What options for a Sahm of 12 years...

[Verycold]

...other than being shot that is ;-)

Have a very good degree, a pgce, but only two years experience working as a teacher of foreign languages. Have been a sahm for 12 years now. Applied for a few exam marking and teaching jobs last year but unsurprisingly didnt get a look-in. So what now? Retrain? Supply is difficult due to ds having special needs, so not very flexible with childcare. Feeling quite despondent about it all

Not looking good then...

If you want to get back into teaching you need to get some up to date experience - if you've only taught for 2 years you have the advantage of still being relatively cheap but with experience. What you now need is to show you're not 12 years out of date.

Try again with the exam marking, ask at local schools if you can do some voluntary work with them - secondary schools would love someone around now to do practice with year 11. How about primary schools?

If you want a change in tack, have you looked into doing something like linguatots?

Thanks for your answer, great ideas that I will definitely look into.

Other thoughts gratefully received!

Could you make yourself available for supply even if it's just one day a week?

I just went back to supply after years away, and in another country to boot. It was like jumping off a cliff but it got better.

I'm coming back to the UK soon and I'm thinking about getting work as a TA first. To get some classroom experience under my belt but also the hours are more flexible and I will need to be able to settle my own children in to their new schools/lives and I will have no one to help me as dh will be staying here. AGH!! Nightmare.

You need some uptodate experience if wanting to go back into teaching otherwise you stand no chance. Can you do some volunteering?

I agree with Potteringalong, if you want to get back into teaching then try volunteering at a school, that way you will have more info about the curriculum requirements. You could also look into tutoring privately but again recent experience would probably help.

You say you have a god degree, if it is in a National Curriculum subject you could also look into tutoring primary children.

Good luck

Will I get any supply for one day a week?

Volunteering sounds like a great idea.

What about setting up your own language teaching business, either with a franchise like La Jolie Ronde or on your own? The DDs primary school have someone who runs a French club for the infants at lunchtimes with this kind of set-up, and I know nurseries often have them too.

How about tutoring at the weekends or teaching an evening class? Languages are always popular for both fields I would have thought.

Another vote for tutoring, just to put something down on your cv and ease your mind back into it.

Thank you.

I wish I could look into the future to see if it will all work out!

Have you considered being a tutor with your local Education Inclusion Service?

There are children who aren't able to attend school for whatever reason, including special needs, and are taught at home.

There are also children in school who are taught away from the classroom, and have a qualified teacher for a number of hours as specified in their statement of educational needs.

No experience of your field but a word of encouragement.

I just got the first job I applied for after 10 years as a sahm.

It's full time, local, good starting salary, working in IT support.

I have no technical qualifications and hadn't done the role for nearly twenty years!

I've been there six weeks now and I love it, stay positive!

Ooh yes, EIS is a good idea. Or even (if you fancied it) looking at teaching within the prison system?

Don't know where you live but one of my friends has got into teaching via the Kids Company - she volunteered for a year and now works part time with their clients. She really enjoys it.