Teaching or occupational therapy

[Allthecolours]

If you had your time again would you choose teaching or occupational therapy?

Background
I have wanted to become a primary school teacher for most of my adult life. I left university to have my first child when I was younger.

I have since been studying for my degree with the ou and I have two last modules to choose. I want to choose modules which will relate to the career I choose to go into.

I am considering occupational therapy instead of teaching because I have heard so many horror stories about the workload in teaching. I am also worried about having spent most of my adult life trying to get into a particular career only to burn out a few years in.

I get the feeling that most occupational therapists love their job. I would still get the chance to work with children eventually if I choose OT instead. But it hasn't been my long term dream.

I partly liked the idea of teaching to teach abroad but with 3 children now this would be very difficult. I could settle with just earning better money to travel in my free time.

I really want a career that I mostly love but doesn't take up every second of my free time.

Sorry for the rambling. Please share your stories and wisdom. Thank you.

[Allthecolours]

I think the hands on experience is key. I may have the most basic job but even just being in an environment you intend to work in and speaking to the people around you is key. Even if it only rules out what you don't want to do. It could save you alot of time and money.

Also even speaking to others on here. It is a great way to find out info from real lived experiences rather than the basic job descriptions you get on job websites.

[Allthecolours]

If you are just studying a stand alone module and have studied at degree level before then it is usually fine.

Some modules have prerequisites modules you generally have to have studied before or demonstrate the same knowledge. Many modules rely on transferable skills.

They are very accommodating but they just like to be sure that you know what you are getting yourself in for. They don't want to set you up to fail.

I understand where you are coming from regarding the eating into family time and the general stress from having a job that is never done. You get to a point in life where you realise how short life is and you want some mind space left every week to enjoy it. Priorities and interests also change as we go through life.

[Fuzzybear3]

The MSc is 2 years.

[Fuzzybear3]

Any module from an OU degree I mean!

[Fuzzybear3]

Allthecolours, that sounds like an interesting degree. It must be hard feeling like your capable of more, there is a lot to be said for having a job that is convenient though and fits in well with your children and studying.

I worked in an office for a couple of years before going to university. I did a degree in Human Biology, then a PGCE in primary. I’ve been teaching since 2005, although I had a couple of years not working after my third child as the juggle and childcare cost of 3 children in under 5 was just going to be too much! I went back to teaching again last January when my youngest turned three. I do really enjoy working with children and lots of elements of the job, it’s just the amount that spills into my family time I find hard and that I feel however much I do it’s never enough. I also feel more stressed with it than I ever used too as well. I may well stay teaching part time whilst retraining part time, but I know that teaching is definitely not something I can do until retirement and be happy.
I’m hoping once my youngest starts school in September I can commit some time each week to volunteering a day a week to gain some experience and fully decide what to do. I may also have to look into extra study too so I am in a better position when applying.
Do you know if you can just study any module from a degree? Or does it have to be sequential? I quite fancy he children’s literature module, but it’s a year three module.

[bruffin]

Dds OT has just one exam, first term to get it over with. However there is a 1000 hours of placement over 3 years.
She has done her first 5 week placement, which was forensic mental health. Only problem was over an hour commute each way.
Next one will be 6 weeks physical placement.

[Holidayshopping]

@HexagonalBattenburg

Is it a one year masters? Do you know much about the starting pay, work/life balance, career progression etc of the job?

I did my nasenco (level 7 senco accreditation) a couple of years ago, would that could as recent learning?

[Allthecolours]

Believe me 6 years is a long time. That is how long my OU degree is taking and it has felt like I have been studying forever.

My original aim was to go into teaching so this was the only way I could achieve that at the time with the intention of doing my pgce afterwards. I had my third child whilst studying.

If I new back then what I know now I would have waited to do the BSc in OT instead. Now I will just finish my degree whilst getting some experience and then apply for the MSc.

I am registered on the BSc Combined STEM. I have studied modules in child psychology, mathematics, sport psychology and counselling.

I am considering changing to the BSc Open degree to have a wider choice of modules for September. Then I could tailor my degree more to OT.

I have two modules left to pick which could take me one or two years depending on if I study full or part time.

I currently work as a midday supervisor. I love the job but equally hate being in such a low level job when I know I am capable of so much more. It fits in with childcare and studying right now though.

How long have you been in teaching? Have you always been in teaching?

[Fuzzybear3]

That’s interesting Hexagonalbattenburg, I was hoping my CPD in teaching would help a bit. I would either go for the part time degree at Birmingham or the MSc in London as both are commutable for me, albeit quite a long commute. I’m not sure of my preference at the moment, I would prefer to do part time, but 6 years seems so long!
Good luck with your interview, I’d love to know how it all goes. Have you had any work experience in SALT?

Allthecolours, what are you studying with the OU? When do you plan to apply for OT?

[HexagonalBattenburg]

Fuzzybear I have an interview next week for the masters route onto SALT and my PGCE was a depressingly long time ago. If I don't get on this year (I have applications in for the BSc route as well but I didn't meet the main UCAS deadline because of reference woes so put it in as a long shot) I'll do an access course or something to evidence recent learning, but I've argued so far I've a proven record of having to take on board things like exam mark schemes and curriculum changes etc at short notice so my CPD proves an ongoing element of learning and processing information... I'm hoping that's good enough to swing it (I've not been rejected by my undergrad choices yet and obviously made it to interview for the postgrad route).

