Newly single parent- is supply a good idea?

[Mummywithtwocats]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or experience of teaching as a single parent? I will most probably be a newly single parent soon as my husband and myself has a truly dreadful Christmas together. My husband is not a teacher and in the past has been able to take time off from work if my DC is poorly. My worry is now we are separated, I will not be able to reply on him to have time off. Working in a school isn't ideal as you cannot easily have time off for this. Does anyone have any experience of this? Would supply teaching be a good alternative? My idea was if DC is poorly I wouldn't have to go into work that day and I wouldn't be letting anyone down last minute or causing any problems. I currently work part time so my main worry would be my take home pay and potentially the impact on my pension in the future? I have been teaching for about 11 years and I don't really want to leave the profession. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly recieved. Thank you x

There's not the availability of work out there that there once was (at least not on proper supply rate rather than cover supervisor rates) - you're also likely to find September and most of October are very quiet on the work front, plus the week or so before/after most holidays and after May is pretty iffy for work as well as we enter "oh just double them up and stick a DVD on to save the cover cost" season post-exams.

I was doing the odd bits last year to try to get my hand back in after a career break and there wasn't much in the way of work out there at all compared to how it used to be - I've since given up and gone back to university to retrain.

Thank you, that's really helpful x

You can’t pay into the teachers’ pension scheme if you are st supply either. So you’d be on hold on 11 years paid.

Thanks, I really don't want to leave teaching (or my current school). My daughter is still very little so holidays and that are perfect for us. I'm just worried that as my husband is able to take random days off at the moment that he won't in the future. Thanks x

Sorry to hear about your marriage (mine is in the same state). Some schools are more supportive than others - is there someone you can confide in a bit at work so they understand your challenges?
My children are older primary age and haven’t had much time off sick at all. When they are, my school just has to deal with it.

@parrotonmyshoulder I'm sorry to hear about your marriage too xx

It has worked for me, I have pretty much worked full time for the last three years on a teaching rate on various full and part time contracts. I have done TA/HLTA and CS days. I have not experienced the lull in September but am MFL and the shortage seems acute, even where I am. I have primary experience and am happy to work in both primary and secondary which probably helps. I also do tutoring and teach English to foreign students in the summer. It is all a bit...bitty...But I am not particularly career minded, enjoy being in the classroom without exam pressure and am thick skinned to take the crap from the more difficult classes. I have a child with a disability and a parent with some serious health issues so it gives me the flexibility needed to earn a living whilst juggling 30 balls at the same time. There is a lot of negativity towards supply but I think quite a lot of it is mindset and your motives for doing it.

I would avoid supply unless absolutely necessary.
My exp has never paid a penny of maintenance and without a steady reliable income of my own, we wouldn’t have survived.

Realistically how often will your dc be ill? Certainly not enough to warrant compromising on your entire standard of living, the sleepless nights caused by exacerbated financial pressures etc? Otherwise no mother/parent would ever have a regular job ever.
Plus you say you don’t want to leave your current school- if you found a school you like, grab hold of it and never let it go- so many schools are a nightmare these days due to budget constraints etc etc you’d be silly to compromise a position a school you like- you very well might not find one like it again!

It’s going to be tough but it can be done.
I would even advise a secondary income too if possible- pet sitting or ironing for people in the holidays, tutoring, anything really.
I wish you well xx