Becoming a teacher while having babies/kids

[tlclyf]

I am really interested in doing my teacher training and becoming a primary school teacher.

I've just had my first baby, she's just turned a year old and goes to nursery. I am (hopefully) not done having children but what are the stances when you're a teacher? What happens if you get a call in the middle of the day that you're little one is poorly? You obviously cannot leave your class and go collect them - is it wise to leave the career goal for once I have finished and they're all in school full time? Or is it just wise to have a backup plan?

My family aren't flexible to have her if she is poorly so I can work. I suppose my other half could do it should it be necessary? I just don't want to completely wipe out being able to be there for her because I'm a teacher and can't leave work.

If you're a teacher with young children, how do you do it?

To be blunt, I can't think of a worse idea. I'm not alone in walking away from teaching in order to be able to spend more time bringing up my own children. Time flies when they are young - miss that and you never get it back.

What happens if you get a call in the middle of the day that you're little one is poorly? You obviously cannot leave your class and go collect them

Yes, you can. It's called emergency parental leave. The school will arrange cover.

It's pretty rare to actually be called in the middle of the day though, for the child to be picked up immediately. I can only remember that happening to my dd once in nearly 3y of nursery

I qualified aged 32 - I had a 1yo and a 3yo at that point! I had to work a lot when they were in bed but relished the time with them in the holidays.

Lots of teachers have children. As soon as they’re old enough they can join your school which saves a fortune in childcare costs! For the first few years it’s hard though. Nurseries will turn away a child multiple times a year when they are sick. Some of those will fall in school holidays but the remainder just needs to be 50/50 with your partner. It is possible to get cover for your class (teachers fall sick themselves after all) but it’s not ideal. My DC were both primary age when I applied and I think that’s easier.

They can't necessarily join your school - if oversubscribed they have to live in catchment.

I started my PGCE when I was 37 and my DC were 3 and 1. We had a full time nanny, plus my mum and dad live nearby and could cover if the nanny was sick. As a 3rd line of defence, DH could move his working hours around and take the odd day off and then work late other days.

It worked for us, but not everyone will be lucky enough to have that level of childcare support.

Sorry I'm going to be blunt too.
Don't do it.

I'd be less worried about managing situations where your child is sick (parental leave exists but the children's father would have to pull his weight too) than about you thinking you will manage the workload of training and doing the job with small children. It's bloody hard OP.

Many teachers work in excess of 60hrs a week term time. Not manageable without substantial support from partner/grandparents/reliable childcare + backups.

PGCE year I was at work for 7:30am and once home, rarely closed my laptop before 11:30. You might not get to choose your placement schools so factor in substantial travel time too.

Who would provide childcare for parents evenings? Or twilights? Or any other late event?

If your child is ill, yes you can stay home to care for them but what about planned days like INSET days? Who would have your child then? I know you said only 1yo but presuming you last, it's something to consider.

No offence but being called to collect your sick child is the least of your worries.
I have an 11 month old. I'm in work for 7am. I collect him from nursery and we play until bedtime. After bedtime, I'm working til midnight. Weekends are awful because I'm constantly juggling. Living for half term right now.
I'm not trying to put you off... I love teaching. But it's hard. A lot harder than I think people realise.

This is totally not rare! My friend was called so much that she could have lost her job if they weren’t flexible. Maybe you were lucky with a kid with a strong immune system and a relaxed nursery but it is very common to be called during work hours. With both of mine the first year back to work after maternity was incredibly stressful and it would of been worse if I didn’t have a flexible job

Childminder is probably a better idea than nursery because they will have more flexibility to take a kid who’s borderline under the weather.

It is difficult when they are little. Both my DH and I have jobs that are not easily covered- I'm a secondary teacher. I had a 'chat' about attendance when mine were one and three after chicken pox and various other nursery bugs. We split time off 50/50 and no family support. However now both are at school it's been much better as much less illness.

I really wouldn’t do it while you have very young children! Unless you have a partner/nanny etc who can do the majority of childcare.

I trained when mine were 7 and 10. It was tough, but just about manageable because my husband/grandparents picked up a lot of the slack. My own children were also old enough for after school clubs and were very rarely ill.

Even with my set-up, it would have been much harder if my children had been any younger.

I gave up teaching to have my DD, as the workload of teaching and having a young child did not appeal for me. 10 years in. I wanted the energy for her and not other peoples kids.
DH is still a teacher and I work PT, but I leave my work at work, my free time is for her, same with my holidays. Don't underestimate the amount of evening weekend and holiday work you would have.

Horrific idea. Teaching is really not a parent friendly profession. Teacher training is particularly gruelling. I did 15 years as a teacher and left three years ago, one reason being I was pregnant and didn’t want to struggle like I had teaching and bringing up my first. No regrets.

I was already teaching when I had mine, I worked 3 days after maternity leave which minimised the impact of illness on my time off (split days so Mon, Tues, Thurs) often meant only 2 days off work needed shared with husband during term time.

Its flipping hard work, training I would say would be a challenge as you would need to do it full time and it is an intense year.

Teaching is definitely not family friendly term time - holidays yes but term time is a massive juggle. I have a very supportive husband who picks up a lot during term time but no family near by so has to to enable me to work.

I work every lunch to make sure I can leave to get my children to after school activities - its full on and I spend most of my life exhausted.

It’s very hard while you’re training but once you’re established, the holidays with your DC will be worth it.

I don’t know a single teacher working 60 hours a week.

Signed, a year 6 teacher and head of RE.

I'm a teacher and was part time when the kids were little.. now they are 6 and 8 and I am full time and doing well in a leadership role. One day on a weekend is dedicated to them and of course the holidays but other than that term time I work flat out!!

My husband gets the kids if they are ill as he works from home and gets ten childcare days a year for energency leave.

I did have one child rushed to hospital when of course I left work.. my head literally drove me to the hospital and sorted cover but general sickness I don't stay off with them.

I went to uni to train as a teacher when my DD1 was 2 years old, and had DD2 in my 3rd year of teaching. It was easy. But it was 30+ years ago!
Now most of the teachers in my school are in work for 8, stay til 5, take work home nightly and spend half the weekend working. The pressure is immense.

I wouldn’t. You’ll be stressed all the time.

I started training when my children were 6 & 2. It's been a slog at times with lots of late night working and dashing for pickups etc. Fortunately DH works locally so drops them off every morning and DM lives nearby so collects once or twice a week. They do any sickness cover too. I miss out on concerts etc but we get the holidays together to make up for it. Overall I have no regrets but have sometimes thought it would be easier if we were all at the same school.

Really don’t. It sounds parent friendly but it isn’t.
Basically you will be dealing with smallish children all the time between work and home. You’re not going to be the most patient person at school when you’ve been up half the night with one of your own children and if you’ve had a really tough day are your own kids going to get the best from you in the evening?
Plus you’ll miss all the Carol concerts, school plays, and anything else that happens in the school day for your own children.

I'm the contact parent term time, although dh can and has stepped in obviously.

If your partner thinks they can take on less than half, and also isn't willing to accept that he'll also have to step up in terms of evenings where you'll be working (albeit at home), then don't even consider it.

In the holidays though it's great not having to consider childcare. I think it works best if your partner has a job that involves some (or the possibility of) home working as that helps with flexibility when they're older (not suggesting as a sub for childcare before anyone jumps on me).

(I am partner of a teacher in case not clear).