career path and retraining in late 30s help?

[LD86]

I am 37 and both of my children are older now (18&12).
For 8 years I have worked in education as a TA/Behaviour support worker. I spent 7 years in a PRU working with children with SEND & SEMH. I am now in a primary school for the last 6 months. I love the aspect of the job, I love working with the children and supporting them it comes very naturally to me. I am a empath at heart and love helping and supporting people. I do not see myself as a teacher and so am looking for a new career path as the money side of things is rubbish. We get paid pennies for the work we do. I want to finally have a career and earn a good decent wage by working my way up or doing a degree as it seems a lot of companies look for people with a degree.
The trouble is i have no idea what I want to do?
I have thought about retraining in IT but i have no idea where to start or what area is a good starting point.

has anyone been in a similar line of work and position and completely changed paths? Thanks

My daughter, after 15 years as an actor is in her third year of an OT degree. She has always enjoyed helping others and is a good advocate. It sounds as if you are also good with people and maybe this would suit you? Her uni offers bursaries towards fees as supposedly OTs are a shortage career. She has done a hospital placement, one in a specialist school for children with autism and her last one at a retirement village. There are endless avenues in which to work. It was tough at first, having been out of education herself for a good few years and having little technical knowledge, but this may not be a problem for you with your school experience. Worth a look I think.

What would a "decent wage" be to you?

Why IT? That seems a bit of a leap from everything else you've written?

PP's suggestion of occupational therapist sounds like a more natural fit.