Sorry I have a couple of different issues here. I currently work part time for a district council as a Countryside Ranger. I work on public rights of way which is a statutary duty delegated to us by the County Council, due to budget cuts it looks like our work will return to the County Council. I understand that to an extent we are protected by TUPE regulations, but I know that the County Council think we are overstaffed compared to their other areas (we do over and above the statutory minimum by improving the network, working with communities etc.)I also know that due to the recent elections the county council has had a change of 'colour' and is looking to make savings. From looking at the TUPE regs I think they can make us redunandant due to economic reasons or restructuring, which is pretty easy for them to do, can they do this immedaitely or do we have protection for a set time period? Also I have over 10yrs service, 6+ full time and the remainder part time, if they make me redundant is the redundancy pay calculated on my current part time pay or do they take into account the period of full time working and pro rata it?
Secondly I'm pretty fed up with local government and aspects of my job and have been thinking about a career change for sometime. I have done some environmental education and enjoy working with children, I have a dd starting school in september. So I'm thinking about going into primary school teaching, I hope to volunteer at my daughters school 1 morning per wk from sept. I have a good science degree so would need to do a PGCE, I understand I can either get on a GTP or go to college for a year. Can people let me know what experience they have of either of these, how hard it is to get onto them (be thinking about doing the training sept 2010). And how easy is it to then get a job once you've qualified, I'm based in somerset and would need a job locally.
Sorry about all the questions, I've got alot to think through!