Almost 10 years on... would you?

[CarrotCakeCarrotCake]

I qualified as a primary teacher c. 10 years ago (slightly less) but never started my NQT year. It looks from reading online that there's no time limit on starting NQT unless you delve into supply teaching, which I haven't. Am I correct?

Recently started a school based nursery role and it's been suggested I could go for a teaching post, should one arise. But shit, that's a scary prospect. I haven't stepped in a classroom for a good few years and had planned on working as an LSA for a few years to find my feet then start looking, but this has really got me considering teaching roles.

The issue, I think, is my confidence. I'm just not sure that I wouldn't be shit. In the next breath however, I know that deep down I'm a teacher and it's what I'm meant to do. Ahhh this is hard.

My DD has recently got nursery funding so I suddenly feel like it's time to just be me. I basically do everything our teacher does except without the paperwork.... might as well take on the paperwork for the extra wages, no?!

How can I convince my inner self I can do it?!

A LOT has changed in teaching in the last ten years. I think you'd need some kind of refresher course before you started teaching again. You have to be able to hit the ground running, and fellow NQTs will totally outshine you, and you're going to be wondering what the hell's going on.

I know refreshers were available in my area at one time (to get women back in the classroom after they'd raised their own kids), so it would be worth researching.

Go for it.
I took 8 years out of teaching after completing my nqt year. Like you, I always knew I’d go back to it.
I just do part time and I love it.
I was shit to begin with and I felt rubbish for the first term but I’ve been back for 4 years now and it was totally worth it.

Disagree with pp - you might not be any worse than any other nqt. Plenty of people struggle in their first few years.

It's not about how good a teacher she is, @CuckooCuckooClock It's about being aware of all the things that have changed radically in the last ten years.
If she applies at this point, schools are going to look askance at her application. Not because she hasn't done her NQT year yet, but because they won't be confident that she's up to date.

When I tried to return to teaching after five years away (having taught for ten years prior to that break) interviewere were STILL suspicious about whether I was up to date. And that was at a time when there was nowhere near as much change happening.
OP needs to be able to show (and prove) that she's taken steps to refresh her knowledge and that she's ready to go.

I think it's the shit starting part that I'm worried about.

I'm more than willing to put the work in to prove I'm up to date with practise, but maybe that's why I'd be better doing an LSA role for a while?

If you already have a role in a school, could you approach one of the managers there and ask for their advice on how to restart your teaching career? It would be useful to know how they'd perceive an application from someone like you.
They might even let you shadow one of their teachers for a week or two so that you can see how things are done now.

Go for it-what do you have to lose?

I basically do everything our teacher does except without the paperwork.... might as well take on the paperwork for the extra wages

I would argue that wasn’t strictly true though.

Our TAs (and I know this is not true of all) walk in the door at 8.45 and leave at 3.10, so childcare may become a factor for you. Consider also things like observations/learning walks, book scrutinies, assessment, parents evenings/emails/meetings, leading assemblies, PMR, staff meetings, pupil progress meetings, shared displays, reports etc

I’m sure you’ve considered this, but it’s obviously a lot more than marking/planning.

I basically do everything our teacher does except without the paperwork

Don't underestimate the paperwork. Also as PP said the pressure of monitoring. Maybe spend a bit more time in your current role shadowing what the teacher does. Can you attend some meetings etc with them to see what else the role entails before making up your mind?