career change advice

[MummyKnight]

I've been a TA for 5 years but due to nursery costs I can no longer afford to live on a TA salary. I need to work to bring money into the household so need to pay for nursery. This means I need to earn 16k/annum minimum to actually have earned enough to live on after nursery fees have been paid.

The problem is I have no idea what I can do now! I'm hoping you lovely ladies (and gents) can offer some sage advice.
TIA

Hi,

How old is your child/children? Are you paying a nursery for full days or after school as it does make a big difference. Also, you won't pay childcare in the school holidays (hope you don't). What qualifications do you have that would enable you to go into something else?

Are you a HLTA?

Go on to totaljobs, jobsite, job centre websites (there's other similar job websites as well), and do a search in your area for ALL jobs. Start to filter out jobs that don't pay enough. Now look at the jobs left, is there anything that takes your fancy? Forget about doing anything education related - if you see something education related and you like the look of it, then go for it, but otherwise keep your search much wider. I think you'll struggle to get paid any more than you are in education though, unless you get a teaching qualification.
Also, go into your local recruitment agencies and have a chat with them. Another thing you can do is look around at all the businesses in your local area e.g.. banks, shops, supermarkets, pubs, restaurants, bus companies (for driving jobs) doctor's surgeries, hospitals (NHS website is also a good place to look). Go in and just ask if they have anything, or, for larger businesses (like banks), go on their website and see if they are recruiting. Within reason, you can do anything really - it's up to you. Is there a local paper that carries job adverts? - if so, buy it.
Your other option is to sell things, via ebay, amazon etc - it's not for everyone, but it can pay if you're good at pitching your goods at the right price, good at writing up the adverts, and you've chosen some good products.

Thanks for the tips drifting off, I'll have a look around.

My LO is nearly 3, she has 5 full days in nursery.

I have a degree in education with intellectual disabilities so would like to use that if I can but don't mind if I don't. I have 2 years HLTA/unqualified teacher experience but no formal qualification in either. I would like to get my QTS but have been unsuccessful so far. I may or may not apply again, it depends what job I end up with.

Where in the country are you?

How much do you need to earn?

Would something like this suit?

Tethersend that's perfect! I'll see if there is something like that near me, I'm on the South Wales/England border.

If you PM me where you are, I will have a look too

Hi,

If your little girl is almost 3 will he qualify for the free nursery hours soon? That is term time so will help. Definitely stay with term time working if possible (take it from someone who works all year and pays for 2 lots of school holiday childcare - ouch). If your daughter is 4 before the end of August will she start FT school then? Childcare drops dramatically once they start school. We use a childminder after school but you could use the after school club if the school had one.

Is your degree the reason you have been unable to go for QTS? What feedback have you had?

My daughter will be 3 in November, she goes to nursery in Wales but we live in England so not sure how/if that will affect the childcare vouchers scheme. I've had interviews for school direct and pgce courses but unfortunately have just missed out on a place according to the feedback I received.
Ideally I would like to stay term time so we can spend quality time together as a family.

Have you looked at TA positions in Special Schools/ specialist settings? There are places that pay more for the more complex work.

Portage was another thing that sprang to mind?

Is there anything you can do to improve your chances next time?

I would look into the nursery funding. Not sure on Wales but, I would imagine, it's the same as England. Childcare is expensive before children reach school age but it does get cheaper - honest!