Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Flip

Original poster

Any teachers here that can help me???

21 replies

rsmurf88 · 01/12/2013 22:03

My daughter is 6 months old. I'm not due to go back to work until after February half term but i'm unimpressed by the lack of decent childcare in my area- plus despite my feelings and how much I love my job I am thoroughly enjoying being a SAHM more than I thought I would.

I've only had 2 years experience- and i'm wondering if I will get back in there if I take say 8 years off (we are wanting at least another 2 children)

Have any teachers been SAHMs and then gone back to work when children have started school?? How long were you "out of the game" for?

OP posts:

noblegiraffe · 02/12/2013 12:22

I've been teaching 8 years, and it has changed so much in that time that I wouldn't rate your chances of getting a job after being out of the game for that long simply because you will be so out of touch, especially as you haven't been teaching that long. Your chances might be better if you teach a critical shortage subject like maths or physics, but who can predict the future?

I'd recommend that you go back part time to keep your hand in.

And although you might be enjoying mat leave at 6 months when you have a portable compliant baby, you might find yourself thinking very differently when you have a rampaging tantrummy toddler and wishing you could go to work and get some peace.

quackojuliet · 02/12/2013 18:47

wishing you could go to work and get some peace

oh ho ho ho... i'm still preggers, but a teacher considering my future options so interested in this thread. peace at school... wow I've a lot to learn!

Charmingbaker · 02/12/2013 18:59

You may well struggle to get back after only 2 years experience. You will be competing for jobs with NQTs who will be cheaper, have recent classroom experience and be up to date with new initiatives. There are lots of changes coming in over the next few years. Have you considered going PT, a friend of mine does 1 day a week, it keeps her in the loop. Another thing to consider is do you want to return FT or PT, I know a few people who have recently trained after having DCs hoping to find a PT position but with no luck.

BranchingOut · 03/12/2013 07:47

I took a year off after maternity leave and found it v difficult to go back:

Was interviewed for several pt teaching jobs, but everyone and her sister were going for those! I had experience up to SLT level, but was still getting pipped to the post. This was in London.

Supply work was very difficult to get too as agencies would found it very difficult to get their head around the fact that I had no reference for my time as a SAHM. And no, voluntary work did not count. Also, several of my HT refereees had moved on and the new HT of those schools would no longer provide a reference for me due to safeguarding rules. My pt availability was also difficult for them to understand - in short, a young teacher straight out of college was actually a better and simpler prospect for them.

Thankfully, it proved to be the best thing for me in the end as I left teaching and work happily elsewhere. My view is that if you leave for a while, you have to accept that you might not be able to go back.

Shente · 03/12/2013 07:53

Dh was very keen for me to be a sahm for a few years but I felt strongly that it would be v difficult to step back in after a career break. My experience makes me expensive and if I take a long time out I remain expensive but am no longer actually experienced. Wrt chidcare, I felt similarly and looked at childminders nearer to school rather than to me. I've now found an amazing one and dd is so happy - I visited 8 though before I found the right one for my pfb!

MistressofPemberley · 03/12/2013 09:57

Watching with interest. I'm due to go back in July. I've only been teaching for 2 years. Hoping to go back very part time (2 days, 3 at a push). I know teaching is tough and it's lovely to be off, but I do think it would be hard to get back into if I left completely. Besides, I would have to pay some of my maternity pay back if I didn't go back.
I already have an older child and noblegiraffe is right. It can be hard work spending every day with a toddler. Nursery is good for them!

Original poster

rsmurf88 · 04/12/2013 00:26

I think i'm going to go back.

I adore my job- and although I obviously love my child more she won't be dependant on me forever and if it turns out in another 5 or whatever years that I cannot get back into work i'll be devastated.

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:

Original poster

rsmurf88 · 04/12/2013 00:31

BranchingOut- can I ask what it is you do now? I'm considering childminding as well but it is a tad unstable financially- not to mention the huge outlay in the beginning.

I've worked too hard (and long) to find that I worked my backside off for 4 years at university for nothing because I decided looking after my child was more important iykwim.

