Calling All teachers of young children with behavioural problems - career advice please?

[PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer]

New Year, new options and all that!!!

I am currently working with adult criminals. I have done this for about 6 years, used to love it, but, while I still enjoy it, I feel frustrated with many aspects of this work - I find it difficult to beleive the work I do will make changes to damage done over so many years to the young adults I work with. I know its hard to quantify and the results are not obvious, its a long term plan. I also beleive the system we currently have is not geared enough towards working intensively with those people who have developed cognitive deficits from a very young age, work that needs much more time and money spent than the field I work in can give.

I have been thinking more and more about how lots of these people I work with were to an extent 'destined' to end up where they are, family, friends, other peers around them demonstrate behaviour - numeracy and literacy issues lead to further behavioural problems. from my understanding, many cognitive functions are determined in the first 5 years of life and although can be relearned, once learnt, the pattern is set if no opportunity to change route is given. So many people I 'rehabilitate' for want of a better word, were given a shit start in the first place.

Second to this, I have thought for a while about becoming a teacher. I have spent a few years thinking about this (torn between teacher/lawyer!!!) and have thought a lot about how I could get satisfaction from teaching young people the things they need to know as they grow up.

But I am not a maths teacher, or a science teacher, or a PE teacher. I have been thinking about how I can combine the growing desire to help when I think it is needed most, and combine this with teaching.

I am not saying that those I work with are not savable, of course many are, but I feel frustrated. I really would like to work with children from disadvantaged backgrounds, those identified as already being at risk of developing serious cognitiive deficits, at a young age, when they are impressionable and can learn to move away from what is 'expected' of them.

I am thinking of Primary school age - not just those with beahvioural problems identified but those identified as being at risk of developing them, As a prevenatative measure rather than a firefighting measure. I think I can do much more good here than were I am.

So, apologies for the rant. Where do I start? Do I become a teacher first? I have a degree, how do I become a primary school teacher from this (friends are secondary school so different route), how about specialist working, is this in addition to, or a different route to teaching? What about funding? Timeecales?

Thanks...sorry, jetlagged, brain working over time

bumping for you

I'm a SEN teacher in Scotland.

I did the 4 year BEd but it is possible to do a one year post grad course in Primary. Have you thought about volunteering at your local primary school? Maybe helpng out with a reading programme etc to give yourself a taster?

here's no real 'course' for doing SEN it's all about trying to gain as much experience in the area as possible (seems crazy I know!) I've since gone on to do a Masters in SEN which was invaluable.

Good luck x

There are a number of routes into primary teaching:

4 or 3 yr B-Ed course which is available at many universities

PGCE if you already have an appopriate degree

Shortened 2 yr B-Ed available at Sunderland and possibly Cheltenham if you have at least 1 year of further education

Graduate Teacher - training whilst working in school on a reduced timetable. Paid as an unqualified teacher while you train.

Then, there are more options open to you:

If you specialise in Early Years education, you could consider working as a Children's Centre Teacher where you are involved with families with children aged 0-5. If you go for a "Phase 1" children's centre, they will be in the most disadvantaged area and you are therefore likely to be working in a preventative way. If you want more info about this, then please CAT me as I've just left a job like this. It sounds like something that could be interesting, given your set of skills and desires.

It would also be worth you investigating the Nurture movement. I work in an extremely tough primary school with many children with severe and extreme behavioural difficulties (although it's a mainstream school). We have a nurture group for a specifically chosen group of children. This group of 8 children is staffed by a teacher and a specialist teaching assistant.

Thank you for this information everyone. So, not set route then!

The problem is I cannot quit my job and volunteer, I work 32 hours a week. I could change jobs and take a reduced pay for a year to retrain, but not on a permanent basis, either that or I could study while working, and perhaps look at taking a sabbatical at work for work experience etc.

If I did a PGCE - this is a year? Can it be done part time? I have a Bsc in Politics so not entirely sure it is a relevant degree as such!!

Littlefish - will do some research and look into the areas yo suggest, and I may well CAT you for more info as I go along if that is ok.

The Graduate teacher course is 1 year, full time. I don't know exactly how much you get paid - about 15k I would think.

Just a thought, but would you consider going down the CAMHS route (Child and adolescent mental health services). I think you would need a psychology degree, but it might be one which you could do part time.

I don't know whether you can do a PGCE part time. I do know someone who did the Graduate teacher course for 3 days per week over 5 terms, rather than full time for 3 terms. Basically, it's up to you to agree terms with the school. The trouble is that I think it would be easier to do the course part time if you were training for secondary, but harder in primary. Still worth investigating though.

Feel free to CAT me anytime.

Im fairly sure you can do a two year part time teaching qualification - with full time teaching blocks in the mix too (I think)

Yurtgirl - see that would work out, as I would be able to take leave/unpaid training time off to cover the teaching blocks that I would need. My employers are budget cutting so any suggestion of me taking some unpaid time off would probably be welcome !!