SAHM - looking for ideas for part time work please

[Mycarsmellsoflavender]

I'm a SAHM and have been for over 12 years. I have 4 DCs aged 3 to 12. I am currently homeschooling my oldest who has ASD and MH problems but he is due to start at a special school in the autumn. I was planning to wait another year until DC4 started school before job hunting but due to the introduction of the 30 hour nursery funding, I have realised I could bring this forward by a year, and start this autumn instead. So what can I do?

With 4 DCs, 2 of whom have SN and no family nearby, it's going to have to be termtime only or flexible work from home. Which cuts out a lot. I don't want to work with children ( love mine dearly but don't want to spend the day with other people's). Adults or no one. I would be happy to work from home.

Skills: I have a science degree and before DCs worked in scientific research. Straight As at A level in Maths & 2 science subjects. Straight As bar one subject at GCSE including English, French and German. Reasonably computer literate but it's not really one of my skills or interests. Full clean driving license although I don't want to do a mainly driving based job. I also absolutely don't want to do sales.

With my strong numeracy and literacy skills, I wondered about proofreading. Does anyone have any experience in this area? Or any other suggestions for jobs that would use my skills but be able to be done flexibly?

Also any practical tips on how I go about looking for local jobs would be appreciated. Do I make an appointment at the job centre or do you just walk in and browse through some advertisements? Sorry if this a stupid question- I have never been in one.

Thank you.

Forgot to say, at this stage, pay isn't too important. It's more about getting my foot back on the ladder and maybe being able to build up my hours and pay more as the DCs get older with the aim of getting some financial independence back.

Like you said, your options are super limited. Term-time jobs tend to be offered in schools but a TA is out of the question as you don't want to work with children. Or you could do admin which would involve a lot of computer work (you mentioned it doesn't interest you).

Home working opportunities tend to be mostly commissioned based sales jobs which as you've said, is a no go for you. Other than that, it's things like multi-level marketing such as Younique, Avon or Usbourne Books etc.

Is it the childcare requirements for your children in the school holidays that are putting you off from working part time all year round?

You could do exam marking?
It's flexible and you do it online, a friend of mine does GCSE physics I think and she says it's really boring but a good bit of extra money.
Also maybe exam invigilating if you have a University nearby?

I know you said no kids but what about tutoring for older teens? For GCSEs? Or you could set up as a Skype English tutor and be teaching international customers.

University tutoring - lots of online courses. Very flexible.

I am watching your thread with interest op. In a similar position, 3 children two with ASD, age range 8-12. I want part time term time work. Currently I am volunteering with local Citizens Advice. Have you considered a charity, voluntary work can lead to contacts and paid opportunities. It is more flexible as currently I don't work school holidays but I am getting valuable recent 'employment ' for my CV my last paid job was 13 years ago!

I am also educated to post grad level in Government, and Transport Planning. It is hard finding the right Work to suit my skills, experience and my circumstances.

Good Luck Op

Hi
Also watching this thread with interest!

If you are looking to gain recent work experience, I would recommend volunteering with an organisation which interests you and where you could utilise your skills and experience. Volunteer work can also provide you with a reference for any paid work you may apply for.

The job centre don't advertise jobs any longer. They are mainly there for people who are signing on and need to present their 'search for work' record. No harm in asking them though, as they may be able to put you in touch with a careers advisor?

Check out council websites, Indeed, CV library, UJM, The Guardian, Reed and employment agencies for jobs? These are just to name a few.

bigmouth, I notice you are currently volunteering with CA? How are you getting on? I have recently joined my local CA, mainly because I need to develop some new skills, but I do find it really interesting (and challenging). I am training to be a Tier 1 advisor, how about you?

Ooh, a flurry of replies!

Yes, childcare in school hols would be the issue. With 4 DCs (by choice so not asking for sympathy, just that any paid childcare is likely to outweigh any earnings particularly since 2 of them have SEN, one in receipt of DLA) along with the fact that I think they'd hate it.

Forgot to say I have been a parent governor at our primary school for about 5 years so haven't been entirely idle, just unpaid. It all counts on my CV though. As well as home educating a 12 year old for a term covering several subjects including the core ones.

Thanks for the useful suggestions, nasreen.

Exam marking and 1:1 tutoring are both good suggestions and something I will look into. Thank you. (1:1 tutoring would be ok, similar to home schooling, I just don't fancy the crowd control / discipline aspect of school teaching). What qualifications do you need to be a private tutor?

ffs can't believe someone is recommending multi level marketing!

Volunteering is a good one too ( thanks, Bigmouthstrikesagain) and something I have considered and still would (on top of school governor role which is voluntary). Since it's unpaid, I wouldn't get the extra 15 hours funded nursery so it would have to fit into DC4's existing 15 hours but could be done with a view to being more flexible when she starts school. I've always been quite fascinated by charity shops and love a junk shop trawl: might offer my services at one of our many local ones just for the hell of it rather than as a career progression step and take it from there.

I've done tutoring and really enjoyed it. Don't need any formal qualifications, but the better they are the more people will want you /more you can charge.
I've used the UK tutors website.

School lab technician - I mean, I know you'd be near teens, but you wouldn't be responsible for them.

Hi Nasreen, i have completed the Gateway training - I prefer Gateway - some clients some can be dealt with quickly and others need referral and there is a new set of clients each shift! Very satisfying role - the training is very good and I would recommend CAB as a volunteer - I would love to work for Citizens Advice - if the right paid position comes up.

I was going to suggest school science technician as well, but can see BackforGood has beaten me to it.

Others have suggested exam marking but I'm afraid that without a teaching qualification and teaching experience you are very unlikely to be considered for this.

NeverTwerkNaked - Jeez, I never recommended MLM. I simply said that most home working opportunities tend to be sales or MLM, which is based on my own research over the past 9 months whilst looking for solutions for myself.

Mycarsmellsoflavender - It looks like you've had some really good suggestions to get you going. All the best.

Virtual assistant/PA? The gig economy appears to be growing, although the pay is dependent on how good/specialist your skill set is.