you can, but would you be able to take up a full time teaching job straight after if you were pg? Im not sure, but I think there is a time limt on how long you get to complete your NQT year and therefore be fully qualified. Maybe leave it until you would be able to move straight into work as easily as possible?

Personally I would wait until you are done having children before you start. I've not done a pgce myself but I know a lot who have. It is hard but perfectly doable with a 1 year old so long as you have reliable childcare. However, it isn't just the pgce, you then have your first year of teaching as a newly qualified teacher and that is bloody difficult to get through, if you are then having a second child and taking time out for maternity leave it will make life so much harder for you. Either to the pgce and first year teaching and then ahve number 2 or have number 2 and then start your pgce.

Dh did his when we had a newborn (ds2 was born in the October half term when he'd just started). BUT - dh did his by living 200 miles away from us and only coming home at weekends. He reckons he couldn't have done it whilst living with us and I don't think he was wrong about that, espectially seeing how tough the NQT year was when he was back home.

Echo what the others have said too, just finishing your PGCE doesn't make you a teacher, you have to complete your NQT year too. And you only get one shot at that so dh tells me, if you stuff it up it's game over.

Yeah - these are the doubts I was having. I think it's best to put teaching on the back burner for a few years. My babies now - other peoples teenagers later

A friend of mine has done this. She basically didn't see her daughter mon-fri other than to pick her up from nursery and put her to bed before doing more uni work. However, her daughter is lovely and now at 3 mum has nearly finished the NQT year so has a good qualification and career lined up for as the children grow up. She's hoping to teach part time in future (and planning another one). I would imagine its incredibly hard work but I think she's seen it as a sacrifice now to invest in later.

I'm not sure I'd manage it though - I trained pre-kids and not sure I'd have managed it post.