Having a baby before ECT/NQT?

[salviapages]

This post may be a bit all over the place but it reflects my mind right now!

I've just finished my PGCE and despite great feedback from schools and uni, multiple job interviews where I kept coming second place, I haven't got a job. Was planning on doing supply and hoping for a perm job in future

However, my long term partner and I have been talking about having children for a while and I thought, if I get pregnant in the next couple of months I could have the baby just in time to interview for jobs that come up after the Easter notice period. I know it's silly of me to think I'll get pregnant so quickly but I thought hey why not give it a go.

But now I've been off the pill I'm really not looking forward to inevitably going back on the pill when I'm not pregnant by my 'deadline'. What if I keep trying for longer? It would mean doing supply for a couple of years before even beginning my ECT...would that put you off as an employer?

I feel my brain is telling me to wait until I secure a job and then am entitled to maternity leave, but my heart is saying just try for a baby and go for a permanent job after. Would love some insight from you, particularly on how this would make me look to an employer...

Personally I wouldn't worry about what an employer would think about a gap for pregnancy, but I would think about your goals, your workload, and your personal situation. If you don't begin your ECF then when you do apply you'll be up against newly qualified teachers fresh out of training.

If you're older, feel like time isn't on your side, confident you could pick up where you left off if you have a large gap between training and ECF, and you're unlikely to want to work part time, then having a baby in the first years of your career is probably worth it.

If you're younger, might want to work part time after, want the occupational maternity pay, and would feel more confident establishing yourself as a teacher, it makes sense to wait a couple of years.

I think it is a really good idea to get your ect out of the way first. Much harder to come back to it later when you are further away from your training.

Personally, talking from someone why fell pregnant the year after completing my NQT year on a fixed term contract, practically I'd wait to have a baby. The NQT is gruelling, and having mum guilt thrown in for not spending as much time with the baby you fele you should, and not having secured maternity leave, it's a very big stress.

If it's possible to wait. I would wait until you've been in a secure job for a year (then you're entitled to paid maternity leave).

This being said, it's not impossible! I made it but it was tough going. And also, it is only a job at the end of the day! X

Lol. So many typos..... I hope you get the gist haha x

Remember too that ECT is now two years compared to the one year NQT induction, and if you return part-time this will be even longer. Recruitment is likely to be competitive for the next few years; as always happens in an economic downturn, trainee numbers are up and they will start filtering through to the job market from next year.

I can't tell you what to do but the factors I would consider would be your subject / phase - is it a shortage area? How old are you? Do you have family support nearby? What does your partner do for a living, and would they consider shared parental leave or SAH when you return to work?

Thanks all. I think I will wait. I'm in primary and it's competitive in my area and although I'd rather not wait 2+ years (1 year of supply then waiting till I'm entitled to paid maternity leave) it seems like I might really struggle to get a job if I take time out now. My partner is going to be a SAH dad when we have the baby which will help