Don't know what to do about trying to go back to work,

[Stefka]

I am a trained teacher and last year completed my probation year. I didn't manage to get a job at the end of that year - I suspect being obviously pregnant may have played a part in that but who knows. Anyway it made sense to take a year out to have my baby who was born in October. Now it's job season once more and I just don't know what to do.

I don't want to kill my career before it has even started. I don't think I have enough experience as a teacher (only my probation year) to be able to not teach for the next few years and still expect to get a job once my children are in school. I would also quite like to keep learning and developing as a teacher.

On the other hand I do not want to put my son in a nursery full time. Ideally I would like something part time but nothing at all is coming up and as I teach in a subject which is not particularly in demand I am nervous about not applying for the full time jobs that are coming up.

The whole thing is making me so anxious it's horrible! Anyone else faced this situation or got any advice?

Dont know too much about the teaching profession I must confess but have you looked into job share options?

as you have only a year's experience, i would move heaven and earth to get back into the profession. Apply for whatever's out there - full time or part time. It's all experience - which is what you need. It doesnt have to be forever - if you dont like the job, at least you'll be in a better position to apply for something else

My fear is that because I only have one years experience I really have no choice but to get a job even if it is full time. I just don't want my son in a nursery full time either. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

With all due respect, teaching isn't like most jobs, you do get rather long holidays, would it really matter if child was in nursery full time, given that you'll be every six weeks or so anyway. And prep work for the following term could be done at home in hols.

Sorry, that was supposed to say, you'll be off every six weeks or so.

Stefka I know many people who have been in your situation having had a baby right after probation year or after finishing training.
They also chose 1 of 3 options

1. Look for job share and part time posts to get experience - looked at both state and private schools, some were amazed at the number that needed part time or job share people.

1. Decided that the only way forward was to resign themselves to working full time for the next 2 years, with the plan to stop work for 4 or 5 years once they had their second child & therefore had 3 years experience.

1. Decided that they felt they could always get back into teaching and so didn't go back.

Of the 20 ish people I know who faced this, the decision was pretty split. My neighbour just did number 2, had a baby after a year probation, went back full time when he was 1, worked for 2 years full time (knowing she had good leave/school holidays made it a lot easier she said), then had baby 2 and went back part time, the had baby 3 and stopped. She plans to go back when he is 4, older kids 6 and 9. She isn't worried about having the 4 years off as she had 3 years full time and 2 years part time experience.

Hope this helps!