Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

I really enjoyed half term and desperately needed the break. I spent a day gardening and putting pansies, nemesia, geraniums and petunias in pots. I also got a camelia to replace a rhododendron that had inexplicably died. The garden looks really colourful now 🌹🌻🌼🌸. DH and I had coffee in the garden a few times as the weather was really good over half term ☕☕. DH, DS1 and I also met stepdad and wife at a NT place for coffee and a walk in the gardens, which was very pleasant. Stepdad gave me some more plants and  a dinnerset that used to belong to my Mum.

I stopped feeling ill on the Thursday of half term so I had four days of feeling well and energetic which I made the most of 😏. I'm delighted to be fully vaccinated now and in two weeks time I should have built up my full immunity from the vaccine, which will make me feel safer at school.

School has been fine so far. It feels a bit strange to think that next term I'll just be an MTA if I don't find another job, but I'm determined to find another job by then. I know I'll get good references from the head teacher and my class teacher. I do think since lockdown school has been less fun as I spend all my time doing maths, phonics, reading and writing with the children and there seems to be less art and fun activities 🤔.

We've had two good days weather wise and it's been really warm and summery 🌞, but today is grey with light rain 🌫🌧. Hopefully it will improve as sunshine is much better for my mood.

Have a good week everyone 🙂.

foxgloves

Hi HHoD,
Talking to you from my coffee bench. Isn't it nice popping out for coffee in our gardens when the weather is fine? We love it. I'm sure you will already be looking for TA jobs, so I want to wish you lots of luck with that. I think the whole Covid disruption has led a lot of people to evaluate their lifestyles, jobs, etc. I am hoping this means that there'll be TAs in the South West who are pondering moving on & that you are provided with a much-deserved career opening. Fingers & toes crossed here for you.
F x

milann

Hairy I do think there are behind the scene politics in most school and nurseries (I suppose most work places) but I think some places handle them better than others. Where I am now isn’t too bad but my last school was horrendous.....I’ve never worked in a place where so many staff resorted to tears 😲😲😲 by the time I moved it was draining. It all happened after a big change in the senior management team.....nothing was ever good enough.......and we’d been an outstanding school for years - think they wanted to make their mark and went about it the wrong way 😏 I really hope something comes along for you 🤞🤞

Fidelia

Hairy, you mention maybe doing an Early Years qualification but have you considered 1-1 work with a Special Needs child?  I'm not sure if that involves some specialist qualification or whether budgetary cutbacks mean there are less opportunities though.  A friend of mine worked 1-1 with a partially-sighted child and was with him for his school life from 5 to 11.  The class teachers made full use of her though and she was often asked to be a general TA with some of the others but it wasn't a bad thing as the child she was employed to assist needed the group/social elements of school as well and my friend enjoyed the variety. I know she spent a lot of time making resources for him but it was mostly in pre-computer days when there were few ways of enlarging fonts except by writings things bigger!  Good luck anyway.

Fidelia

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

School has been fine so far. It feels a bit strange to think that next term I'll just be an MTA if I don't find another job, but I'm determined to find another job by then. I know I'll get good references from the head teacher and my class teacher. I do think since lockdown school has been less fun as I spend all my time doing maths, phonics, reading and writing with the children and there seems to be less art and fun activities 🤔.

 🙂.

The attitude of schools (largely through budgetary tightness I suspect) seems totally baffling to me!  You've already experienced the need for the extra work on phonics, maths, reading etc  and these core subjects aren't going to just get back to normal on their own. They'll need increased input for months yet.   I'd have thought Heads would be trying to employ MORE TAs, especially the efficient and reliable ones like you, instead of letting them go.  Isn't the Government putting more 'catch up' funding into schools?  I know it's a pittance but it shouldn't mean less staff than currently.

beanielou

Enjoy your weekend 

milann

Hope you are ok and enjoying your lovely garden 🤞👍

Fidelia

Hoping all's well with you and yours,HH.  Looks as if your area had a lot of rain recently so I hope it didn't make lunchtimes difficult for you or stop you and your DH enjoying your coffees in your lovely garden.

Willowtree222

Hope you're ok Hairy. xx

doingitanyway

Hope all is well and you had a good weekend