Is it hopeless?

[HardHatOptional]

So I gained my PGCE and QTS last year after four long years.

I decided that I didn't want to go into teaching straight away, I wanted to spend some time with my DS before he starts school full time this September having spent a huge amount of his life in childcare.

Over the past few months I've been working in retail in the evenings for some extra income and it's been amazing spending so much time with my DS.

But how do I get back into teaching now? Have I blown it by taking a year out before doing my NQT? The fact that I have retail as my most recent employment and reference is going to hinder me loads isn't it? 🤦‍♀️

Can I get back into teaching? Any tips or advice at all?

Are you joking? There is a massive recruitment issue in teaching. You'll be fine.

It partly depends on subject / age range (of pupils, not you) / location.

Teacher vacancies are down dramatically at the moment, but I suspect it is very temporary and there will be plenty of jobs to start after Christmas/ Easter

Sorry it's primary. I've applied for quite a few positions but not getting any interviews It just feels really hopeless atm.

As I said it is unusually a really bad time. Don't give up I don't think the long term shortages are going away

I got my QTS in 2011 - I'm starting my NQT year in September! I have been in an LSA role for two years.

Keep applying op - they will want you!

That’s weird! I wrote more than that! Sorry if it sounded unsupportive. I was going to say that it depended on age / location etc, but jobs are scarce right now as so few people quit at the May 31 point. I suspect there will be more movement than usual at Christmas /Easter.

Would you be able to do supply for a while? That would give you the triple benefit of more experience, sussing out local schools and possibly being in the right place at the right time.

You may need to be very flexible with distance which I know is tough. Where I’m from (Devon) you often have to be known by the school first to get a job - i.e. have done lots of supply for them. I would register with supply agencies if you haven’t already.