OP posts:

BranchingOut · 04/12/2013 07:15

I have sent you a pm.
If you are still at the point of loving teaching then definitely go back pt. The pay is better than most of the equivalent jobs and you still have the opportunity to build up your experience, maybe even get promoted...
Best wishes.

Jaynebxl · 04/12/2013 07:21

Teaching is such a brilliant job for a parent with all the school holidays that I would fukky recommend sticking with it too if you enjoy it. I dropped to 3 days a week post kids and will hopefully always do 3 days now til I retire!
Having said that, I had 11 years out of teaching in the uk before I had children and found it a little difficult but by no means impossible to get another job, and supply teaching was plentiful. Probably depends on where you are.

Judyandherdreamofhorses · 04/12/2013 07:24

I had four years out, with a bit of supply in between, and really struggled to find a job this year. I have had to go to an academy with crappy pay and conditions and accept a much lower salary - I had been on ups 3 for ages and now back on m6 again.

But I LOVE teaching now more than I ever did (part time though!) and hope that this contract (1 year) will help me next year.

quackojuliet · 04/12/2013 11:52

the other factor to consider re ft/pt is whether you want further children. if you plan to have another in say 2 years you will want to be on the ft salary so that you can get the full maternity pay and benefits.
i am intending to go back ft and partner to be sahd but we will see how i feel when my daughter is here...expect to find that very difficult but it's really the only way we will cope financially.
training to teach is very tough so it does seem a shame to do that and then leave, since as others point out you will then be behind on initiatives yet pricier than an NQT.
hopefully it will pay off in the longer term and the holidays are a big plus for school-age children.

Original poster

rsmurf88 · 05/12/2013 19:35

I'm in Bromley (Kent) so it isn't impossible to get into London where obviously a lot of jobs are.

How common is part time work? How do I request it- do I need to contact my school and ask if they will consider be going back part time instead of full time?? Think it will be the perfect solution- keep my foot in the door plus be at home with my LO.

OP posts:

Original poster

rsmurf88 · 05/12/2013 19:36

Quackojuliet- thanks for that. Honestly re maternity pay/benefits- it doesn't matter all that much. DH earns enough to be able to support us if I don't have much coming in for a year or so :)

OP posts:

noblegiraffe · 05/12/2013 19:59

You need to write to your school with a request to go part time, there are template letters on the TES forum if you do a search.

They need to consider it, but they don't have to grant it. Going back part time in feb will be difficult as they would need to hire someone to fill the rest of your timetable. Requesting part time from September would be more likely.

noblegiraffe · 05/12/2013 20:00

Either way, the sooner you get your part time request in the better.

Original poster

rsmurf88 · 05/12/2013 20:25

Will give it a go. Thanks :)

OP posts:

TawdryTatou · 05/12/2013 21:33

I had 2 years experience, was out for 13 years, did a year as a volunteer then got a maternity cover, then a permanent job.

It can be done.

Jaynebxl · 06/12/2013 07:20

Definitely ask in writing for part time. Both times I did it the person who covered my mat leave stayed on and did the other half of my job so it was all pretty smooth. You never knownif this could happen to you. It is a very common request after mat leave so schools half expect it.

hoochymama1 · 14/12/2013 15:32

Hi rsmurf I'd echo tawdry with my experience. Became a SAHM when 3rd was born, later had a 4th, then went back to work at DC's school after 7 years off. Started with the odd days supply, then well placed to cover long term illness doing a job share with a mate. It was absolutely fine and it suited us all

2kidsintow · 14/12/2013 15:40

rsmurf, are you a member of TES? There's an expert on there called Theogriff who gives lots of employment advice. I seem to recall him having a standard letter for contacting your school regarding wanting to go back part time.

I did it - 12 years ago and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love where I work and knew I'd find it difficult to get another job (my own Mum never managed to get back into teaching after having a career break to look after us).

Think about what you can afford and what might work for you and your school. And ask in plenty of time for them to sort it out for you - I didn't and had to go back full time for the first half term until someone was appointed to share with me.

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread