Need to make a decision!

NeedAssistance

I got make redundant last April (after 19 years as a legal secretary). I worked evenings as I have two children (now both at infant & primary school). I need to get a new job - have been looking but been really enjoying my time off! I had redundancy insurance and that has been paying me on a monthly basis which lasts until August 2010.

Since being made redundant I have been volunteering at my children's school and now help out in the classrooms 4 days a week which I absolutely love. The Deputy Head (whom I am quite friendly with) knows I would like to work at the school but due to cuts back etc. they are not employing at the moment.

I have considered starting a course as a Teaching Assistant but was warned by the Deputy Head that the Government is making cut backs and the first jobs to go in any school is a TA post. She is pushing for me to re-train as a teacher but as I haven't taken any further education courses for over 20 years this will be a huge readjustment. Plus I need to earn enough money to try and clear my debts.

My redundancy package was OK but not fantastic and after clearing one credit card the rest went to "paying" my salary until the insurance kicked in which didn't happen until October 2009! Needless to say the redundancy money has all but disappeared.

DH is very keen for me to get a job but ideally it needs to be during school term time as we haven't any family or friends that could look after the children. Also concerned that any money that comes in will be going out on child care if it isn't school term time work.

I'm now at a cross roads and really don't know what to do. I have applied to local schools for TA positions and admin positions without any success. Plus, I am sure that most schools employ the people that they know and who probably help out at the school.

Help! I need guidance!

Thanks

elsietanner71

Call the Careers Advice Service 08080 100 333 8am - 10pm everyday.

They offer free guidance and can help you with any decisions you may face.

Good luck

elsietanner71

PS Dont forget you'd get tax credits to help with childcare.

jeffgeorge

My friend is a TA and has jumped ship to train as teacher as she believes TA's will be rolled out and unfortunatley more pressure on poor teachers.

All I know but intresting
xxxxxxx

flutterbyuk25

This website has some good info http://www.tda.gov.uk/recruit.aspx

Do you have a degree? You can get bursaries to to a post-grad teachers course (PGCE) which were around £6000, plus top ups for in demand secondary school subjects like maths, and some fees paid. Or it was the case when I was looking 2-3 years ago.

HTH

x

CHARDONNAY_3

Its a big decision & will involve discussion with your family but if you aren't 100% sure you want to go into teaching, don't do it just because someone has suggested it.

But at the same time don't let the fact that you haven't been in education for a while put you off as so many people return to learning & often find they achieve more than they thought.

I was in a postion similar to yours last summer in that I was unsure whether to pursue teaching or a TA role. I decided to enrol on a TA NVQ, get as much classroom experience as poss & in an ideal world get a job as a TA but I'm realistic & realise this may well not happen, however doing what I've done hasn't been a waste as I've learnt so much & it's confirmed I want to go into teaching.

Also I don't believe TA'S will be phased out as the gov have put alot into turning a TA'S work into a more professional role with more responsibility & career progression, however this meansTA'S often end up as a lower paid version of a teacher.

NeedAssistance

Unfortunately I don't have a degree so will be starting from scratch! Still wouldn't put me off. The only thing stopping me is do i want to be a fully qualified teacher with all the red tape it entails or train as a TA and hope to get a job? I do know that I absolutely love helping out at the school and as I am helping in classes ranging from Nursery to Year 6, I am getting the full range of what each class is like.

I would like to think that TA's won't be phased out and they probably won't in Nursery, Reception and Year 1 but beyond that - who knows?! There is talk that budgets are going to be cut and that is the first place they will cut jobs (or at least won't recruit to replace leavers). Yet they are crying out for teachers. Big decision to make.

Maybe the way forward is to enrole in a TA course (NVQ) and see how that goes. I am still applying for TA positions and hopefully with my gaining heaps of experience in school that should be enough to at least get me established in a school before pursuing a teaching qualification which could take up to 5 years.

Thanks for the advice guys

NeedAssistance

jeffgeorge wrote: »

My friend is a TA and has jumped ship to train as teacher as she believes TA's will be rolled out and unfortunatley more pressure on poor teachers.

All I know but intresting
xxxxxxx

Thats what I heard. Unfortunately one of the only ways to stay on as a TA is to train as a SEN TA which is something I don't really want to do. I don't want to be dedicated to one pupil but like the diversity of lots of pupils with different abilities.

Fire_Fox

NeedAssistance wrote: »

Unfortunately I don't have a degree so will be starting from scratch! Still wouldn't put me off. The only thing stopping me is do i want to be a fully qualified teacher with all the red tape it entails or train as a TA and hope to get a job? I do know that I absolutely love helping out at the school and as I am helping in classes ranging from Nursery to Year 6, I am getting the full range of what each class is like.

If you don't already have a degree then you should be eligible for student finance. Grants and loans are pretty generous, depending on your OH's income. There is extra support for families where required, you'd get a 25% discount on your council tax and often a 50% discount on public transport.

CHARDONNAY_3

It seems that you are considering training as a teacher as you think "they are crying out for teachers" While this may still be true in secondary schools, it certainly does not apply in primary schools. I have 4 friends who are qualified primary teachers with a couple of years experience, 1 is in a permanent post, the other 3 are doing maternity cover / supply work.

Also be aware that you may be gaining experience in the classroom but is it as a TA rather than a volunteer helper, i.e do you assist with planning, carrying out observations etc as this is the kind of experience you will need (& can do even on a voluntary basis)

egghead

teachers jobs are much safter than teaching asst, i have been one for 3 years constant renewal of my contract but they are ending peoples contracts all the time