Career change but not sure what to do

[IAmAlwaysLikeThis]

I have been a teacher (primary) for 20 years, now living abroad and realising it just isn't what I want to do when I come back to the UK in a year. I've had time off for kids/mental health issues and my career history is quite patchy.

I'm 39, will be 40 when I return.

I'm an introvert (suspected autism) and dealing with 30 loud, excitable children just isn't what I can do. Every day leaves me drained. I LOVE working with kids in small groups, but it's too much to deal with a class day in day out.

While my absolute ideal would be to open my own business, I'm not sure I can do it. I am not good at self-motivation and I wonder how I'd cope with the responsibility of having to apply myself with no one standing over me.

There are two other options I'm considering:

Moving into SEN education, which has smaller groups, and I relate to the kids well. I haven't worked with SEN much as it's not a 'thing' in the country where I live.

Completely changing career and becoming a radiotherapist. This would involve studying for at least three years, which I think we can just about afford.

I wonder if my time as a teacher is just done. I wish I'd moved into SEN years ago before I burnt out, but there it is.

Anyone with any advice on what they would do?

Maybe try being a TA ?

That wouldn't work for us financially, unfortunately.

Pastoral support in a high school ?

Speech and language therapist??

I don't know if high school is my thing

Speech therapist is a BIG no, I have speech problems myself so I'd be a disaster lol.

Thanks for the suggestions though.

Occupational therapist working in paediatrics? 1-1 and group work mostly. I was a primary school teacher and have just qualified as an OT. Using my skills but in a much more bespoke way.

I actually had never considered Occupational therapy before but it looks fascinating.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Feel free to ask any questions if you want - it has been the perfect sideways career move for me and I secured employment easily after my course!

Thank you!

How about funding? Ive already done my degree and PGCE so would I still be able to get a loan?

What are the good and bad points of the job?

It's got to be less stressful than teaching, right? I'm tired of feeling that no matter what I do, I'm wrong, the work is never good enough, despite my kids being happy, progressing etc.

It seems so interesting!

Yes, you can get funding (student loan) even with a degree and PGCE.

Good bits - ability to work with all ages of people with all sorts of barriers to how they want to live their life. OT’s are detectives and problem solvers.

Ability to work 1-1 and in small groups with people.

No lesson planning, ofsted inspections etc.

Most of jobs are Monday - Friday. No extra weekend work or an expectation to work outside of your working hours.

A bit of maturity and life experience is hugely helpful in OT.

Bad bits

OT is wildly misunderstood and OT’s don’t always help themselves here! So there can be an element of the multidisciplinary team just seeing OT as the ‘activity providers’ - which is soooo big the case!

Some areas of OT are super pressured. I am thinking acute inpatient wards, social services etc. I have had my placements in paediatrics, mental health and learning disabilities and I have not felt or seen that pressure - but I guess it is team dependent as well.

If I were you I would try and get a bit of work shadowing. I shadowed in the local learning disability team and it was invaluable. Also really important if you decide to apply!

Good luck whatever you decide!

thanks so much for your answer, it's really useful!