To return to teach FT with children 5 and 2?

[OverIt27]

Just looking for advice as I am so torn. I feel like I’m ready to go back to work as have mostly been at home since my eldest was born in 2020. I’ve done a couple of part-time non-teaching roles plus some supply, but have stayed away from a proper teaching job due to the workload. I’ve felt quite bored and frustrated a lot of the time, missed adult contact and mental stimulation etc.

I’m considering going back FT in September to start building my career again, but at that point my children will be 5.6 and 2.9. Do others think this is too young? My husband does his fair share and WFH probably 3 days a week on average, but each week is different and on some days he’s out long hours.

We would need full time childcare for the youngest plus maybe some wraparound care for the days we’d struggle with school runs. Me going back to work enables us to move to a nicer house and area with nicer schools (we are currently in one of the most deprived areas of the UK), but I am so worried I’ll regret going back too early and missing out on the kids while they’re young.

Any advice would be so welcome as I’m in a position where I might have to make a decision about a FT job pretty quickly and I’ve just had a sleepless night over it!

(I know the obvious answer to the dilemma is going PT, but that wouldn’t be an option for the immediate situation I don’t think)

Thanks in advance!

Hi, primary teacher here. I have a 4yo in reception and am still part time (3dpw) and have been since I went back after Jay leave. The plan was for me to go back full time when DC started school but we decided against it as the workload meant I wouldn’t get much quality time with DC and DH. DH is great and does more than his fair share, but I didn’t like the idea of spending Saturday afternoons planning while the two of them had a fun day out or whatever. I do any school work in my two days off so I can be fully present when I’m parenting.
Is part time an option for you? Day-to-day supply, perhaps? Or can you be 100% sure that you will have a work-life balance that you’re happy with in a full time role? I don’t know what age or subject you teach - I can imagine workload varies. I completely understand your point about needing to go back to work, though. Good luck with whatever you decide.

EDITED: I just re-read your post properly and saw that part time isn’t an option, rendering my response quite unhelpful, sorry.

Thanks so much for replying! I’m thinking maybe the overwhelming answer will be to pass up this opportunity and maybe wait for something PT for now, but the money would be so good and when I’ve worked PT before I’ve always felt a bit out of the loop with my colleagues. I’m secondary but yeah the workload is still tough. I wonder how many people do it and how they cope?

I teach secondary and have a 3 and 1 year old. I'm doing 2 days a week this year, 3 days from September (husband took a new job with a paycut) but feel very reluctant to go full time. Find part time easy enough although I'm always out of the loop!