Any secondary teachers moved to primary teaching? Is this madness?

[twinmam]

I'm a fairly experienced secondary teacher, been a head of dept etc.

After having my DTs in 2008 we relocated and I started doing some freelance work for my old school.

After being pretty royally mucked about I'm
desperate keen to return to teaching. I need something more stable and actually do feel the pull of the classroom, believe it or not!

Problem is there are no jobs locally in my subject and having just found out my contract is unlikely to be renewed for September I need to find something ASAP.

There's a maternity cover being advertised from Sept - March in a local primary school. It's for foundation stage.

I'm in two minds whether to apply.

I know there are no extra qualifications required to transfer from secondary to primary but is it really that easy? I have no knowledge of FS although presumably I could learn the ropes.

I spent some time in a primary school as part of my PGCE and did love it,was told by teachers in that school I should consider primary teaching, am naturally 'good' with children of that age etc etc but fully appreciate there's a lot more to teaching than that!

Obviously the school may take one look at me and think no thanks but I think it's a school that has had problems recruiting in the past and if I presented it to them in the right way I reckon I could bag myself a job if they are deperate enough

In practical terms it's ideal; not far from where we live and very close to DCs nursery. 2 days a week is exactly what I want and gives me the opportunity to still carry on some consultancy work.

Also Sept-March gives us enough financial breathing space for me to look for something else, be it a secondary job or more primary school work.

I don't want to bite off more than I can chew, however; I don't want to take on something that will stress me out and have to spend every evening swotting up on stuff I'm not sure of....

Please help me with your words of wisdom!!

Go for it girl! You will be able to utilise your skills from secondary teaching and adapt to the primary environment. Have a look at the primary strategy framework, which will give you some good information and also the confidence.

Nothing ventured nothing gained. you have nothing to loose by giving it a go.

Good luck

Sweetpea

Ooh thanks sweetpea! You can be my personal cheerleading squad

Really helps to have someone say it's not impossible and off to look at the framework now!

My mum transferred from secondary to primary about 18 years ago and has never looked back. I think she did about 10 years in secondary and was heavily involved with the A'Level groups so it was a big change.

She did a conversion course and then taught supply to get her foot in the door.

She has taught most years in primary but settled at Y6 so make of that what you will. She co-ordinates the curriculum for the subject her secondary PGCE was in.

Lots and lots of competition for primary jobs though.

Go for it. There's no harm in applying, and they may grateful for any application for a temporary parttime role.