How to advance my career need financial security and progression!

[acrunchieandacupoftea]

I am currently working as a Teaching Assistant although I have a PGCE.

I have a 5 year old DS who I can drop off at school at 8am and pick up 5.45pm latest.

I want to try to get into Primary teaching and have considered supply teaching.

However, what do I do about the financial insecurity?

What will happen if I can't pay my rent?

What if I can't get to work on time after dropping DS off at school?

Does anyone have any ideas or should I stay where I am? I really need a new challenge now,
and am realising as DS gets older that my wage is not going far at all.

Does your school employ higher level TAs?

Have you asked your head teacher about supply work?

have you applied for permenant jobs at all?

or is your PGCE in secondary - if it is I expect supply is the way to go to get a permentant jobs in primary
Drop of and pick up - you could look at alternative child care if needed - childminders might work slightly longer hours

My PGCE is in Primary teaching.

I have been applying for permanent jobs and I've been for plenty of inteviews. Obviously am not quite clinching it at the interviews, so supply might give me an edge.

I just wondered what do people do, is it mad to consider taking this kind of risk? Obviously supply teachers don't know how much work will come their way and I have rent to pay.

have you been on TES forums at all - there is a jobs seekers section which might help with interview technique

• have you got feedback on the interview etc and I think there maybe one for supply teachers as well

I was thinking about supply cover at your current school - where I worked as a TA there were two qualified teachers working as TAs and when cover was needed they tended to do it, with other TAs covering their TA work. Good experience for your interviews?

Yes that's a good idea joanofarchitrave, except I'm in a secondary school so not really my area of expertise... I could try though.

Ah sorry my mistake!

Could you perhaps run an after school club of some kind? You've got an hour or so after school, could you do, I don't know, tutoring? Homework club? something of your own personal interest that you'd like to specialise in at primary school, like music or PE?

I do run clubs until 4.30...

All I can think is I'll just have to try, quit my job, and get a childminder who can do the school run, and just apply to as many supply agencies as possible. But if I don't get enough work I'll be getting chucked out of my flat for not paying my rent in September.