Taking a career break is something that many people feel the need to do, whether it’s to start a family, tick off your dream of travelling or to benefit your mental health and well-being.
Teaching is no exception to this and, if anything, it’s more of a necessity in this profession for a long and happy career. There are so many demands that come with working in education, and the job is far from done when the bell rings at the end of the day – does it ever really stop?
So, taking a break seems like the obvious and healthy thing to do when things get too much, right?
However, getting back into the classroom can be somewhat of a challenge, especially when you know what’s awaiting you on your return.
It was announced in the news this week by School Standards Minister, Nick Gibb, that there will be a government trial in the West Midlands and South East to help teachers return to work when they’ve had a career break.
This ties in with the Education Secretary, Damian Hinds’ pledge to strip unnecessary workload from teachers that don’t add to the classroom, and give them time to focus on what matters. The drive at the moment is to ‘help schools attract and keep the best and brightest people working in their classrooms’ (gov.co.uk), something it’s safe to say we’d all like to see.
The Department for Education will work with schools in the West Midlands and South East to test the best ways to approach and support teachers who’ve had a break, helping them to return to work.
We’re uncertain how the government plans to support teachers returning to work, but something we’ve experienced is the benefits of supply teaching in these circumstances. We’ve previously looked into why it’s the perfect choice for new parents and those who want to get back into teaching after retirement, so perhaps, this could be a route for you if you’re looking to make a comeback.
Life is about more than work, so if you feel the need to have a break, for whatever reason, it’s important you feel comfortable in doing so and know that you can return with the support you need, in a way that suits you.
The government's pilot to get teachers back in the classroom begins in May and will include support for continuous development and funding into National Professional Qualifications. Keep a lookout for more or to see if a school near you gets involved.
Have you ever had a career break? We’d love to know how it helped you and what advice you have for getting back into work.
