There has been abit of discussion on the OU thread about teacher training so I thought it would be good to get some advice, ideas, thoughts, feelings about this generated.

I always said I would NEVER be a teacher, however there are alot of changes happening to my present TA role so it is becoming a consideration.

It's definately in my thoughts at the moment but completely unsure.

I'm currently a mentor and love the realtionship I can have with the kids in this role. I also feel I can impact their lives in a very different way to a teacher.

Thing is though, let's face it, if you're not a teacher the money in education is very poor. I don't even take home £900 a month and that's not enough to live off. Still living at home at just turned 25 is getting a bit depressing now but I don't have an option at the moment.

The stress of teaching is also a worry, plus dealing with 20-30 kids, every day is a bit of a task for myself as currently I must admit I'm no expert on discipline and behaviour. There's only so far having the respect of kids will get you.

I love the idea of counselling, and our school counsellor has a good job, but I think that'd be a very hard job to get into. Would have to do more research. Someone told me the other day I'd make a good social worker, so that's another option I could look at.

Ahhhhhhhh. The decisions.

Having been in the HLTA role now fro a while and 'teaching' classes of 30, this is something I am considering a lot. I love taking a whole class and have found I can still have relationships with the children like I do when I have small groups. Plus the pay is way better.

Im definitely doing teacher training...hoping to do GTP after finished my Open Degree with OU. Just difficult picking the courses to make up the degree than I think will be OK when I apply for GTP.
Having said that Im starting a new job after Easter as a TA in an SEBD school and not sure that I will want to be a teacher having had lots of people tell me that once you work in an SEBD school, you never want to leave!!
Oh well, Im only 20 got lots and lots of time yet!

oh to be 20 again! (actually, I couldn't think of anything worse!) I will be double that by the time i finish my degree. I have worked with children for 17 years now, TA, foster carer and residential social worker and have finally decided that teaching is the route for me. (why rush these things?!)
My problem is deciding whether or not to carry on with the OU or go to college. I have found the OU difficult in terms of motivation, ie studying on my own, but college is so expensive and I have 3 young children. Any ideas welcome.....!

Steve, I worked as an unqualified social worker, my husband is one, as are half his family and many of our friends. It is a very tough option, very different to school work but equally as rewarding. It pays about the same as teaching but you don't get the holidays!

I also will be nearly the 40 when I get my degree. I am actually interested in Educational Psychology, however at the moment you still need to have been teaching for a while to get in.

I am going to continue with the OU study, I am lucky I can motivate myself (the cost alone is a motivation to me!! ) I am also trying to do as many psychology based courses as possible so I hope it has relevance?

Feeling abit under the weather at the moment and feel I am probably wasting my time completely. Don't get out the violins, I always get self-pitying when I am ill

Who knows what the future will bring. I just know I love working with children (with special needs) and want to continue.

Buttercup, I'm quite similar to you, I'll be 40 by the time I finish my degree and I've also got 3 small children.

I'm starting the E111 in the Autumn, and then plan to take a FD in Primary Learning.After that, hopefully GTP.

Why, oh why did I not go to Uni after I left school?!

Not to put a damper on anybodies plans but I feel I ought to point out how hard it is to get onto the GTP (depending which area you live in)... down in the South West region there were (from memory) less than 200 places available for Cornwall, Devon, Avon & Somerset.

OU degrees, while not sniffed at completelym, come quite a way down their list of 'good' qualifications...

As I found out when trying to get onto the GTP locally.

If you're looking towards GTP because of flexibility you might like to consider the Flexible Modular PGCE route... available to significant areas of the country.

Good luck with your endeavours.

D.

Hi folks, my plan is to hopefully go into teaching as well or maybe inclusion support. My options as i see them at the moment is to see if i can get on the RTP when i have 240 points, or finish my degree and then apply for GTP or go to local uni and do a PGCE. Well that's the plan anyway. Next course is child development in Feb.

yeah, GTPs are very hard to get onto. A little easier to get on one if you want secondary school though. My friend got on hers no problem, and has defered them twice.

I need to look into what I want to do properly, I haven't really looked sriously at the different routes into teaching as I said "no way" until a couple of weeks ago. A good job for tommorrow as a break from ECA!!!

Inclusion sounds interesting too - Hmmmm

I am doing child development at the moment, 02 just sent off. If you guys need any help in Feb give me a shout