Anyone retrained to be an infant school teacher?

[inapickleoverthis]

What’s it like?

I’ve got to the stage in my career where I don’t feel like it’s what I want to do forever and thinking about something different.

I’ve loved watching ds develop his own personality and watching him learn and am quite interested in child development. I’ve toyed with retraining in this area but it would be a complete departure from what I do now ( lawyer) and also I’m quite old so may be too late.

Interested to hear from anyone else who has done this. I know most people would dissuade people from entering teaching these days (as I would dissuade people from entering the legal profession!) so would be great to hear what it’s like

Thanks

I left the law (shortly after qualifying as a solicitor) to retrain as a primary school teacher. Best decision I've ever made! Still very stressful, but it's a different kind of stress, and so much more rewarding! I'd say go for it!

Look up 'Teach Now' if you're in London. It's a programme aimed at mature career-changers wanting to get into teaching.

I've been fascinated by children's learning and development too. Just want to point out that I had this realisation/insight at some point, that my career-change-dreams always revolved around the stage my PFB was currently at. So when he was a baby, I thought about selling cloth nappies or some such, or re-training as lactation consultant. When he was a toddler I considered getting into toddler activities, either my own invention or some franchise or other. When he was at nursery school I thought about that, you know, being a nursery teacher, training in Montessori, starting my own nursery school, ... Now he's at primary school, I've looked into being a TA, re-training as primary school teacher, other roles within schools...
But when I really honestly think about it, I think that as interesting as I find it right now how children learn e.g. times tables and how they gain understanding of multiplication, I would be bored pretty soon of having to go through the same process of teaching a new class of 7 year olds the times tables every year. So I hesitate.

That said, I think if you're half serious about this, you should absolutely try to get some volunteering experience at a school (if you haven't already!)

You need to know that contact time with children may only be 30- 40% of your time. You will spend a lot of time doing planning, marking and other admin, meetings...I could go on.
I went into the profession in my mid 30s and I think I had romantic delusions of what a cosy job it would be. I was so wrong.
I don't regret it because it isn't boring at all but work as a t.a to get an idea of what teachers do first.
Or can you teach law?

Interesting post OP. In an ideal world I would do this too. I simply can't afford to leave the law though!

I retrained as a primary school teacher from a similar(ish) profession to law.

I now work about 4 times harder for about a 5th of the salary Having said that, I do enjoy it more (mostly!) and it definitely feels more "worthwhile"

No regrets really

In currently looking to do the same! I'm lucky as one of DC school does actually do support PGCE teacher training... BUT I have to work my way "up"- in terms of volunteering. Generally the school is very supportive and will give me an insight! (Subject to CRB check - I'm still waiting for mine to come through so I can start "working".)

Definitely do some volunteering (and try to be in school the same hours as the teachers are) to get a proper feel for things. Also be aware that many schools, in my area at least, are now primaries rather than infants and things are in a changing state nearly constantly, reception will have a new test to do as they start school for instance and although some schools support you teaching in a way that matches best practice many many others will want a certain way of teaching that might not match up with your understanding of pedagogy and child development that you gain from both watching your own child develop and from any future courses you may do. This can be very tough and it wears you down over the years.

I would recommend the School Direct route. It's on the job training so you learn from experienced teachers as well as receiving formal training. The Get into Teaching website provides all the information you need.

Good luck!