Crepeys in the Long Grass of Life

[CointreauVersial]

Thanks Beachy for the frisky title suggestion.

Well, here we all are!

those are v nice!

Have wiiiine, Stropps! You know you want to!

I have roasted some peppers and tomatoes, but not sure what to do with them. Pasta sauce? Don't really fancy pasta. Or a sort of sloppy salad with olives and feta? DD1 has made an enormous loaf of bread, which is delish.

I am off to Eastern Europe on Thursday, so should probably look out my passport...

Olives and feta, MrsS.

Just had the phone call - I didn't get it, but I did get useful feedback. They just said they didn't think I'd be happy in a generic TA role and needed to get into SEN teaching and as they had other applicants who had experience of the generic TA role and were happy with that, they went for them. I'm not surprised and in fact I was mightily surprised that I got an interview. It was the outgoing SENCO that advised me to apply and the incoming SENCO who interviewed me and she had previously advised me not to look at TA roles but to look into getting an SpLD qualification. Am a bit stuck between a rock and a hard place, as I don't have any SEN experience and need experience to get on some of the courses. Oh well.

Glad I didn't have the glass of wine. I need to go to circuits. :)

That is excellent feedback, though, Stropps. They clearly think very highly of you. As do we all.

That is useful feedback Stropps and I agree, they obviously do think well of you. They are right - you should look into getting an SpLD qualification and also see if you can do any SEN TAing in a voluntary capacity. Unfortunately that is not going to earn any pennies.

Stropps first of all you did great and constructive feedback is always worth reflecting upon. I wouldn't however assume that every school will think you're over- qualified or try to second guess whether you'll enjoy the role. At DD's school there is a TA who is a qualified secondary Maths teacher but she works as a TA because she loves the scope of the more generic role and probably can't be arsed with the marking any more Do you think it might be worth doing a few applications and going to a few interviews?

Yes, that is useful feedback. It sounds to me as if there was quite a bit of discussion after the interview - I would only give tailored and constructive feedback to someone who was a genuine near miss, which is what they have done for you. And it has given you a useful opportunity to have an interview, and to know that you can perform well.

Now go and have some wine.

I hear what you're saying, Rosebag, but my heart tells me they're right. And as that's the only school in my town, anything else would present tricky travel issues. I can't actually afford to stay working in a TA role anyway. I thought I could do it for a year or two and get a qualification and then move into teaching. I need to sort a main breadwinner role within 2 years as our finances are going to implode in summer 2016 for various reasons if I'm not earning sensible money by then. Dh is 67 this year, gets a state pension and a little bit extra and whatever he earns from freelancing. I can't afford to carry on doing what I'm doing now because I'm not earning enough and I can't go back to teaching MFL because a) I'm de-skilled after 16 years out and b) I hated it. So I'm trying to build constructively on the qualifications I've got, but it's quite difficult because we live in Dorset, there's no public transport and we only have the one car and I need to carry on earning as much as I can as a translator whilst I train/do voluntary. The other complication is that I struggle constantly with anxiety. But my experiences over the last few months with CPD are leading me to believe that this anxiety is just part of who I am and I have to accept it and get on with it.

I'm going to send my CV to a local-ish private school that specialises in SpLD and see if that at least might get me a bit of useful voluntary. Doing the course will cost a couple of K, and they won't let me anywhere near it unless I've got some kind of experience anyway. I have no clue what I should do workwise otherwise. It's a bit frustrating, but hey, who wouldn't prefer an easy answer to difficult stuff? :)

Stropps, I agree with everyone - they clearly think highly of you. KBO, hard to know until an opportunity arises how it would fit in with other things.

I like the tablecloth too - very holiday-ish.

So sorry Stropps idiotic of me…with my silly urbanite view We've a school on every street corner round here. Good idea re. the private school, though. As an additional thought, (here I go again…) is there a local Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy service anywhere near you? There are usually volunteer roles and also paid assistant jobs. (We had several when I was in full time NHS practice). Just a thought due to the overlap between Specific Language Disorder and SpLD. Wish you were nearer and I could help with contacts.
for you and lots of understanding re. career issues and anxiety.

Stropps, I was going to suggest trying just what you said! And Rose's suggestion is good too.

Stropps, I also wanted to add how terrifically impressed I am by how you've handled the whole thing including not getting it. I would be huffily climbing under the duvet in a welter of self-dislike and self-pity whereas you are being amazingly sane.

Totally agree, MI.

Stropps

Thank you, MI and BTM. :) I'm now off out to punch some things at circuits.

What MI says.

Gwaaaaan, Stropps. You've taken that first step, and now there's no stopping you.

What MI says too

What MI says (wise as always)

Stropps - you are awesome!

good stuff Stropps. agree with everyone x

Late to the party as usual. Stropps, so sorry to hear what happened today, you have handled everything so impressively. I have no knowledge of education in any shape or form so no advice from me but there appears to have been some excellent ideas.

I am very sad today because I have just heard that a member of my extended family has had to have a termination because of serious defects. I am absolutely devastated and so upset for the people involved.

NU, how terribly sad, I am sorry. You sound like such a strong and lovely family. x

I'm sorry, NUFC .