Mother of 3 starting PGCE in Sept - any tips?

[twinsufficient]

I am starting a full-time primary PGCE in Sept and am starting to panic about how I am going to manage the housework/dc's needs (they will be 6, and dts 20mo). Any tips from anyone who's been there and come out the other side would be much appreciated.

I have just finished my PGCE, although it was a flexi version. I am a single parent and my tips would be:

• Ask for / accept all offers of help!
• Be organised - meal plan, get assignments done asap, make the most of all spare time.
• Don't forget to take some family / you time out too or you will burn out.
• As far as the course itself goes, ask for advice from those who are doing the job - on placement make the most of taking advice from TAs and other teachers.
• Be prepared to let your standards slip - I have forgotten birthdays / school stuff this year as I just haven't had the brain space to do everything! Either delegate or prioritise.
• Use sites such as the TES (especially the 'community' section) for support and ideas; don't try to reinvent the wheel (you'll be told this a lot!). Someone somewhere will have prepared plans / resources and you can save time by adapting them for your purposes.
• Have childcare options sorted asap. I ended up asking friends when a school pick up fell through. Knowing that the dc are sorted relieves a lot of the pressure.
• Enjoy it! It is an intense year but fun and rewarding too!

Good luck!

Thanks for the tips. Don't know how you did it being a single parent. You're an inspiration!

Good for you fluffy, and thanks for tips there!
I am in sort of same boat twin, have 2 dd's 2.8 and 4.5, dd2 is going into full time nursery and dd1 is at full time school. Big change from being a sahm.
and I think my brain has forgotten how to study!

If you have a freezer will it with as many meals as you can. Bulk buy non perishables now.
Buy all the birthday cards you will need until Christmas now and write them if possible with the date to post written where the stamp will go. Buy as many birthday and christmas presents as possible.
If you have nieces/nephews/godchildren speak now to their parents about presents. Ask if they will buy them on your behalf if you give them the money.
Buy winter clothes for children now if possible
Spend the summer looking at key documents such as mnational strategies so you are failiar with them before you start.

Get some sleep and have some fun this summer. Be ready and prepare DP for your house to look like a bomb has hit it. Get as organised as you can. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Good luck!

Not a problem

Quick question while I am hijacking the thread. DD2 wil be fed a 2 course hot meal while at nursery, I will need packed lunch for me but is it easier to do a packed lunch for DD1 or school dinners as that means both children will have ahd a 'full' meal and can have something smaller at night (her school dinners are fairly grim though)

Like tha cards/presents hint, thanks.

Remember, if you can make it to Christmas, then you have effectively made it.

Don't think that teaching is like a PGCE- it was the hardest year for me. Every subsequent year has been easier.

The first few months are going to be harder for me than anything I think, going from SAHM on career break to both children in full time 'other stuff' and me studying/working full time,, plus I have no idea how to pay for the first month as my finance stuff hasn't gone through, and my bursary isn't paid until october

You could apply to the access fund if your college has one... most do.

They may give you money for the first month- especially as you have a family.

There are also maintenance grants available: info here from warwick.

Where will you be studying?

See you bank about a student accoount - preferential overdrafts etc. Whilst you want to keep your debt down, some may be inevitable.
Quality - if she will eat school dinners then I would go with them. You can also have school dinners whilst on placement if you like!

I have applied for the fund but as I was quite late getting on the course (wasn't intending to apply until next year but there were spaces) it means my finance forms are only just completed and I will send them off monday. I am in wales, but funnily enough originally from warwick area!

Quality - whereabouts in Wales are you? I'm doing my course at Bangor, North Wales.

Hah, Swansea Met. Literally could not be further away

Have you joined TES forums? I have found this thread which has some good hints.

I have been writing lists in prep, mainly to buy 5 full uniforms for DD1 so I don't have to think about washing etc during the week, and I will do the same for me and DD2 for school and nursery. What childcare are you using for your twins? I am in the lovely position of having full time nursery for DD2 but no after school care for DD1 and am going to have to rely on friends as DH works stupid shifts!

