Work unsustainable (teacher) and I’m not sure what to do

[feb190225]

I work as a teacher, three days a week, and have two children aged 4 and 1 and a half. I’ve been back at work properly since the beginning of this academic year and I’m really struggling with the inflexibility of the job - I know it isn’t unique to teaching.

I am trying to work out what option is best. Leave and come back to it in a few years - but surely things won’t have improved when my children are at primary school? Look for another role - but what, and what about school holidays? Just feeling a bit lost and fed up.

Just to add, I started because there was a lack of care and found I loved it. You could also do primary level tutoring?

The school is fairly close to be honest, only about 15 minutes in the car. Not sure there are any closer secondaries!

See the Pit Pony video on YouTube.

Being ‘remote’ suggests limited alternative paid work opportunities unless you move. If it’s a short to medium term childcare issue, and you’re single or your partner really can’t cover 50% or more of the unplanned term time childcare on your working days would focus on back up childcare options.

Can you share the load with dh? We were lucky in that ours were rarely ill (broke arm on Friday night and back in school on Monday!), but if they were, we split it. In fact, dh was often easier to contact than me because we weren't allowed phones out.

You've also just done the hardest part of the year wrt sheer slog.It used to help to think in blocks: if I can just get through next 6 weeks....

We also put both of ours with a cm when dc1 started school. It was cheaper than nursery and she could do random pop ups- like snow days/ poling day/inset days/ different school holidays.

It really doesn't take long to get easier. said whilst enjoying his to myself, as neither dc is awake yet.

Given your hours, once your dc start school, you could cover that with breakfast club and afterschool club.

Your school's attitude does sound awful! But again, I think a fair number of heads are like this. Sadly. In many jobs with set hours, work + children is a real struggle.

It's not risky to say you're looking for a job, especially if you're unhappy. Your school doesn't sound very nice.

Are you and your H taking on the same amount of leave for sick kids?

I'm FT and genuinely think it's easier than PT. PT usually have more split classes, have to catch up with whatever happened on the days they aren't in, have the same expectations from leadership re extra work.

You could start tutoring and gradually drop days as thr tutoring picks up?

what do you teach?

There are tons of home educated children around these days. Many will access exam centres to sit igcses, GCSEs and A levels. Could you tutor either individually or as a tiny group?

There are also plenty of home educated children aged 10-14 who might like regular sessions?

Access your local towns home ed facebook groups and ask if there’s any interest in the your subject sessions?

Could work from home.

I was in your position and I stopped teaching. My children are now 4 and a half and 2. I went down to 0.4 after my first mat leave and found it unsustainable. I was still having to work evenings and also during the week on my days off around my then toddler and found it impossible. Haven't looked back in 3 years and don't miss the classroom at all.

Are you a single parent or is your DH also a teacher? If not, can he not be flexible when it comes to illness the three days a week you work and you can obviously cover the other days?

Find his other job first and then hand in your notice.

I teach English. I’ll look into the tutoring - extra money would be welcome anyway!

One of the problems with where we live is there aren’t great wraparound options, very limited, starts at 8 ends at 4 sort of care. I know people say ‘move’ but that’s awfully expensive and potentially very disruptive.

I’m a TA and if my teacher is off sick - I just cover the class - no drama. Do you have - class TA or a HLTA in the school that can cover leave?
I was a childminder for a year - it was financially very successful BUT I hated it. For me there was no differentiation between home and work, I had sole responsibility for everything and no team. And I was lucky - I had lovely children and parented. But I much prefer working in school where I am part of a team, someone else deals with lunch, cleaning, big safeguarding discussions and my home is my own. Grass isn’t always greener.

And no - I’m on my own with the children in the week which is why I’m finding it so so hard.

Not anywhere near as expensive as being financially dependent on one’s spouse is in the event of circumstances changing.

Tutoring, supply etc will only pay similar if there is a good market where you are

Much depends on your attitude to different risks. I place high priority on maintaining some earning ability, pension etc so want to live near job options etc.

Tutor for homeschooled undertaken in school hours, is this a thing? Surely parents homeschooling need occasional teacher input on subjects?

You do need to bear in mind tho that this phase of kids being unwell at short notice is quite short lived. Once kids are 5 or 6 they get ill far less frequently and you will find that schools are far less quick to send them home.

The patch you are in currently, with two preschool kids, is basically crap whichever job you are in. Even if you work in an office and have wfh arrangements believe you me people's patience wears thin when you have a toddler on your lap during calls every other week with chicken pox or an ear infection.

You do just have to ride it out and you need to ensure that you as mum are not bearing the brunt of the disruption. It shouldn't be the case that it's always you called when they are sick - how much is Dad doing at these times??

I just think you might slightly regret leaving a 3 days a week teaching job in a few years when suddenly the kids are hardly ever sick and the school holidays off with them are hugely appealing

It sounds like you just need a life overhaul to be honest. You are on your own with the kids during the week, no family or friends nearby and the school they will go to doesn’t have proper wrap around care. I’d relocate before school starts because this isn’t going to go away as an issue even when you change jobs really. ‘Teaching’ doesn’t sound like the issue

What does 'on your own with the children in the week' actually mean? Why is their dad not stepping up and reconsidering his job as tbh it doesn't sound like it's working for family life if it means he's unavailable Mon-Friday.

That's your issue not your job - it's that the children's father is not sharing the burden while they are young.

To be honest @Sunnysideup4eva it is that but it’s the general attitude that leaves a bad taste in the mouth I think.

Relocating really isn’t an option - thanks though.

Honestly this is why women experience a pay gap after having children. Don't give up your professional job imagining you'll find evening work. In a few years time you'll find yourself working part time minimum wage while their father has advanced his career, totally unimpacted by the children. You need to talk to him about what he can do to step up.

He can’t. Thats the bottom line, either he gives up work or we limp on as we are. I don’t know what to do that’s best. But realistically making us all miserable because of someone else’s pay gap isn’t sensible, surely?

You could do online coaching .

Haha
I work in education

Teachers core hours in our school are 8.35-3.10 & that's all 75% of them ever do

Change schools - you'll never get the hours and school holidays in another job.