Returning to teaching - terrified! Please help!

[Helpmyhair2019]

Hello
I was a primary teacher for 13 years before my children were born. When they were toddlers, I got a job as an educator for a charity that goes into local primary schools to run sessions. I used to enjoy teaching but after two very bullying heads (one who has now actually been removed from his school for bullying) i felt I had no choice but to get out and apply for something different. I never ever planned to return.

Due to Co-vid 19, I am now about to become unemployed. My only option is to return to full time teaching (if anyone would give me a job!). I am partly excited but also terrified that I won’t cope, will be useless etc and etc .

My husband is a teacher and loves it and keeps telling me I will be fine. Do you have any positive experiences?

The whole world seems upside down at the moment and although I’m absolutely terrified of going back into teaching, financially and for my family it makes sense.

[nobabiesyet]

Do you know if you are definitely being made unemployed? Might the job be reinstated later. Be a shame to leave if it was.

[Rainuntilseptember]

Well there might be some vacancies so in that sense it's a good time to go back.
Try some supply, see how it feels.

[Sewingbea]

I love the actual teaching and the kids are fantastic but the fifty hours plus I work each week is grim. I'd love to have a job that doesn't take so much of my time and energy.

[astuz]

I went back after being a victim of severe work-place bullying. I took a 2 year career-break, desperately tried to get a job completely out of teaching but I never even got an interview (and I have a science degree/Ph.D), so ended up coming back.

My biggest fear was ending up with another psychopath of a boss, and also I knew I was going to get a bad reference from my most recent school, so I decided to do supply as a way of getting back in - this turned out to be a really good decision, because I could try out a few different schools before I committed.

I now have a permanent job at the second school I did supply in. It's the one school that I immediately felt really at home in, so as soon as a permanent job came up, I applied and they were really keen to have me. Don't get me wrong, it has been terrifying, but everyone at the school is lovely and very supportive, so I'm sticking with it for the foreseeable future.

[mdh2020]

Could you be a private tutor instead teaching individual children at home?
I think you need to take some career advice. I know one person who works in an agency recruiting and supplying teachers to schools. I left teaching and moved into teacher training and staff development in a university.
Review your transferable skills. Maybe you could move into HR and training?

[Helpmyhair2019]

Thanks for all your replies. Unfortunately I need to earn the salary of a teacher to be able to pay the mortgage and I need to apply ASAP before furlough if my current job ends (I will be redundant as soon as it does). I’d love to re train but just don’t have the finances. But I guess I’m lucky to have a profession to fall back on. I just don’t know how employable I will be any more

[Piixxiiee]

I was in similar situation, stopped teaching for 6 years when my children born. I'm now back 4 days and will be full time as of September .... I'm a bit nervous and it is overwhelming at first. What do you teach? The amount of time the job takes out of school hours is ridiculous and the amount of meetings- pre lockdown- I went to that rambled on passed 5:30 when really a few emails would have done is silly.
Good points- money, kids and my team.
I'm a bit worried as full time was not the plan whilst the kids so little but I couldn't turn it down really. I feel guilty I'll miss all my children's major school events 😔

[Helpmyhair2019]

I teach (or used to!) primary. My children are now in year 5 and 7. My eldest has Aspergers and I feel so guilty that I will be putting my younger one in childcare every day but compared with having to do it when they were younger I know I’m luck I got this far! I have since found I will def be made redundant in July so the decision has been made for me really. Guess I just need to give it go. It doesn’t have to be forever and I appreciate how lucky I am to have this to fall back on. Good luck in September x