HELP! Have no confidence, want to return to teaching 3 kids and 10 years after leaving!

[andlipsticktoo]

The last of my 3 children has just started school, and I now feel in a position to return to a more demanding job. Throughout the last 10 years of being a mum I have pretty much always worked part time in low paid, low status jobs, but now want something more. I worked as a primary school teacher for 2 years before having my first ds, and would now like to return, the problem is I have no confidence and feel out of touch with it all. Any ideas on easing myself back in? Apparently they are not running refresher courses in my county this year due to the reduced number of primary vacancies....

Are there any return to practice courses within teaching, to update yourself as well as giving you confidence again?

Could you ring round some local primary schools and volunteer as an teaching assistant for a few sessions? One of my friends has done this and they bit her hand off to come in and help.
She isn't getting paid, but just does it every Wednesday AM.

There was a course, but the funding was withdrawn due to the reduction of primary vacancies.
Good idea TL will ring some schools. Am already going in to DS3's school to help, so could just extend this to other places.
Thanks for your advice.

I did a double take as I was about to post exactly the same thing! I did a return to teaching course about 5/6 years ago then found myself pregnant with no. 4 so did a bit of supply plus TA work. I've since paid to do a dyslexia postgrad course so I just need a kick to go and find a job. There are courses (free) in our area for supply teachers/returners on numeracy and literacy, science etc. Maybe you could find out from your children's school if there are any in your area. Dd's school signed me up on them as I did a bit of supply for them. Or is there anywhere running PGCE courses? They may have some ideas. My first day of supply was on very short notice so no time to get nervous. By break I was loving it, but now after no. 4 I've lost my nerve again.

I've recently had similar thoughts, although my gap is 4 years since I last taught so I'm not sure if I need to do a refresher course or not.... My ds starts school this Sept, so I'm thinking about returning, and it is really scary.

One thing I have done is ordered copies of new Primary stuff from The Standards Site (see here). I asked for copies of various things including

• the new Primary Framework for literacy and mathematics (the new guidelines)
• Letters and sounds: Principles and practice of high quality phonics (the new phonics programme)
• Early Years Foundation Stage: Statutory Framework and Guidance (the new framework combining 'birth-3' and the foundation stage)

They sent it all free of charge, although that may be as I'm already registered on the site from when I was teaching and often used to order stuff. Worth a try though. It really isn't that different from the old stuff, once you get your head around it (I presume you did Literacy and Numeracy hours etc etc).

There's also tons of stuff available to download and read, on that site and on National Curriculum in Action and I've been spending a bit of time trawling through bits that interest me, trying to catch up a bit. And I regularly read posts on the TES talk boards in the early years and primary sections.

I do think I'm going to volunteer in a school (once I've managed to move house and get ds settled in pre-school), and maybe try a bit of supply although the thought terrifies me.

Any other ideas welcome... HTH

Thanks everyone,I'm on the case and feel more positive.