Pros and cons of full time (primary)

[twolittleboysonetiredmum]

So I’ve been part time for 6 years since birth of dc1. Have 3 chn, youngest is 2. Work 3 full days. Have the chance to go full time - unlikely to come up again for a good few years. I coordinate a core subject and another one.
Pros as I see it are more money (only once December kicks in with 30 hours for youngest tho), more pension contributions,total control over what happens in the classroom, no faff with job share etc. I work 2 hours on my days off anyway during nap time.
Cons - I can’t see how I’d cope with the workload. I work every night except fri and sat and mon. Only an hour or two but still only just keep on top. (I’m a sensible worker but the subject management etc equates to a lot extra) and the youngest would be in full time nursery which j don’t like the idea of.
Has anyone made this decision who could advise? I’m really torn. I want a career and know that full time, one day, is likely. I just don’t feel ready with dc3 being so young.

I'm having the same debate. I'm a SAHM at the moment because we moved with DH's job whilst I was on mat leave with DS. I was part time before that but still had core subject responsibility and assessment which I loved.

I really think I want to go back full time in September but I don't know about the workload, especially as DH works away mon-fri so it's all on me during the week.

But then I also know part time is never part time!

DC are 1 and 3 so I'm thinking that actually this year (both in full time nursery) is the easiest to work full time but come next year and DD starting school it could become a lot more complicated. Obviously I'd be working for nothing but hoping the career benefits pay off long term! Plus I'm driving myself mad at home!!

I’m glad it’s not just me! I also love having a core subject and would like to progress at some point. I think!
Dc will be at my school so logistically it’s easier for me than you! So once dc3 is school age then it will make total sense to be full time. One option I have is to put dc3 in our school nursery too which could make it easier as I’d be able to pop in and see her. On the very rare occasion I’d get 5 minutes!
My husband is also a teacher and works more than me as he is full time. I don’t know if I’m picking up more slack than him so that could be a problem too if I work 5 days. Hmm.

Yes the pull of progressing is getting to me now. And I am really feeling my 2 years out of the classroom so I kind of think I need to get back in full time to look a bit more serious.

I'd love to go back to my previous school, and I'd then be in a similar situation because DD could start in the Nursery class so I know the school years would be less stressful to organise once DS was there. But if I can't get back into my old school... not sure I can manage 3 drop offs on my own 5 days a week!

I always feel like you should want to be part time with young children but I do think it has its own challenges! I think it's definitely an element of rose tinted specs after 2 years at home but the thought of 5 days out of the house sounds like bliss to me at the moment!

Would it be a year group where you'd feel the workload would be reasonably manageable? If it ever really is! I think I've convinced myself that I want to go full time but I'll have to see what jobs come up so it's all too unknown at the moment. It'll be interesting to know what I think by October half term!

It would be year 4 or up. So fairly easy in terms of resources but marking wise more intense. I’m used to that year group though. If I was in two more days I guess I’d have two more nights st work to work as well?
Eugh. I don’t know if I feel I should be part time as well - like ou say - it’s almost an assumed position with young children. And I spend a lot of my days off working or cleaning. But love the fact we aren’t bolting out the door at 7:30am and I know that would be harder for the kids. But we still have the holidays too.
I can’t figure out with childcare how much better off we’d be but it wouldn’t be much for a while. I hate trying to make decisions like this!

Can’t you try it and revert to part time if it doesn’t work out? How much more work will it really be - you’re probably doing almost full time hours already. Full time nursery really isn’t that much of an issue dd will probably live it!

It’s really difficult to go back to part time - I’m in A very good position in terms of part time work for teaching. No one likes a part timer any more so are reluctant to let you go down from full.
I feel like it makes sense but also that it’s not a good idea. I’m very very torn!

I’ve pretty much decided to go full time. Still need to sort the finer details with my head teacher but for me, I think it’s the right choice.
Really hope I don’t come back here in 6 mths bemoaning my decision!

Good for you! Not at all jealous...

I got excited about jobs day on Thursday but not a single primary teaching job in my area. I know it's early days but I want to get September sorted now!

Is after Easter not the more likely time? I hope you find something. I’d find it strange to be facing a September with no job as a teacher!
I feel quite excited about being full time in a way - no more job share rubbish! I’m even tempted to ask if I can have year 6...that may be a step too far tho!

Crazy talk! I taught year 6 in a really tough school for a couple of years - nearly broke me. But looking back, it has made me a far better teacher now. I'm early years at heart but I'm pretty sure nobody would give me an EYFS job because I've just been out of it for too long. I always get chucked in KS2.

This will be my third September with no job if I don't get one - it's so depressing! I've loved the couple of years with my kids, but I hate not being part of the start of term. Or Christmas shenanigans! Hoping there will be more after Easter. Or that my old school has something!