Wanting to be a primary school teacher?

[SunflowerT]

Hi

I currently work in a pre school as a childcare practitioner and love my job I work with children between the ages of 2yrs-4yrs old and we do and after school cub were we can have kids up to 11 years old. I love my job but I want to do more I love working with the kids most and would love my class and would look to work with year 1 and year 2 but I've heard mixed stories from teachers some love there job and have found a way to balance there work load but others say it's a nightmare dealing with loads of workload and not finishing till 10pm at night working through weekends and then kids who get physical with you. Those that love it have said it's about being organised and knowing what your going into with your eyes open and finding a way that works for you to keep a balance so you don't get overwhelmed with the workload.

The year 1 teacher I spoke to at our school said she doesn't work weekends she's found a way to balance everything but she does work late into the evening ( which I'd be fine with) but she said her class make it worth it she said she has a great bunch of kids to work for and that's what makes all the hard times worth it but I didn't go into this thinking teaching was easy ect.

So I just wanted to ask other teachers there opinion?

I know it's not an easy career but I'm happy to deal with anything as I love working with children and love watching them learn when we help teach them things in my current role and I'd love to do that more.

I know it's not an easy career but I'm happy to deal with anything as I love working with children and love watching them learn when we help teach them things in my current role and I'd love to do that more.

I think that's why most of us went into the job and why some people still enjoy it. I'm going to give you my jaded view and I hope others will come along and give you a more positive take so you can see both sides.

The expectations on a primary teacher today are massive. Class sizes are enormous, there is an increasing level of need and very little TA support. This need ranges from ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, mental health issues, behavioural problems, social difficulties, EAL, children living in poverty, children with safeguarding concerns. My last few classes have had all of these issues and I am made to feel responsible for dealing with them all. Parents have become more demanding and in many cases less supportive. The number of emails received in a week that require urgent attention on top of an already full day is a lot to deal with.

A good proportion of time is spent on restorative conversations with children after behaviour incidents. All the time in the back of your mind is the email that will come in the following morning requiring an urgent meeting from a parent of one of those children, because you didn't deal with the situation in the way they wanted.

Many schools micromanage their staff. There is very little space for your own ideaasor autonomy as they want consistency. Much of what I am told to teach is not relevant for many of the children. The lovely arts that used to happen are thought to be of no consequence as they are not tested subjects and are squeezed. Pointless staff meetings seem to be more frequent.

Actual teaching the kids is sadly now a very small part of the job. I am organised and manage my time well. I don't take much physical work home. However I am exhausted, can't switch off and never feel that I have done enough.

Don't do it!

I also say don't do it.

I'm in my 29th year of teaching (mainly EYFS/Ks1) and it's no longer the job it was.

Entitled children, parents who tell you their child can do no wrong. I've been teaching in the same school for 23 years and luckily we have a decent headteacher but it's still draining and exhausting. Pressures from Ofsted is immense and all of the crap paperwork saps any joy out if the job.

I'm retiring next year. I'll be 56. Totally had enough.

Don't do it. It's very stressful and the job completely takes over your life. If you enjoy working with young people and children, look into youth work or other caring professions, I would say. Teaching really is very very difficult, many parents are horrible to the teachers, you get watched and scrutinised to within an inch of your life, the pressures and workload are insane. Yes, there are special, rewarding moments in teaching, but unless you enjoy working 60 hours plus a week, never seeing your family, working every evening and weekend, being harassed and pressurised, I wouldn't do it!

I think, as an EY Practitioner, you would be going in with your eyes open.

Teachers do have to work long hours, as you acknowledge, but how much of the ridiculous stuff they have to do does vary school to school.

What you would find though is your salary would be increased greatly, and you would get the school holidays without having to be in school (yes, there is some work, but not 10 hour days all week).
Realistically, once qualified, you could go part time, and spread the workload out and still be better off financially than you are as an EYP.
I know several people who have moved from working in Nurseries in to schools (at same level) who have loved it. Only one who trained to be a teacher. She found it hard at first, but once past the Training and Probationary period, she enjoys it. She is very glad she did it.

Don't bother for the reasons above. The mental load of being responsible for 30 children and their needs and their parents (and their needs too) is hideous. It's just not mentally possible for one person to take this on. Perhaps in the past where the curriculum was more open and less fast paced and meaningless, children could have fun and you weren't given lots of admin tasks without TA support.

Look into SEN schools. Less children, more TA support, more meaningful learning = less mental load.

Have you considered being a speech and language therapist? Teacher friend retrained to do this and absolutely loves it. Many of the same rewards without lots of the stresses.

Thank you so much to you all you've really given me a lot to think of and thank you @Philandbill for the speech and language therapist suggestion I've actually been advised that previously by a colleague as I'm one of the practitioner's who work with any children who are neurodivergent as my sister is and through her I became passionate about helping neurodivergent children as well as all children of course. She said I could work with neurodivergent children only if I chose and specialise in speech and language Therapy.

Thank you all again I'll be doing a lot more careful thinking and research

Teacher friend who is now a SaLT has special school experience so now works mainly in special schools as their allocated SaLT.
I wish I'd retrained years ago but I'm too old now for it to be financially viable.