Returning to teaching

[Bella8989]

I was a primary school teacher for over ten years. I left in 2022 and now work in a different career on a salary of 15k less (5 k less if I progress). I’m considering returning to teaching because of the pay, the holidays and the bond with the children. Am I being silly to consider this?

Depends on why you left?
If it was due to workload, behaviour, lack of SEN support then things have only become worse in most places.

Yep! It’s still shit… possibly even more shit!

I feel that we now have to tolerate poor behavior that we never did years ago.

So many children know seem to be allowed to wander on my school completely unchecked, because they have become 'dysregulated'.

Oh God, "dysregulated" is the latest buzzword!

Buzzword/excuse

I spend vastly less time planning than I used to - we use the printed White Rose maths books and whilst I don't agree with it all, the overall outcome is good and it helps workload massively. All other subjects had to be planned to the nth degree for Ofsted so I just follow thise plans and again that's better than a lot of the reinventing the wheel that used to go on.

The situation for children with SEND is worse though. Referrals take years so children who would benefit from a referral aren't getting them. The support services from county have largely gone. EHCPs are rejected and if you don't have parents willing and able to appeal there is little school can do.

Remember all behavior is communication!

@FenderStrat certainly. When I mutter,"Oh, FFS," under my breath and try to stop rolling my eyes as the Head of Inclusion spouts the latest catch phrases, it's definitely communication!

I can relate 😂😂
My face communicated my views during those meetings without me having to say a word.
Years ago I would be the one delivering those messages in INSETs. After a period of time and seeing the vast majority of these students end up in prison or with exactly the life outcomes we were supposed to be saving them from, it became clear to me that it was the wrong approach. Kids need firm boundaries not mollycoddling. If these approaches really worked then behaviour wouldn’t be in the state it is now.

I agree. Their behaviour is getting worse. When I point this out I'm told it would be even worse we didn't you these new approaches.

@FenderStrat
🙄
Let me guess, by someone who is already assistant head but still in their 20s? 😂 How do they justify how behaviour wasn’t as bad when there actually were consequences?

@stiffnewknee They seem to have impenetrable levels of delusion about this.

I think it depends on why you left?

You mention in your post that you enjoy the bond with the children and that is absolutely the very best part. I'm secondary rather than primary but it's the same - being in the classroom with the pupils, interacting with them at break etc is the best bit of the job.

That said, as others have said, it is only one part of it these days.

The SEN crisis is absolutely out of control - EHCPs being rejected, so kids who desperately need support can't get it, lack of specialist provision, lack of funding meaning you can't have as many TAs as you would like. Ours are worth their weight in gold, but when there are 3 children with EHCPs in a class plus 6 SEN K (this is literally one of my classes) and then 11 others, one TA is not enough.

Behaviour is massively more difficult than it used to be and in some schools, it's horrendous. I am extremely fortunate that behaviour at my school is genuinely excellent (despite us being in one of the most deprived areas in the country). However, it doesn't come easily and we work so hard to achieve that - we do line ups in the morning, after break and after lunch- so we as teachers have to collect classes. Whole school routines are extremely tight and we don't let anything slide. Lunch is short-30 minutes, so there is little breathing space in a day. It does make teaching enjoyable as behaviour is great, but it is absolutely relentless and exhausting.

Then there is Ofsted and the hideous pressure for progress and results. I lead a core subject and as a Head of Department, the pressure is insane 😔 I have many a sleepless night because of the worry 😟

I do absolutely love teaching and I am lucky to work in a great school but unless you desperately want to go back, I would think very carefully!