If not a TA then what could I be?

[GizmoIsSoFluffy]

9 years L2 general TA and 1:1 work. Love the kids.
Always had outstanding observations.
Degree in hated scientific subject.
Level 4 ta qualification.

But I'm currently broken. Anxiety over doing my job well is too high and I'm constantly breaking down. I'm not even a teacher.

Any ideas what else I could do?

A teacher?

Have you thought about changing schools? I know some TAs who feel very little pressure…

Different age groups?

A teacher - ha ha. I have the capability, but certainly do not want the stress.

A change of schools wouldn't work, is pressure that I'm putting on myself. Last swapped schools 18 months ago.

Just can't do it

Looking at roles in;

Early years SEN teams

Virtual school (for CLA) some will employ a range of people like ex social workers/TAs/teachers etc

Family support worker

College pastoral

Uni student services

Specialist TA in a peripatetic role with children with a sensory or physical impairment? Portage home visitor? It depends where the anxiety is coming from as these jobs are obviously important but you're only focusing on one child at a time.

Is all science hated?
Do you need/prefer term time only?

I'm in a similar position, work in a school not TA or teacher. I think wherever you are in compulsory-age education is stressful so I'm looking to retrain and get out completely. I just don't know what to do.

I don't hate science per say, just my degree subject (not a pure science)

Like the idea of a specialist TA. problem is that I dont think I can do a good job, despite teachers and children seemingly liking what I do.

I’m currently a Deputy Parish Clerk, decent pay, 100% flexible hours and work around my toddler (my Parish even let my daughter come to work when I’m doing things like checking parks or updating notice boards). Most will pay for you to gain qualifications. I do things like Community Engagement, running events, helping residents, looking after parks. I’d recommend it to any parents looking for flexible jobs.

Speech and Language Therapy Assistant? Although some roles are quite admin heavy rather than direct with kids.

Do you think it’s the job or you. You say colleagues and kids think you do a good job. I just wonder if you would feel the same way in a different job and if counselling would be better than job hunting.

You don’t explain why your anxiety over doing your job well is so high. Surely, whatever job you do, your anxiety over doing your job well will ruin it? ie you sound like you have an anxiety problem, not a job problem, as otherwise you would have made the effort to explain why you have such a problem with the current role in particular?!

Anxiety is high because staff absence is very high at the moment due to.covid and all staff are covering all jobs. It's tough.

And yes, I'm more than aware I have anxiety issues.

@GizmoIsSoFluffy - tbh, the same applies in most jobs at the moment, re covid absences, unless you want to work from home doing an online-only job. Presumably, as you are a TA, not a teacher, you do get the school holidays to get some respite? A completely new job would have the anxiety-inducing stress of being new to you, with different stresses and strains to adapt to, plus you would get less time off if things were getting tough, so may end up having to take time off with stress, rather than being able to survive until half term or end of term, knowing some respite is coming?

How much do you need to be earning? Could doing some clerking work, eg, for school governing bodies, work for you? Or working as a lab assistant in a secondary school, rather than a TA? What transferrable skills do you have and what interests do you have, as I can only see what you don’t like from your posts?