New BA in English Literature - Career Advice as a Single Parent of 4 with Complex Nee

[muted]

Huge congratulations on your achievement.
I used mine to become a librarian. Loved the job and the way I could enthuse people to read.
Moved from public libraries to private, but then moved into communications. Your breadth of knowledge through reading will take you anywhere.

 

[afolabi1024]

How about tutoring older kids who may be neurodiverse? When your children are older and all at school.

 

[cwalker02]

It's all about balance. I became a science teacher at 37, with two young children, one of which is send. if you find a school that appreciates staff wellbeing and work/life balance it absolutely can be done. I can drop my kids at school, I can leave most days to pick them up if I want to, I have time to get them to after school clubs and actually see them. I mark when they're in bed on the odd occasion I have to mark, I managed to do all my lesson planning during my free periods so don't really have to plan at home. As a trainee teacher and then two years as an ect you won't be on a full time table either- you get extra time to get used to planning, marking, prep. There is also a teaching staffing crisis so you'd be able to find a job pretty easily. You'd get a bursary of £15k this year to train to teach English too, the amount changes every year, then the starting wage is £29k after that. Most school accept part time applicants too. I'm not saying it will always be easy because it's not, mock exam marking and exam run up I get utterly exhausted, but that isn't reflective of the whole school year. I love having weekends and holidays off too.

 

[simplyme214]

I did 15 years teaching MFL. When Ieft two years ago, I had a 7Yo a 5yo and a 3yo. Between them they have 6 current diagnoses (lots of acronyms!) and varying appointments to go with them. As a teacher, making and attending appointments was a challenge and wouldn't be possible two years on with the number of meetings and professionals involved. I don't want to be negative but teaching isn't flexible and if you have SEND children, you might end up taking a lot of unpaid time out. My husband still teaches and has never been able to attend our son's emergency EHCP reviews (we've had 3 in 12 months) or medical appointments. I'm now self-employed as a content writer and translator (& the pay is better).

 

[andy_pandy]

There's so much diversity in teachers and schools it's impossible to say without doing it. A TA position would give you insight. But on the one end of the spectrum there are bright little minds, healthy debate, and the opportunity to inspire and stretch understanding. To make real change in a world that needs it. On the other end, there's a huge workload that it's impossible to ever get close to finishing, completing the tasks that you know will get you in the most trouble and leaving the ones that probably won't, and having furniture thrown at you. You can get both in the same school. One thing is that I've never, ever had a dull day. Yesterday I caught a cat that was running around my classroom - my classroom has a dog in it. Yep. That happened.

 

[duncanhaus]

You can also.become a teacher through teach first program. Congratulations and good luck

 

[shingler7992]

@duncanhaus not recommended for a parent ..they make you move to where you are needed which wouldn't be possible I'm thinking

 

[duncanhaus]

@shingler7992 true. I didn't think of that. However, she could try to see what school they offer her.

 

[shingler7992]

@duncanhaus doesn't work like that that you agree to go wherever at sign up.

 

[marcusbanks]

I am a qualified teacher with 4 neurodivergent children (vast difference in care needs) whilst I say a big congratulations on your degree I would say that unless you have a big support network for your children care needs then teaching in schools just isn’t a realistic option. I notice someone mentioned the life after teaching group (a good one to join) I, like many other professionals with disabled children, have had to give up teaching (initially I went part time to try and better balance my work life responsibilities)
There are plenty of ways that you can use your degree and passion for teaching though, have you thought about the flexibility self employment and establishing your own business?

 

[wordisbond247]

@marcusbanks I absolutely echo what Kelly says. I have three, one of whom is disabled, and I gave up teaching as it would have been impossible. Childcare, in particular but also while I was teaching I had no time at all to do anything for my disabled child, let alone the others. I in effect gave up being able to support my own children to look after a class of others. It is utterly amazing that you've got a degree, especially while having two children and looking after babies. Astounding! But teaching with disabled kids is incredibly tough and despite really missing it, I've decided there's currently no way I can go back.

 

[floetepoldi]

What about editing or proof reading? Can be self employed and or working from home? Could approach your local council community learning department and run adult education creative writing classes? Could do literacy support or go into language tutoring?

 

[bareezwood]

Hello! I did my English Lang degree with 3 kids, all of which have SEN and emotional needs. Then went directly on to a masters in Applied Linguistics.
I didn’t do anything with it until 3 years later we knew I couldn’t work whilst being there for my middle child in particular, who was at an SEMH school and regularly needed me during the day.
In September I started working as a TA in a PRU/ESC and in June started teacher training with TES at my school.
I am lucky in that the school is extremely understanding and if I need to I am always okay to rush off, but I’m conscious that it has to be for emergencies and emergencies can’t happen too often! My SLT are very special people and I honestly am so lucky to work with them.
It is hard. Managing tragedy at work and then coming home to stress too. But I absolutely love it and am so grateful to be working in such an amazing place.
I would say to you, throw yourself in! Get out there and give it your all. It might not be easy, and of course you have to measure up whether you have the capacity to do a fabulous job when things are tricky at home. But it’s absolutely do-able. I’m happier in myself now than I’ve been for a very, very long time. Good luck!

 

[jamiemellien23]

Wow you are amazing!! How about a university post???

 

[shingler7992]

@jamiemellien23 need a master's or PhD to teach at university. Could work in admin roles though.

 

[2centseach]

@shingler7992 no you don’t. You can do a PGCert HE leading you a masters on the job

 

[shingler7992]

@2centseach I work at a university and we won't employ a lecturer without at least a master's. We will.employ university practitioners but they earn less and don't get research time..

 

[2centseach]

Kate Victoria I’m a lecturer. Many of my colleagues don’t have Masters degrees and get them on the job. I guess there are variations across the sector

 

[lostbreed_ofchampion]

Couldnt you start off tutoring first, i know teaching full time is a big comittment and the cost of childcare whilst you work can be astronomical

 

[alexa001]

I think if you teach in a SEMH school you could do it. I love my job, I teach English in a ks4 . SEMH provision small groups max 5 in a class plus a TA so not shed loads of marking. Is usually leave work at 5 most days but we finish at 3.20.