What can I do in a school? Love kids and literacy

[PrincessOfPreschool]

I currently work in Preschool but I'm finding it so tiring. I'm 52 and I won't be able to do this much longer. I have loads of energy at the time but then crash at weekends, in the evening etc. I need to do something a bit less physical. I've realised I love being around children and my passion is literacy - speaking, reading, stories etc. I think literacy rates are declining so I would love to help with that.

I'm too old to start qualifying as a teacher (I have a degree) and I couldn't manage a class anyway, but I'm wondering what I could offer a school, or what kind of role I could be looking for. I don't think I would be good as a 1:1, I need more variety. I know schools have very little spare cash. I am currently minimum wage but I would even be willing to volunteer for a while.

Any thoughts please from those in the know...what could I do?

I think the only regular paid role would be a teaching assistant but you’d need to be an all rounder, not just literacy. There are very few visiting speakers etc now, unless they’re free. The only other thing I can think of is getting a job in a large city library that is looking for a story teller to visit schools. Or do children’s hospitals have any scope for story tellers?

Thanks. That's great advice to look in those areas. I couldn't be a visiting speaker, not enough expertise and a TA would be too physical, I think.

We used to have a regular preschool reading group in our area that taught yhe basics of literacy - run in the same way as things like sensory classes, so £x per class. Might be worth looking into? Would.play into your passion and experience well.

Something like this: readingrabbits.co.uk/

Some schools still have librarians. It's rare, but it is still a thing. I've no idea of the exact qualifications you'd need, but if you have a degree it's a good start. It sounds like a role which could be just up your street.

There are also companies who send trained reading coaches into schools to support low attaining readers. The schools pay for the service, so it's not like simply having a volunteer in to listen to readers. They are assigned a particular child or children and work with them for a term or so at a time, carrying out progress assessments etc. I'm not sure how you'd get into something like that but it could be worth researching?