Need help with part time education/benefits

mangomangotree

I've been in admin for years and to be honest, I really dislike it. I've wanted to get out before, but because I got stuck I've never been able to. I'm 28 and would like to be in a career I enjoy by the time I'm 30. I found a part time course for Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools. The course itself is Monday from 10 to 4, but there are 2 days of volunteer work in a school (I'm not sure if I get assessed on this, although I would assume so). Problem is, if I do this course I can't work full time. I got a job offer for a job which is 33 hours per week, but they want me all week. I have looked everywhere for evening classes and weekend classes, but they're all during the weekday. I don't even know what to do. I am under the impression you can go to school part time and still get JSA (which I hate the thought of), but then I was told that I would have to be actively seeking full time work, but how can you work all week when you're at school for up to 16 hours? My other option is to put the course off yet again and be stuck in admin, which I absolutely dread doing. I just have no idea what to do. I want so badly to do this course and be in a rewarding career, I'm so sick of being in a job feeling like a zombie.

Any advice?

dawyldthing

is there any way of doing an access course in it or something similar? As then you are more than likely able to get higher education funding (which isn't a great deal in itself, but will help you realise your dream)

natjohnson

Hi, I may be wrong but I was under the impression you wouldn't be able to do 16 hours school work or they will cut off your JSA, you can get away with a few hours but not 2 days training and hours during the day in class as they class it as not looking for work...crazy as you're trying to get a job! I hope I'm wrong as you want to better yourself and get a career and they hold you back every chance they get!

dizzyrascal

The course that you are looking at is training to become a teaching assistant and you can not do that without the classroom based learning.
If you find an online or evening course that does not recommend classroom time then I'm afraid it will be worthless.
I'm afraid that volunteering for a few months is is the normal route into becoming a Teaching assistant. This is the only way you will really find out if this is the career for you.
I think the best way forward would be to work part time, do the course and the volunteering and then you will be in a better position to make a decision.
You cannot really fit this in around your 9-5 job unless you use your annual leave up for your school days.
It is worth asking if your employer would be able to adjust your hours so that you could do the volunteering part (you could stress the Corporate Social Responsibility factor), it might work. Some employers are keen for staff to work on community or CSR projects.