Just been offered a job........

heart pounding, palms sweating. A job!! contract commitment set hours....SCAREY!!!!!!!

At the moment I am doing supply teaching as and when I want to and could get more if I wanted to work more days. I can earn £125 a day before deductions. I teach for the day, mark all the work then leave to come home, no responsibility and it fits in perfectly with everything I want do.I can do the school run and take children to all their activities etc. I do not have to attend staff meetings or do training.It also fits in with my anxiety problems as if I have problems I just decline work till I am more settled.

On the down side, I can be cancelled at a moments notice and sometimes can be without work. Nothing is guaranteed.I am not working as part of aset team so have no colleagues in the normal sense of the word. I am not included in any social side of the work place.I miss the relationships with having no continuity with a set of children.

The job I have been offered is 17.5 hours per week to fit in with me....This is to support an autistic child coming from a specialist unit into a mainstream school. The hours are actual contact hours so the maximum per school day is 6. My salary for the job would be £7.51 per hour.This is a teaching assistant post rather than a teaching post hence the difference in salary.It works out at roughly £135 per week.

It is something I have always wanted to do as I love working within special needs.I have a special needs background within mainstream education.

The new job would entail 3.5 days per week working, after school meetings, and the term dates do not match up with my childrens scchool dates.It would also mean preparation work outside of these hours so essentially is 4 days work. I am also on my own during the week as Oh is often away so I have to do everything on my own.

I think I know what my decision will be but just wanting to sound you all out....Actually writing it all down like this has almost answered my own question.

So folks what would you do?

mmmmm toughie!

if i needed the money i would do it if not i wouldnt....

Aha....I know how you feel Rachel. Once you have been out of the system it is really hard to get back into it.
I was offered a day a week at the start of this academic year, but I ended up turning it down,only to find myself doing a day a week anyway, set day, set school. I find that hard. I love the school, I love the kids and other staff BUT it is hard being tied to always being there on that day etc and have had to get my mum to help with my son at points when my OH has been working. I don't like that at all. I have also been full of the flu this week and had to cancel going in this week as a result (I have a girl with a tracheotomy so didn't think she'd appreciate getting the virus). I felt AWFUL that I'd let them down and I'm only on a supply contract.

If I were you...I would say 'no thank you' because:
1) You will miss your freedom
2) Your kids will miss your presence
3) When it hinders your life you will constantly think 'I could make more on supply and not be tied down'
4) You will get itchy fingers do do more than your job remit (if you see what I mean...once a teacher...)

It doesn't sound to me like you are ready for a permanent contract and perhaps when you are, you will want to teach in a special needs school???

You and I sound very similar with this so I hope you don't mind me saying all that.
I just know that it would have to be a very special job to make me commit to all the paperwork/meetings.inspections/school politics etc again....

Sounds interesting if you really want it go for it

ps forgot to add...congratulations, brill to be offered the job and have the dilemma!!!!!

Ailsa I was hoping you would reply.

I am just one of these people who also hates saying no to people...Your points are great and that is exactly the feed back I need.It was me who first expressed interst but I feel it was with rose tinted glasses.The practicalities outweigh the dream.

post deleted and re posted below

Gee that is a tough one. I think you have already answered most of your own questions. Its kind of like doing 2 lists, my take on it is (and it is ONLY MY TAKE)

Current Job
PROS

You are used to it
You can turn down work when
you don't feel up to it

Good Money

Your day finishes when you
leave the school
You are not getting too
involved attached to kids
You don't have to attend
meetings (always good if
you suffer from anxiety)

CONS

No set hours

They can cancel shifts

No set income even though daily rate good

No social involvement


New Job
PROS
Its an area you want to work
in

It is a set routine

Allows you to focus on
one individual (maybe a good
channel for anxiety??)

Allows you to interact with
other teachers and the parents
It is only part time (good for
anxiety)

CONS
Involves meetings

Less pay per hour

You have to take some work home (prep etc)

Doesn't fit in with your kids


These are just things as I see it. I agree if you don't need the set routine and you are happy with things as they stand I am not sure if I were you that I would change things at the moment. JMHO.

Good luck with whatever you decide but make sure its right for you

xx

BM, thanks for that. the pros list for my current arrangement is bigger than all the others......I guess that is why i have done it for the last 10 years.

I can understand why its an interesting offer and its always nice to be offered a job.

Like you I'm doing supply for quite similar reasons only don't have young children. My reservations would be money and exactly how much you might be expected to do in practice. It may not have the same responsibilities as teaching but in my experience you could end up being put under more pressure than you'd expect. Support staff work hard and are often given a lot of responsibility.

I've been lucky enough to get myself known in a couple of schools and by going there regularly I've got to know the staff and children quite well. So it gives some feeling of belonging but without the ties.