Ex_Primary Teachers who have changed careers, what do you do?

[reup]

Am not sure if I want to go back to teaching and wondered what other people have done.

I doubt I could afford to pay a lot to re-train but my new job doesn't have to have school hols off cos my husband is a teacher too.

no-one?

damn you are all out at your interesting well paid yet stress free workplaces aren't you?

Interested in your question as I'm trying to think of what I can do now too. I'm on maternity leave and have moved area so don't have my old job to return to (was primary, have since been SEN) and anyway, don't want to do full time work. In fact, I don't want to put DD in childcare at all, so am trying to think about what I can do evenings/ weekends/ with the baby. I'm not looking at earning a full time wage, just a bit to help us get by. I'm thinking about tutoring but have also started looking at various franchises that are available to run (eg baby music/ signing/ activity classes). I don't know how much commitment is needed for this sort of thing, so will start a new thread.

Hi, I am in a similar postion to you,although i trained as a nurse,but i am not sure i want to go back to doing that!
My youngest has now started school,I thought great I can go back to work now,then i started to look at school hours jobs,appart from office work(which i have no experience in)there seems very little out there.I dont want to start using childminders ,after school clubs etc,but I am tearing my hair out trying to work out what to do!!
I know this doesnt offer you any suggestions,but it is always good to know that you are not the only one going through something!

Have you thought about buying a franchise like Pyjama Drama, Talking Tots, Tumble Tots etc? Lots of ex primary school teachers do that.

thats a good idea. Am not sure if I could gush enough over mothers and new babies though. I used to go to a great class that was run by a group set up locally with 3 mums and the women in charge were great at interacting with the mums. I run a local toddler group and find it increasingly difficult to make conversation with some new mothers and look sufficently interested in their babies. But maybe £5 a lesson would spur me on!

I do tutoring at a tutorial school at the weekends and also have non teaching experience too which involved graphic computers but it was a bit specialised so not sure how transfereable it would look.

So any weekend with people with ideas please post!

thats a good idea. Am not sure if I could gush enough over mothers and new babies though. I used to go to a great class that was run by a group set up locally with 3 mums and the women in charge were great at interacting with the mums. I run a local toddler group and find it increasingly difficult to make conversation with some new mothers and look sufficently interested in their babies. But maybe £5 a lesson would spur me on!

I do tutoring at a tutorial school at the weekends and also have non teaching experience too which involved graphic computers but it was a bit specialised so not sure how transfereable it would look.

So any weekend with people with ideas please post!

re: franchises, yes you do have to do your research well but can be a good way to set up your own business without having to start completely from scratch. @belgianbun what happened to your friend?

If you don't fancy a franchise what about direct selling? It's a good way to make a bit of extra income and it's also excellent for fitting around your children. There are lots of different things out there to choose from.

Personally I picked Usborne books and I love it - I work around my 20m old DS and have made lots of new friends. Plus, you don't have to be interested in people's new babies (something I struggle with too!) you just have to be able to be enthusiastic about your product.

If you'd like to know more about Usborne drop me an email ([email protected]) or have a glance at my website, otherwise Netmums has listings of opportunities in your area.

Fizzydaisy - have you thought about looking for a job as a school nurse? Lots of independent schools have them so you would have long school holidays to spend with your DC.

Bit of a side note, but if your considering a career change maybe it's worth thinking about all the skills your learnt as a teacher. There are LOTS! Team-work, problem-solving, etc.

This online transferable skills assessment is free: www.essex.ac.uk/reo/ecif/assessments.html

Tests like these might be a good first step in finding the best route for you?

Good luck

Thanks for all those ideas. I will definitely try that skills assessement. I tried a government one recently and it was terrible.

My area is inundated with usbourne books people and phoenix cards and other selling things. There is also a local kids cooking school. So I would have ot come up with an amazing idea I think!

Although having read that people on here have paid £120 an hour for a kids party entertainer that looks interesting!