Becoming a primary school teacher is a rewarding yet challenging journey. For parents, this path can feel more complex, juggling family life with the demands of teacher training, but many parents also speak of the increased efficiency that can be found when holding both roles. If you want something doing ask a busy person, after all! Here’s how you can make it work.

A photo of a teaching assistant with children

Balancing teacher training and family life requires top-notch time management and organisational skills.

Here are some tips:

1. Plan Ahead: Use a planner or calendar to map out your week. Schedule study time, school placements, and family activities.

2. Set Small Goals: Break your tasks into manageable chunks. Celebrate small wins to stay motivated.

3. Prioritise Self-Care: Don’t forget to look after yourself. Keeping healthy and happy is key to managing both roles effectively.

4. Identify and draw on your personal support network: Whether it’s your own family, friends or other parents, draw on the experience and support of others who want to help.

5. Identify and draw on your professional support network: Find other parent trainees to share tips and experiences. Talk to Early Career Teachers who are parents to find out how they managed the demands on their time through the teacher training year. Ask your mentor how they or other colleagues managed the balance.

A photo of a parent with a member of staff

Practical Tips for Success

 
1. Integrate Study Time: Fit studying into your daily routine and times of the day were you may be able to multi-task, for example, lesson planning while waiting for that swimming lesson to finish!

2. Involve Your Family: You’re doing an exciting thing for yourself but also an inspirational thing for your family. You’re working hard to develop yourself and to overcome challenges which is a great learning opportunity to share with your family. Discuss what you’re studying and involve your children in age-appropriate activities. Where appropriate, they can be a great test audience to practice your lessons on!

3. Stay Organised: Keep your training materials and school work tidy. A dedicated study space at home can help you stay focused.

4. Celebrating Your Achievements: Balancing training and parenting is no small feat. Celebrate your milestones, no matter how small. Recognising your achievements boosts morale and reinforces your commitment to both roles.

5. Put in place reliable and realistic childcare arrangements: You need to be able to focus on one role at a time and a big part of this is reliable childcare. You are entitled to additional funding for this through Student Finance England in the form of a grant payment that does not need to be repaid. Visit https://www.gov.uk/childcare-grant to find out more.

Training to teach as a parent is a unique and rewarding challenge. By leveraging your parenting skills, managing your time well, and building a strong support network, you can thrive. Your experience as a parent enriches your teaching practice, and your dedication to both roles serves as a powerful example to your children and students alike.

Embark on this journey with confidence, knowing that your unique perspective as a parent is a valuable asset in shaping young minds.