I believe some universities tend to be much worse on disregarding any qualifications past a few years old than others (Birmingham City is the name I've heard for being tough on that line).

[Allthecolours]

The above is regarding OT... I am not sure if the same applies for speech and language.

[Allthecolours]

Yes I think you need to have studied recently but even shorter courses are usually ok as long as you already have a degree for the MSc.

You can now get second degree funding for the BSc also if you wanted to go back to the start.

The degree apprenticeships should be ready for roll out in 2020 I think. You should probably check this though.

I have three young children also. I have been doing my degree with the OU so this is a long road for me too.

I would recommend the OU for part time distance study to provide something recent for your application. Otherwise I am sure there are many flexible alternatives.

Good luck!

[Fuzzybear3]

This is really interesting to read. I’m considering leaving teaching and retraining as a speech and language therapist, although OT is something I’ve also considered.
Anyone who has retrained or is applying, I’ve seen that you need to have studied in the past 5 years, is that right? My degree and PGCE were in the early 2000s, so I’m guessing I’ll need to do some type of study or qualifications next year before I can apply for a course?
I currently work part time and have three young children so I think I’d ideally like to do the qualification part time too, so I think this could be a long journey!

[Allthecolours]

That is very true. I guess it does still have elements of teaching just in a different way.

It does sound like a great job, not perfect as no job ever is but still certainly something I can see myself doing for the long term future.

Good luck to you whichever career route you decide on.

[SwimmingJustKeepSwimming]

From what I gather there are lots of ways you could use teaching skills in OT though. From running small skills groups to working 1-1 with someone to training other OTs. I so wish Id done it!

[Allthecolours]

Thanks. It is quite telling that I have posted in 'the staffroom' and yet I have not heard a single recommendation for classroom teaching in England.

It's upsetting to leave the idea of teaching behind but necessary to learn from others experiences.

I'm feeling quite positive about OT now though.

[SwimmingJustKeepSwimming]

Im an ex teacher and really really wish Id trained as an OT.

Looking at retraining as ed psych,OT, social worker/mental health nurse but training fulltime with kids and husband away all looking really hard.

[Allthecolours]

That all sounds really positive. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[littlemisscynical]

Also quite a few of the OTs who I trained with work abroad. No extra qualification required in Singapore. I think in Oz you need two years experience first and in USA and Canada maybe need a Masters also.

[littlemisscynical]

Yes I would choose OT again. I think all jobs have negative parts. And for the most part I really enjoy my work.

It can be pretty full on. Although I can go through phases of having to work on a bit later and through lunch to finish notes, I rarely take work home and don't do any work at the weekends. Can't anyway as everything is computerised now and I don't have access from home.

We have a new manager and morale is low within the team at the moment. I seen a job advertised today and I might apply for it. I was chatting to my mum about it earlier and she said "you are so lucky...if you're not happy in a job you seem to have so many options". It made me stop and think. I take this for granted so much. This has happened me before in a job where I wasn't happy with the manager. I was in a new job within weeks.

The beauty of mental health is jobs seem to be ten a penny (I'm in NI not sure if that makes a difference) . Ppl can either work in mental health or they can't. It is more difficult to get physical and paed posts as there are far more applicants for these posts.

My friend started a job in a mental health unit recently and she can work 7:30am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday to suit childcare. A lot of OTs I work with work 8-4 and a lot are part time also.

[Holidayshopping]

have considered becoming a SENCO but it seems very difficult to get into and a very time consuming route.

I don’t agree. PM me if you want more details!!

[Allthecolours]

EnormousDormouse - thank you. I guess with OT it is the language barrier of working in many different countries.

I have looked at international school jobs and most of them only seem to provide school places for 2 children, unless I am missing something?

I would love to work abroad one day but it all seems so much more scary with children involved. I would up and leave tomorrow if it was just me but the idea of taking them away from everything and one they have ever known makes me feel awful.

This makes me think I may have to settle with traveling in my free time as much as I can afford.

It sounds a little worrying to put all of the time, money and energy I have spent into studying towards a career I need to escape from.

In reality I think I probably prefer the job of a teacher but all of the work on the evenings and days off isn't worth the compromise maybe?

So OT possibly sounds like a better compromise. Although I will have as look at the other suggestions.

[Allthecolours]

That sounds really full on littlemisscynical.

Although I am looking for more of a career than a basic job and I do like stress to an extent as it makes me focus.

It is reassuring to know career progression is possible.

If you had your time again would you choose OT knowing what you know now?

[Allthecolours]

OneAndDoneForNow - that is a little worrying about there not being many jobs working with children although I think I could still be happy in adults mental health. I don't think I could work forever in adults physical health however.

I have considered becoming a SENCO but it seems very difficult to get into and a very time consuming route.

I haven't really thought about hospital teaching, I will look into that. Thank you.

[EnormousDormouse]

....but I would not touch primary teaching in the UK without a planned escape route (overseas teaching, SEN teaching, Ed Psych...) with a bargepole. Don't do it!!!!