Another question from a teacher

[BlackholesAndRevelations]

Sorry, I know this has probably been asked before but just wanted to get a few opinions/experiences. I'm a teacher, full time with two under threes and s partner who's often always away working. Basically I am struggling to keep on top of it all.

Do I stick with it for the sake of the future (career progression etc) or do I look for an easier, part time job (teaching? Not teaching but linked? Any ideas?!) that'd make it hard to get back into full time teaching in the future?

I am currently not teaching having taken 3 years, so far and probably will be five, out to be with my family as in exactly the same boat. I loved teaching and worry alot about getting back in however my head teacher was very clear with me that I would get back in, that good teachers will get jobs etc. I worried I would be too expensive and as someone pointed out on here, if I was going for management roles that wouldn't matter anyway. I have been tutoring a little both privately and on a literacy one to one programme to keep my hand in and am considering doing a masters for the same reason. What do you teach? I was HOY and HOD and so on for 13 years. Is it shortage? I teach RE mostly - so couldn't be worse thanks to Mr. Gove (although English and PE trained/taught originally so can switch to English but love RE) - someone on here teaching RE did say though that provided I was normal I could get an RE post as they are a rare breed normal RE teachers. I like to think that is me! Would be interested to hear what vibes you are getting from people about what to do? Also - any thoughts on the masters thing? - Do you reckon it would help? - Now I am asking you questions OP!? - Sorry for the hijack!

I chose part time and I love it.

Yes, it has got in the way of some career progression - I've had to pass up the chance of literally being given acting deputy on 2 different occasions. And there are some times that it can be tricky, but otherwise I love it!

I work 3 and a half days and gave me half of each week with the kids (inc weekend) and half of the week at work - but it was more than half the school week with my class so they still feel like 'my' class.

I love sharing a class. I've been lucky with all 3 of my jobshare colleagues through the last 11 years.

Now the kids are older, but the youngest is still in primary, I'm enjoying being able to get the housework and shopping etc out of the way while they are in school , then I can easily fit in activities etc at the weekend.

I am lucky enough to work in a nice school, and realised that it would be more difficult to get back into teaching later. And the fact that I don't have to sort out and pay for childcare over any of the school hols and get all that extra time with the kids was enough of an incentive to stay in teaching. And was worth any of the weeks (like this one with 2 parents' evenings, inc on days I don't work) worth it.

Thanks for the replies! Three days would be perfect. I'll have to bide my time until I can request that though. I'm primary so can't answer questions re masters/hod really, sorry!

Hello OP, I'm also primary and went back full time in Sept, DC1 is almost 9 months. We're now planning DC2 ( hopefully for next year) and we've already decided that it will be pointless for me to go back full time due to childcare costs. However I'm very lucky that where I work there is a history of teachers making a success if part time working so it won't be a problem when I request it. I'd be very slow to give up my job to be honest.

Why does it need to be a permanent move to part-time? Request it under flexible working and it can be temporary fot 2 years (sometimes longer) and then you have a full-time post to go back to.

Putting the other side - I left teaching and have not looked back!

Teaching is very insular and something of a closed system. You dont see much of people working in other roles and it is easy to get into a 'teaching or nothing' mindset. Even the system of giving notice works against taking the step to find something else.

I work in an office-based role for a children's organisation:

Advantages:

Weekends!
Evenings!
Later starts!
Lunch breaks!
Loo visits
Quiet working environment
Time to speak to my lovely colleagues
Ability to shift working hours to accommodate child-related things

Disadvantges:

Pay is lower than teaching
Not secure employment