Have any teachers returned to work as a teaching assistant after having children - what are the pitfalls?

[jenthehen]

Before having the children I worked for over seven years as a ks2 teacher but now my youngest DD is about to start school I am contemplating applying for a job at my local school as a teaching assistant. I have been a SAHM for the last 4 yrs and feel that this post (7.5hrs within school time) could be ideal. I wouldn't be doing it for the money especially but more as a gentle introduction back into education, looking at returning to teaching part-time when the children are older. One of the main reasons is that I live in a very rural location and it is almost impossible to get any before and after school childcare.
Just wondered if anyone has experience of doing thisas I know that normally it's the other way round ie people work as teaching assistants and then train to teach.

bump

The money will be rubbish. What about doing some supply work?

It is virtually impossible to get the childcare. One mother, who works full time and has a 4yr old starting in September has had to hire a private taxi firm to collect dd and take her to a nursery in the nearest town. I wouldn't feel happy with this arrangement for my DD and also with supply you couldn't get regular hours guaranteed, particularly as not that many schools nearby. When the dc were nursery age I did do a bit of supply as I could put them into nursery for the day. Now they are at school it would be much harder to arrange otherwise supply would be great.

but thanks for posting babygrand

That's a shame - the thing about supply is that you can just say no when you need/want to be with your children as you're not tied into regular work. You don't need to be there for long hours either or stay for meetings etc.

that's what i was thinking really cat64, not quite sure what future perspective employers would think of it though. One of my other concerns is that the head would take advantage of me and try to use me as a supply/classroom teacher whilst only paying a TA's wage. I was also unsure- if got the job - how I would stand with things like unions etc Do you know what the people you know did ?

That's true cat64 - I can always say no! Thanks for your helpful replies - very much appreciated.

You need Slouchy. She's a teacher, but currently working as a TA.

Why don't you search for her by name and see if you can "stalk" her on other threads .

Be careful as you may get classed as unqualified as you don't have TA qualifications! Thats what has happened to a few people round here. TAs also come on different grades now so HLTA/Principal TA CAN cover classes and a STA can for short periods so don't right it off.

Thanks for that Nymphadora, would that mean that the pay would be even less? What does HLTA and STA stand for? Is it higher level and Standard Level?

You don't need to do TA qualifications. As a fully qualified teacher you can go in and do a TA job, no problem - and would also be able to apply for HLTA grade jobs. Just ensure when you apply you include all relevant info and apply it to post of TA rather than post of teacher. Many schools will be very happy to snap you up.

But the pay will be far less as a TA than a teacher - and you may need to justify why you are happy to go "down" in this way.

I am doing voluntary TA work one day a week at DDs school and loving it. I have talked to staff there, and also via the local university re re-training if it had been necessary. Only thing I was advised to do was oto see if I could do a refresher type course (lasts about 3 weeks) to brush up literacy, numeracy and science curriculum - esp as I am secondary trained, not primary - but prefer idea of primary.

I don't want to return to teaching yet - too much work load at present. I am loving the voluntary TA stuff I do, so very tempted in a while to venture further into that - but still need too much flexibility to do FT yet.

Good luck.

Specialist Teaching Assistant I think.

Thanks everyone, I think I will put in the application form and hope for the best. I'm not sure how I'd feel if I didn't get it but it will be good to use my brain a little again.

My cousin has done this. She has 4 children and I think must have had about 10 years out of the labour market. Haven't caught up with my cousin recently but according to her mum, the pay is terrible but at the end of the day she can walk out of the door without needing to prepare any lessons, mark homework or anything else. I think it suits her for now and really there's a lot to be said for that, whatever job you do.