New job after long term illness. Would you rather...

[Bluewavescrashing]

I'm an experienced primary teacher, 13 years on the job. Part time since having 2 DCs. I have been out of teaching for a couple of years due to ill health. M.E which meant I was in bed 18 hours a day, mostly asleep. Poor cognitive function, no appetite, lots of pain. Could not walk longer than 5 mins, getting dressed was hard work. Teaching out of the question. Could hardly string a sentence together.

I've recovered somewhat since and gradually have been getting my energy back. I'm now a SAHM to 2 primary DCs and want to get back to work in the next few months. I can walk much further and am more alert, can think more clearly. Thinking about what to do next.

Option 1: TA job in my DCs primary school (large school so ta jobs come up fairly regularly) assuming a job comes up of course. No childcare needed.

Option 2: very part time ppa cover as a teacher or HLTA, mornings only or 2 days a week, depending on what comes up. We know a very good childminder.

I volunteered in my DCs school today and enjoyed being back in the classroom. I could tolerate the noise, bustle, fulfil my role as parent helper well. I also enjoyed not being in charge!

Any thoughts welcome.

It seems a long shot that either of those jobs would come up. The obvious choice is option 3, supply for 2 days a week.

I think either but go with what you are drawn to the most and put your energy into that.

Thanks @PotteringAlong. I've never done supply but have done ppa cover and enjoyed it. Most schools in my area use internal staff (either SLT or HLTAs) for supply so there isn't much demand.

Its tricky. Ive tried to return to a part time supply contract after being a lot better from ME and had no idea how much it would take out of me.

I am now looking for non classroom work. It does depend what you think you can handle. Ive done some TA in adult classes and its lovely being able to leave it at the end of the day.

The thing with teaching is you cant go on if youre having an exhausted day and just check emails/have a light day. You just cant. And so when you need to rest it makes the symptons worse. A TA job for just mornings so you had time to rest after and before the afternoon school run/childcare pick up would be ideal. But also golddust.

I nearly applied for a TA job at my DCs school recently but didn't quite feel ready. I'm going to volunteer more regularly to get back into it.

I've always commuted to work (into the city), leaving at the crack of dawn, so walking my children to school and then working there is quite appealing.

DH works internationally quite a bit so it would be good to be self sufficient with pick ups etc.

I can't decide if it would be more tiring to work more hours as a TA or fewer hours as a teacher. Depends on the specific jobs that come up and their locations really.

Hey @Bluewavescrashing. Brilliant to see you're out the other side of M.E. Been out of education with it six years & can't imagine ever being well enough to be back in a classroom

Obviously everyone's M.E. is different, but please do make sure you aren't going back:

A. Prematurely
B. For the wrong reasons

C. Into a role that would easily mean you over-exerting out of your energy envelope on tired days. You know what I mean.

I'm sure you're being v sensible & making all the right choices, just see so many people saying they wish they hadn't gone back so soon/ever, as they relapsed.

Enjoy your children & good luck with the job hunting!

Thank you @CourtOfProtection

I'm aware that feeling better at home, in my peaceful house and being well enough to work aren't the same thing but I'm getting there. I don't think I'll ever manage the hectic 10 hour days plus commute that I used to. A few hours on a few days might be manageable. I don't really have to do anything for a few months financially but I'll keep a look out on the job sites.

I really miss working and want to get back into it, but having to go off sick would be soul destroying.

Have you considered non school jobs? Adult education, libraries, education outreach etc.

DCs are still primary age but I would consider non school jobs when they can fend for themselves in the holidays.

Wishing you lots of luck *Blue. I really shouldn't have tried to go back when I did, durr. I do understand tho, I really missed work!

I thought about returning as a TA but then I went into a school to observe some lessons and I realised I couldn’t be happy if not in charge of the class. I think I would find being a TA boring. I decided to go back to part time teaching. How does it feel being back in a classroom?

It felt right. I enjoyed working with a small group and not having to coordinate the whole class, manage other adults etc. It's a really lovely school. I could TA for a year and then rethink maybe.