Trying for second baby

[StudentTeacherMama]

Hi all... Hoping for some advice, will try not to make this too long winded...

I'm halfway through my first year of my teaching degree which has QTS built in so I can go straight into teaching as NQT in 2.5 years but found myself in a bit of a dilemma!

We already have one DS who is 2.5 years and we knew we wanted one more but were going to wait until after my degree had finished. I can't leave it any longer than that because of my age and a long family history of early menopause. GP thinks leaving it any longer would be risking it...

I've since found out that taking a gap year between getting degree and starting as NQT is a big no no and I'd struggle to get back into a classroom if I did? Now I'm wondering if I take a gap year at uni between second and third year but I hate the idea of waiting another year to finish!

Any advice welcome, my heads in a bit of a pickle over this one..

Thanks x

It’s not a gap year it’s maternity leave. Ignore people advising you about “gap years” and their impact on classroom placements, having to take maternity leave is very different to choosing to do something else entirely.

Remember you’d be very lucky to time conception well enough to perfectly time your leave in any case. You might end up giving birth half way through your third year or six months into classroom teaching. Who knows.

Would your partner be up for shared parental leave if you’re both eligible? That sounds like a good idea in your situation but you’d both need to be employed to take it.