OU Degree with 2 under 2... is it possible?

[Phew96]

I'm thinking of training to become a primary school teacher and am planning on starting an OU degree in English Language and Literature in October. I'm hoping to complete the course over 3 years and then do a PGCE at a University that is fairly close to me after that. I've spoken to the university already and they have said that they accept students with OU degrees.

I have a DD who is 20mo and a DS who is 6mo. I'm a SAHM and will be (fingers crossed) for the next few years.

So, that's the background and I'm looking for some reassurance that it's doable I guess. Has anyone got any experience of studying with two young children? Any practical tips?

Do you have previous credit? Or are you planning on doing 2 x 60 credit courses a year? If the later that will be very hard, it is the equivalent to being a full time student.

An OU degree is considered as highly as any degree, but it is a lot of work and needs you to be highly self-motivated. Have you talked to the OU advisors?

Oops, I meant to put 5 years not 3, one 60 credit course a year for four years and then two 60 credit courses in the 5th year when DD will be in school and DS will be in nursery/school. If, when I get to that point I feel it will be too much, I'll just spread the two courses over two years.

I haven't spoken to an advisor yet, I'm planning to call then later today as I've got a few questions for them regarding financial support etc

Thank you for your advice

Phew, I'm considering the same thing - working on a diploma first maybe, but I'm planning to do a 30 point level 1 course in Oct, DS is 17 months now and I'm expecting number 2 in March. Must be mental.......

Good luck anyway.

Yes it is doable, but for goodness sake avoid the February start courses, they play havoc with your life as you end up with shedloads of work to do in July/August.
I've just finished my degree in four years as an SAHM with three children - and working full time for the last six months of it. Now I'm hoping to apply for secondary English PGCE. You need to keep your grades up though - the PGCE provider I want doesn't even interview candidates who don't have a 2.1.

I tried it, and gave up half way though! I started when I just had one, that was easy! Then took a year off, then tried last year with a 3 year old and a 1 year old, gave up half way through and am now carrying on this year with one at school and one doing 3 days at nursery. Little one will be 5 days at nursery i Sept so i hope I will be able to revise more easily!

It's tough but people do do it all the time. My problems were that my eldest has significant disabilities which take up a lot of time and energy and neither of mine slept well so I couldn't rely on the evenings to study. It is easier this year now they are older but I've still had to call on all help, esp from grandparents!

I would go for it as my problems were quite specific - it will be hard work but its very rewarding and nice to have something 'grown up' to do when you are at home with the children all day!

Thanks, it's good to hear other people have managed fine.

Flootshoot -good luck

TheFirstLady - wow! I definitely don't think I could cope with working full time too. Thanks for the advice about avoiding the February intake. I was considering it at one point but have ruled it out, I'd not even thought of it causing loads of work in the summer. Good luck on your PGCE

HairyMaclary - how did you manage to fit your study in if not in the evening? Sorry, I hope you don't mind me asking. I'm planning on doing most of mine then if possible but DD doesn't always settle well so some evenings will be out

I finished off the last course of a Psych degree with 2 under 2 (one was 3 months old and the other 16 months old) and it was fine.

However, I found that it becomes harder as my DDs get older. I'm now doing an OU Literature degree and both my DDs are at home full-time and we don't have any childcare (we don't have any family in the UK or any other form of babysitters). I found it to be quite stressful, although I passed my course this year. My oldest DD starts nursery this Sept and my youngest one will go next Sept so I've put my studies on hold for a year.

I definitely can be done but can be very stressful if you don't have lots of help with looking after your children.

That's why I had to give up that year! Not having the evenings made it impossible! As they have got older and they sleep a bit better I now have most of my evenings back and that is when I do most studying. I do however have the occasional complete weekend, just before a TMA is due (!) when DH has the children all day and I hide away and work.