Not mentioning the T word at all

Aesop

katieowl wrote: »

I was just talking to my DD on skype she's having 40 fits over whether she can afford to do a PGCE on top of her Degree which she thinks will be as much use as a chocolate teapot for getting a job.

hi katieowl

not sure what DD does or where she is but will say this, I work for a training company and we employ self employed Assessors. Now we are doing apprenticeships, we need assessors with training qualifications, ie PGCE, PTLLS, DTLLS, QTLS, etc.

so if she can afford to to it, it will stand her in good stead.

katieowl_2

Aesop wrote: »

hi katieowl

not sure what DD does or where she is but will say this, I work for a training company and we employ self employed Assessors. Now we are doing apprenticeships, we need assessors with training qualifications, ie PGCE, PTLLS, DTLLS, QTLS, etc.

so if she can afford to to it, it will stand her in good stead.

If she can afford it is the million $ question though! The figures she was quoting me last night were rather worrying, she's already (well when she's finished will have) done four years for which she's been given the full loans... this will be another £9K of fees, plus expenses. It's an eye-wateringly large sum of money for someone who's not sure whether they'll get a job! (Bear in mind sister with the same degree - Russian Language - now works part time in Aldi, that being the only job offer she had in two years of looking!) We are in West Wales, and she wants to come and live here, so we are not in a metropolis, not that that was helpful for work for the other DD though, as it was in London that she couldn't get work! If she comes here to teach Primary she will also need to take an intensive course in Welsh...which she's totally up for, as languages are her thing, but that will also need funding, and there is no available grant for that!

The family income is in the lowest bracket, so she'd get any help available, but she'd still be incurring more debts. I worry that they might change the guidelines for paying back in these uncertain times...

Kate

Aesop

katieowl wrote: »

If she comes here to teach Primary she will also need to take an intensive course in Welsh...which she's totally up for, as languages are her thing, but that will also need funding, and there is no available grant for that!

hmmm katie, try and search around if any of the colleges/training providers in the area are getting funding for anything like that.

I was talking to an assessor yesterday who was telling me that there is government funding coming up for various educational things, not sure what, and would need to try and find out from her, if she can give more info.

Kittikins

Greyqueen - thanks for the flooring recommendation, going to add it to my wish list for the new place I'm fed up of being scared walking around my own house, and I don't have any particular disabilities, just a dodgy leg that likes to go a different way to the rest of me at times, lol.

Hobsons_Choice

Aesop: Thanks for that link, I'm going to fire off an email complaining about their shambolic 'organisation'. Loads of people waiting to have their vouchers processed yesterday were complaining loudly. The staff must all have hearing difficulties because we were ignored (although I blame the system rather than the staff, they do their best I s'pose).
Vinyl: Take a look at the Carpetright website, they had some good deals on when we bought ours, and the fitting charge was reasonable as well. There's a calculator, so that you can measure and see how much you need and how much it would cost.
btw, I don't have any connection to CR, honest..just used them twice now and found them efficient and helpful.

maryb

Katieowl, there is an alternative route to qualifying as a teacher which is the Graduate Teacher Programme. That is basically a learn on the job type of training which leads to QTS (qualified teacher status). Anyone who does Teach First ends up with QTS but you don't have to teach in a 'challenging' school to go this route. If she can find a school to sponsor her that would be something to think about especially if her field is languages which is a shortage subject.

The advantage of doing a PGCE is that it is effectivly half a Master's degree and it can be turned into a full Masters with a bit of extra study later on which can be done part time. This would possibly be an advantage if she is aiming for leadership roles later in her career. However she could do a Masters with the OU anyway

Here is a linky - never did work out how to abbreviate them, sorry

http://www.tda.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/gtp.aspx?ilewa=10000430&WT.srch=1&gclid=CJnJ7OXmq6wCFQEd4Qodkj9F_w

And this one is specific to Wales

http://teachertrainingcymru.org/index.htm

katieowl_2

I forgot to say earlier, but I was chatting to someone I know (not very well) yesterday who is a builder, and they were asking about what my DD (who he knows from where SHE was working this summer) was going to do when she came home from uni...and I mentioned my other DD and her BF, and that he was unemployed and that he was a plumber. This guys eyes lit up and took his number off me, and called and arranged to meet him yesterday, and he has work for him! Hopefully it will be ongoing. I'm absolutely MADE UP for DD & her BF that a casual remark might have got him back into work, as they've really been struggling along with just her working part time :T

I've also just done something I've never done before I e-mailed my MP about the story I posted yesterday about the couple who committed suicide. I'm having a 'be the change' day! I know it's not his constituency, but I asked him to back an enquiry. I told him it'll be happening here too.

Kate

katieowl_2

maryb wrote: »

Katieowl, there is an alternative route to qualifying as a teacher which is the Graduate Teacher Programme. That is basically a learn on the job type of training which leads to QTS (qualified teacher status). Anyone who does Teach First ends up with QTS but you don't have to teach in a 'challenging' school to go this route. If she can find a school to sponsor her that would be something to think about especially if her field is languages which is a shortage subject.

The advantage of doing a PGCE is that it is effectivly half a Master's degree and it can be turned into a full Masters with a bit of extra study later on which can be done part time. This would possibly be an advantage if she is aiming for leadership roles later in her career. However she could do a Masters with the OU anyway

Here is a linky - never did work out how to abbreviate them, sorry

http://www.tda.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/gtp.aspx?ilewa=10000430&WT.srch=1&gclid=CJnJ7OXmq6wCFQEd4Qodkj9F_w

And this one is specific to Wales

http://teachertrainingcymru.org/index.htm

I've already found and forwarded that second link to her Maryb, found that this morning, but thanks for responding and I'll pass the rest of the info on to her.

Kate

Linda32

Kittikins wrote: »

Does anyone have any advice on a good non-slip flooring that is also 'easy' to clean? I'm hoping to move house soon and want to have non-slip floor coverings wherever possible in the forever house once I find it as I have a tendency to fall over a lot on non-existent slippery bits of the kitchen and bathroom floor (broke my leg earlier this year and am now waiting for an operation )

Hi, In our kitchen and bathroom we have vinyl floor tiles. You can buy them in B&Q etc, maybe wilkinsons. These are easy to clean, just sweep and mop. No silly grooves etc. I've never found them to be slippy. They have been fine in the bathroom for instance.

They are easy to lay, its just a tile which you lay with the relevant glue. Then just cut one to suit around doorways etc.

I can assure you that if we have bought them, they wouldn't have been expensive.

katieowl_2

flowertotmum wrote: »

Just popped back to say how desperately sorry i am for the couple who felt thay had no choice but to commit suicide..also to the little girl left behind..am joining with katieowl and emailing my MP to demand an inquiry into how this couple slipped through the cracks when social services already knew thye were struggling...its has made my blood boil..no-one should ever have to make that decision...its so hearbreaking....
ftm

Thanks Flowertotmum...I've just been watching some film of them that was made last year I think, and it's made me even sadder and angrier. This is what (Don't) Care in the Community has done for us isn't it? A few years ago she'd have probably been in some kind of sheltered accommodation or home, and at least then have been warm and fed. I can see how he felt someone had to look after her...

I know I am at serious risk of turning into my Mum (AKA Mrs Daily Mail) but I'm going to rattle the bars of my cage every time I see something that makes me angry from now on. These blasted MP with their snouts in the gravy boat need to know what it's like at the bottom of the heap. I've not been right at the bottom myself, close but not right down there, but I've known plenty of people who were like this poor couple. At the bottom, and not able to get what they were entitled to.

Kate