Mums who teach primary / early years

[Orangeflower7]

How is it? I trained as a primary teacher and am presently a sahm. I am thinking of returning to teaching. I am trying to think of pros and cons-

Money, of course
Rewarding, inspiring
Fits in school hours

Am worried though, remember how teaching feels like, similar to mothering- the responsibility, the paperwork...how do you ever switch of from children? (IYKWIM)

OK I was an NQT but remember after school I needed the time to plan/ have a rest/ wine!
How do you ever have the patience, or time, to fit in your own children at the end of the day?

So would you (or not) recommend combining teaching primary and having little ones?

I possibly need to go in volunteer at ds school, as had a particularly difficult last experience teaching. I taught in the school hall (reception children) which was separate from the school, no toilets for the little ones and very little TA support. It has put me off a bit and am just looking for a little support before having another go I guess!

In my area there is huge competition for jobs just now and NQTs are going for HLTA jobs. I was also wondering about that.

How old are your DCs and do you have any help at home?

I think volunteering is a good way to start out, although I believe there used to be "return to teaching" courses for qualilfied teachers that hadn't been in a classroom for some time. Perhaps your LA could tell you?

Hi thanks Pippop, yes I will look into that, my DCs are nearly 6 and 2. Helping at his school would be a start just to be in the class.

will be watching this thread with interst as I myself am an NQT I qualified last June and had DS in the the July so only have PGCE experience to go on, which was pretty horrific!! And very tiring without a child!!

I have just returned to teaching after my maternity leave and I am exhausted! However, DD is almost 1, so younger than your DCs. I am now teaching in Y1 (after being in Y2 for three years).
I love teaching and I'm really enjoying my class, but I'm finding the amount of pressure very hard. If I had no extra paperwork to do, and I could work from 8-5 and then stop it would be ideal, however that's not the reality of teaching, is it?!!
I get up at six, BF DD, get ready and get to work for 7.30. I work through lunch and break, then stay at school until 5. Once I'm home I do tea, play with DD, bath her, BF then put her to bed. Once she's in bed I start marking/planning etc.
I had asked to return part time, but my request was refused and TBH I'm finding full-time hours + DD + working at home difficult. Perhaps with your DCs being older it will be easier? I'm seriously considering doing supply work until DD is in nursery, so I can work fewer days and see her more. I hope you make a decision you're happy with.

Hi Pip, yes I did the PGCE a few years back too and keep remembering it! That and the "hall" job hmm... anyway just glad did the course before having the children, my friend wants to do it now her boy is at school and am trying to be encouraging whilst telling her the realities / practicalities of it.

VJ- It seems quite common round here for two teachers to jobshare esp when they have little ones, for example in my ds' yr 1 class they swap midweek. It's a shame your request was refused, would it be something you might look for? 0.6 / 0.4 is another option.

Orangeflower - my school is 'outstanding' and feels standards would drop if some teachers were P/T. I am not the first teacher from my school to be refused, sadly. I asked to work four days a week or five mornings and three afternoons (equivalent to an NQT), so not an unreasonable request. I shall look for another school or do supply. Other schools in the area do have job share teachers (even some 'outstanding' ones)!

I find it good actually. I have a 4 year old, 1 year old and the third on the way in may. I moved to my current school when pregnant with my first, then came back after 6 months to work 0.5 which was hard work. Once I had my second I went back initially for 0.2 then up to 0.4 which suits me better. I think I am a better teacher teaching part time, much more enthusiastic and enjoy it more. At the moment my children are young and I teach y5-6, so not too much of a similarity. It is hard to come home and do the whole enthusiastic mother thing after being enthusiastic teacher all day, but I enjoy my time with my boys more after having been away for a little bit.

I am also a senior teacher so have slt responsibilities, and work in an outstanding school which brings it's own pressures. But doing two days a week seems to me to be the best of both worlds. I think you do have to remember where your priorities lie though, at the end of the day, my children come first, which is different to how I felt as a teacher before I had children.

Sorry have rambled on a bit, hope this helps a little xx

Ps money does help, have researched alternatives, not much else you can do for 2 days a week and be paid enough to actually mean something! Although am in very lucky situation where my parents and parents in law look after the boys on days I work, so low childcare costs. I know others who have not returned to work as they would not earn anything once childcare paid for...

i'm not a teacher, but am SALT, working in a school. i do 4 days, term time only. i find this hard, as i get up at 6, feed kids, (5&6), dress them, drop off at breakfast club at 7.40, get to work at 8.30. put in a full day with SN kids, pick up from after school at 5.30, come home, cook tea, play, clubs, stories etc, plan next nights tea/cook it, and collapse at 9. no me time. i am lucky that i work term time, but its like a busmans holiday.looking after your own kids is harder work IMO.
i often wonder "is it worth it?, should we downsize so i can have a bit of free time?" the only time i ever have off work is when i am looking after my own. i often bring work home, or am forever behind on reports or notes.theres no easy answer.

I went back to teaching after Mat leave after Christmas. I have two DDs, work 4 days... it is bloody, bloody hardwork.

I enjoy my job, and as a senior teacher with additional responsibilities have some time out of class but feel that I can't take my eye off the ball for a moment.

My working day starts at 8 after dropping my DDs at their childminder. I work through break and lunch. Am home with my girls by about 5.15 ( on a good day) and the time before bed is precious and time together. They are in bed by 7.30 when I start working often through till 11ish. My working week is crazy, full on with no time for myself at all, however i do it like this so my day off and a good part of the weekend can be strictly family time. I find that I have to really draw a line, consciously decide to stop. In teaching you never find the end of the 'to do' list so I prioritise.

I'm lucky, my DH is very good and during my working week does the ironing and tidying - his job doesn't have the same demands on his time. It would be a whole lot harder if this wasn't the case.

I don't know how much, if at all, this has helped. I think the best thing you could is get in the classroom and see how much you enjoy being there. The job is hard enough, you have to love being in the classroom to have any hope of it working IMO!

But this week is half term. I get a lovely week to spend with my DDs

Hi again, it's interesting to hear how people make it work. I do enjoy children just was more worried might get a bit impatient with my own I suppose- but then I am thinking of how am after a day at home which is after all not the same as being in a classroom. In fact it is a delight and relief to have ds (5) at home for half term after all the time with a toddler.

I am not half as organised as all of you getting the los up to the cm etc, in fact my dp takes the older one to school at mo as we take so long getting ready (toddler and me)...

Ds' school is also 'outstanding' but has no prob with jobshares, interesting to hear it can be a bit presurised though to work in. I was hoping maybe to d some supply there, the children seem a delight. Like the way they have a lot of support in class though, there often seems to be about 4 adults in the yr 1 class, voluntary nannies training, retired lady, teacher, assistant, anyway it seems the key thing is to keep it in balance if possible. Particularly in lower primary it can be quite a 'pastoral' role and like mentioned, the 'to do' list never ends...I think supply might be the answer for me as a good way to try it out. Especially as, with contracts, even part time ones, it is a commitment and can't just try it out!