Hello, I'm another one starting Primary PGCE in September. I'm a lone parent of 2dcs - I start Uni the same day ds1 starts reception.. It's going to be a tough year - I haven't worked since ds1 was born but I fully intend to be the most fully organised mature student in the place!

Good tip re Christmas/birthdays/winter clothes - thanks!

hey mavis, Whereabouts are you doing yours?
I haven't worked since dd1 was bron either, shoudl be a baptism of fire. Will keep repeating to myself 'just get to christmas'

I have just worked out that DD1 starts reception on the thursday before I start, so I get 2 days before she is shoved into breakfast club!

Just been talking to DH after finding out about the shit they are fed for school dinners, I don't think wales has heard of jamie oliver...she will be having packed lunch!

I am doing a secondary pgce so not sure how it differs though.

There is also the general Uni advice of be careful who you give your phone number etc to. The first week you will be lonely and desperate to make friends but be wary as there will be some you spend the rest of the year trying to avoid!
I think the middle term is the hardest as TP kicks in and you are lesson planning, marking etc Be prepared to stay after school for meetings and to speak to teachers. This may be hard with childcare so you need to be organised. If you are doing a subject that involves Maths get a new calculator.

Explain to your children what is happening, that you still love them very much but will have less time.

I'm also starting the PGCE (primary) in September. I have found the TES forum full of good advice.

On the other hand it's also full of horror stories about how hard the PGCE is.

I'm scared!

I know what you mean, mia (great name, btw).
We're all dooooooooomed!

I think you will be fine. As you have already planned

Make sure you have place to do your prep work - a desk or a table where you don't have to put things away.

Some shelf space for folders.

Stationery in abundance (folders, printing paper, pencils etc).

get yourself one of those cheapish see through pencil cases
the bigger the better - for your personal use in school
and a strong tote for carrying paperwork about
some ppl use supermarket's reusable supermarkets own reusable canvas bag

USB stick.

Microsoft Word on your computer (not sure if you will use Power Point in Primary at all).

If the school you have your teaching practice in uses white boards ask for a copy of the software to be lend to you and install it on your computer.

Make sure they know that you have 3 kids etc, so that the school you are going to be at is as close to your home as possible.

Make sure you have library card for yourself and ask if you can put extra books on kiddies one ( in my library I can and it saves time for trips there).

Well established routine for getting kids out of the house (but I am sure you have that too).

Frozen meals in the freezer well labelled.

When they give you all paperwork read through it.
Make notes as you go along with any questions you may have.

Make sure that around the time of submission of your essays you have someone to take care of the kids as you are going to burn candle at both ends...

Find someone to do proofreading them well ahead of time for submission.
If possible start reading up on recommended literature in advance, making notes, write something - it will help in long term.

Create account on google to use their
books.google.com/
very useful and full of copies of interesting books.

Will add more if I can think of any more tips

Great tips everyone. Thanks! Dh is worried that I've not done enough reading yet and will struggle compared to the other students who won't have kids, a house to run etc, but tbh I think having kids makes you more focused in that you have to cram everything in in the short time you have instead of faffing. I have told the uni that I need schools near me if poss as I only have childcare from 8am. Dts will be in full-time nursery and dd1 will be in after-school club at the same place (£400/week!!!!)

I think there's not too muc hpoint reading ahead as everything is new to you.

Make sure you get up to scratch for your QTS Skills Tests - you can practice ICT test online and do some revising for the Maths one - in case you are a bit rusty etc, the sooner you have them out of your way the better. Reading up on those makes sense

I did my PGCE before children but one of the ladies in my tutor group had 3 children. She was amazing and managed to get everything all done. She said organisation was the key and being focused on what you need to do.
It will work out ok. Good luck

I'm starting my pgce in Sept too- am already panicking as I can't find after school childcare for either morning/ long enough for evening. have been told to expect to be in uni 9-5, uni is an hour drive away. so why is the only childcare available from 8 am- 5.30 where I live [stressed emoticon] (and have not even started yet!)