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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

What do you do workwise? Does it fit in well with dc's?

27 replies

newlysinglemummy · 29/01/2009 18:21

I feel I need to do some training and get my life on track. I really want to get a job that I can have weekends and school holidays off.

Teaching or teaching assistant are the obvious choices but not sure if I woulod be suited to those jobs.

So just wondering if anyone else has got a job that is decent money and fits in well with dc's.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Leslaki · 29/01/2009 18:25

I'm a TA and I love it!! Work in the Dcs schoola nd it is so fantastic to work the exact same hoursa s them, take them with me to work etc! Why not volunteer to help at your dcs school and see how you get on?

Original poster

newlysinglemummy · 29/01/2009 18:27

my dd is only 18months so not at school yet but want to prepare.

did you do any training first? or train or the job?

OP posts:

Leslaki · 29/01/2009 18:37

I started volunteering there when ds was 6mo as I do want to eventually train as a teacher! Started my PGCE then fell pg with DD - v hard pg with SPD etc and a very unhelpful XH who made me give up the PGCE as it meant he had to help with the children! helped out over the years then got a job as a TA in another school when DS went to school and dd was at nursery (was parent governor at nursery and helped out there when ds went). I then got HLTA (Higher level TA) status, split up from my husband and got the job in the DCs school! It's full time so it was a popular job and I really think all my volunteering etc really helped me get it. You really need to train on the job but you need gcse level English and Maths - assuming you have those you chould be ok, if not you could get those first. Give it a go - you might really love it!! I just went in 1 day a week as couldn;t afford any more childcare.

Original poster

newlysinglemummy · 29/01/2009 18:41

yes i have got gcse english and maths, so if you want to be a teacher will you have to leave work and study full time?

I know i wont be able to afford any childcare so that i can volenteer.

OP posts:

moosh · 29/01/2009 20:50

I,m a TA and I enjoy it , but my ideal job is to work with children in foster care which is what I do every other weekend when exp has the boys.
So for now my job suits me fine, but if a job came up that was exactly what I wanted I reckon I'd have to go full time.

Original poster

newlysinglemummy · 29/01/2009 21:04

is the money good for a TA?

OP posts:

Lovesdogsandcats · 29/01/2009 22:35

bump

MollieO · 29/01/2009 22:49

I'm a lawyer and no not at all .

brightwell · 30/01/2009 08:50

I'm a district nurse, it sort of fits in round dc. School holidays cause problems.

Original poster

newlysinglemummy · 30/01/2009 10:42

hard work being a single parent, the only thing i can think of is working in a school, and i'm not sure if i would be good at that.

OP posts:

Leslaki · 30/01/2009 20:57

The pay as a TA is abyssmal!! but if you work enough hours you get tax credits which make it all worthwhile!!! I couldn't survive without tax credits!! But when they get a bit oder I will get my teaching qualification - ex isn't taking that dream away fromme (although he has tried more than once...)!

No, you don't officially need to go f/t to study to be a tracher - you can do it as a distanmce elarnign course or part time BUT you would need to be able to be full time (not just school hours) when you have placements.

Leo9 · 30/01/2009 21:20

I'm a social worker. Unfortunately for me DH is not a big earner so I work full time which is NOT really family friendly!

however a girl has just started in our office as an unqualified SW assistant, and she asked to work part time, term time only; and they agreed. I belive the full time salary for that post goes from about 19 or 20k. So definitely more than for TA jobs.

Might be worth a thought; they would want you to have some experience working with people for this kind of job though.

But I thought it was worth mentioning as a possibility; local councils who employ social work teams, HAVE to have family friendly, flexible working policies so it's always worth asking IMO.

chickenmama · 30/01/2009 21:43

I was a teacher before dd was born but didn't want to go back and leave her somewhere, so decided to register as a childminder. It's been brilliant, it was easy to start up, I can pick my hours, it's pretty good money, and I'm with dd full time. Plus she has friends here to play with everyday, so it's great for her as an only child.

Also, if you receive housing benefit, they only take one third of your income into account as a childminder, so you can earn more than in other jobs without them reducing the help you get.

chickenmama · 30/01/2009 21:50

Leo9 - just read your post about SW assistant... I'm going to keep that in mind for when dd goes to school, sounds exactly the kind of thing I'd enjoy

skramble · 30/01/2009 23:41

I work part time in an usherette type job, its great as I can work what shifts suit me and the kids would probably spend a day at the weekend at Granny's anyway. Evenings are getting harder as the kids have activities through the week and Granny is finding it harder to drive them in, so I am now looking for daytime 9-5 stuff instead but will still do some event shifts too.

skramble · 30/01/2009 23:43

Maybe I should look at childminding I never wanted to be stuck at home all day with kids again, but it is something I need to reconsider. I am a qualified nursery nurse with nursery and nannying experience.

chickenmama · 31/01/2009 12:21

skramble - yes, and it doesn't have to be all day every day, I just do before and after school 5 days a week, plus 3 half days with 2 little ones and that's enough for me - brings in a fair amount, and I get two days 9am-3pm to do what I want with. You could pick the days/hours that suit you and your kids and still work the other job too. I've been childminding for a year now and it's been good, I'd definitely recommend it.

Original poster

newlysinglemummy · 01/02/2009 13:37

skeamble - sounds like dc's granny is very helpful, I have not really got anyone to help out with my dd other then my sister and I often feel worried about asking her to have dd too much as dont want to take advantage.

chickenmama - do you need any training to be a childminder? also are you fining it more dificult now as there is alot of paperwork to do? I heard something about that on tv.

OP posts:

SpandexIsMyEnemy · 01/02/2009 13:44

I currently work PT, 16.5 hours a week, it's about 15 mins or so drive from home in an office - nice and relaxed very flexible. DS is in a nursery 3 days a week, when it comes to holidays etc etc the nursery is open all the time, but mum is a teacher so has offered to have him for me if needed.

I'm also studying to be a teacher (am currently doing an OU course in maths, so far so good, however am deferring one course, as I tried 2 courses which tbh was far too much on top of everything else.

tbh at the mo I earn more doing my accounts that I did pre DS than I would in tescos/a school etc, so will keep doing it until I can go to uni full time when DS is in full time school.

Original poster

newlysinglemummy · 02/02/2009 11:32

i think teaching is the way to go, the only problem is I really dont know what subject to choose for my degree...

OP posts:

MorocconOil · 02/02/2009 11:43

Maths, sciences and modern foreign languages (mfl)are the subjects they find it hard to recruit teachers for in secondary. All primary schools will be teaching a MFL by 2010, so that would be a good subject to study.

Original poster

newlysinglemummy · 03/02/2009 14:24

oh gosh I am not great at languages, so not sure if that would be the best option for me.

I was always good at maths at school, and not too interested in science. I have been looking online and it seems DT teachers are also in demand and there are grants available for teachers in this subject, I would be interested in this.

Is it easy to go from teaching primary to secondary?

And if I studyed DT would that make it harder to teach in a primary school?

OP posts:

flubdub · 03/02/2009 19:37

Isnt DT like cooking/woodwork/metal work/textiles? It was when I was at school (7 years ago).

BeauticianNotMagician · 03/02/2009 20:27

My name says it all.I work 24 hours a week.

I had planned to go into childcare but i cant find a course to fit around a job or get a break.I have sent of letters to numerous nurseries to volunteer but they all say they are full.

I went back into beauty therapy as i was having no luck with anything else but i am continually struggling with fitting the late night and weekend working around my ds's.

Mutt · 03/02/2009 20:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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