Is there anything I could put in my supporting statement that would persuade you to employ

[Ouluckyduck]

a very long term (10 years) Sahm? Going for a teaching job, only experience is pgce and two years of teaching ten years ago. At least that makes me cheap... Never managed to climb the salary scale much. My subject knowledge is also in no doubt. But is there anything in particular I could write that would make me look like am attractive prospect?

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any relevant experience in the last few years (volunteering at school, course). Have you kept up-to-date with the curriculum/exam changes - worth mentioning if you have.

Could you go on some CPD to show that you're keen?

What subject?

Languages. Have not really done anything related to secondary teaching, but am a givernor at primary school. The job is not till September, was thinking I could offer to come in regularly between now and then to observe and relearn? Would that be a stupid thing to put in?

Try to do some private tutoring to gain experience, check subject knowledge and get a bit more confidence. Even if it's just friends being guinea pigs!

Read the TES or at least look at it online to see how teaching has changed in the last 10 years - you'll probably find it isn't that different, but at least you'll be able to use the current lingo.

Organising observations at a few different schools is good - beware that some may charge for this and some will say no - but I'd avoid offering to come in and 'relearn' as it a) implies you don't know anything and b) someone needs to teach you, which means more work for them.

Longer term, supply or maternity covers will get you back in the classroom even if it's only temporarily!

Rather than highlighting why you'd be a risk, try to think about why you'd be good to employ. You have greater maturity than most with that little teaching experience, a lot of teaching and parenting principles (like consistency and patience!) are related and after my extended maternity leave I discovered a renewed enthusiasm that had dried up before that.

On the other hand - Languages teachers are hard to come by near me and you'd be snapped up very quickly!

Thank you for the good advice. I have seen a job advertised now so there is no time to gain any experience before applying. Will just have to try and make myself sound good with where I am at the moment... I am a native speaker of the relevant language so could stress that?

I think school would perhaps preferred you done return to teaching course
have you looked into it?

Yes. But there isnt one in my area.

I am a languages teacher, and I'm sure that as a native speaker, you will have an advantage, and that will make you very employable. In your application, mention any other languages you can deliver (as most schools want at least two these days) as well as any other subjects you could teach, that you may have a passing interest in. Languages are often part of wider faculties these days, at our school we are in with Humanities, but I've seen them in with English too, so find out and perhaps offer these subjects too.

The fact that you are cheap will work in your favour. I'm jobseeking at the moment too, but I don't want any responsibility points, and on UPS1, I'm too expensive to hire for many schools, budgets rule at the moment.

I hope you get some interviews, there seems to be more Languages jobs around this year than last, poss due to the English Bacc (make sure you know what this is - a set of qualifications which schools are measured upon in league tables).

Ofsted are very keen on seeing a cultural aspect in language lessons these days, so if you have to teach a lesson as part of an interview, then do draw on your own experience and bring something 'real' to the lesson.
Going back after a long time must be daunting - I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you. I am very grateful for every bit of advice!

A sneaky bump in case there are more thoughts/opinions/pieces of advice!

Just agreeing with others really - a ntaive language speaker, who could offer to teach other languages too (?) would have her hand bitten off in many areas.
This won't help for this job application, but you could offer to go into your local Primary schools, many of whom are really struggling without any linguists on the staff, to teach a MFL to all pupils. Even if you could do a term's worth for free, it would really boost your CV. You never know, it might even lead to some paid work.

Thank you. This would be the perfect job really, but if it doesn't happen I'll try and do some of the things suggested.

Here you go . I just spotted this on the BBC News, and thought of you

Thank you that's cheering!

Was told by somebody today that my chances were very ver small...

It's never too late to get some experience in. Have you helped at your DCs school - reading with children etc - just showing you have recent classroom experience would help. Is there a local French or Spanish saturday club you could help out at? If you advertise tutoring for GCSE and A level you may get some people wanting help for exams soon, and could add this to your Cv or at least mention it in interview.

Being a school governor means you have up to date knowledge of developments in Ofsted etc and some understanding of how school life works behind the scenes, so def worth mentioning, I'd think.

I think that whoever told you that you have no chance of success is just being defeatist.
You do have a chance of success but when it comes to the CV and potential interview you need to have that "something" that is going to make you stand out. At present, in a negative way, that something is no recent teaching experience and no apparent attempt to get it! You need to get something on the CV quickly, so any volunteer work at a local primary school or paid work on 1 to 1 tutoring will just help your CV to look better.
Language teaching has also no doubt changed a lot in the 10 years you have been absent so I would suggest approaching your local High school and ask if you can see what their facilities are now - you never know they could actually be a source of volunteer work or even paid work if they are short of language teachers.
Another issue is going to be that you will need a CRB check. Whilst any school is going to insist on having a new one via the relevant authority, they can sometimes take a while. I wonder if it might be appropriate to consider getting one done for 1 to 1 tuition purposes, which will then at least give the school some confidence that a new CRB check for them will not be a problem.

I was in your position, having been a SAHM for 12 years, and had thought myself to be unemployable. However, I did get the job and language teachers are in very short supply, so you need to feel more confident.
Have you thought about raising your profile by asking to look around? If they meet you and like you, you stand more chance of being short-listed.