How to successfully return to teaching after maternity leave
Your year of endless nappies and night-feeds is fast approaching and you’re preparing to return to work from maternity leave. You’ve got this, says Emma Mallett…
- by Emma Mallett
NQT vs NQP (newly qualified parent). Two surprisingly similar initialisms. Both can feel overwhelming, chaotic, sleep-depriving and are certainly coffee fuelled. All things considered, perhaps parenthood is the perfect preparation for returning to teaching after all.
The end is in sight. Your year of seemingly endless nappies, night-feeds and blitzing nutritionally balanced purees is fast approaching. You feel torn.
On one hand, returning to work represents adult conversation (can you remember that?), intellectual stimulation and a setting where you are recognised as a professional first, then a parent.
On the other hand – although let’s face it, it’s more like arm now your once minuscule newborn has grown at such a rapid pace – there’s your baby. The most perfect creature who can literally transform your day with a giggle or a trusting hand gripping yours.
It is inevitable that your new life as a teacher-parent will change your priorities and how you structure your day. It is complicated and challenging but has the potential to be both rewarding and fulfilling. You are now shaping the future for children both in your professional and personal life.
1 | Keep in touch
The first piece of advice is to keep in touch with your school, through formal ‘keeping in touch’ or ‘KIT’ days to informal pop-ins allowing your colleagues to coo over your new baby.
These visits enable you to maintain your connection to work and will ultimately ease your re-entry into the profession. Legally, teachers are allowed to return to the workplace to complete ten KIT days during their maternity leave.
These days are paid in addition to your ever-dwindling maternity pay so are worth making the most of. Arrange to meet with your headteacher or leadership team in advance of your KIT days to ensure these days are purposeful.
Could you arrange to lead a regular intervention slot in the lead up to KS1/2 SATS? Are there any groups of children who would benefit from specific intervention?
Creating a regular routine ensures that your KIT days have purpose and can be planned/resourced in advance thus alleviating any stress or uncertainty you may feel upon returning to work.
2 | Meet in advance
Prior to returning to work, schedule a meeting with your headteacher or SLT to discuss your return. Your employer must offer you the same contract as you were on prior to maternity leave. However, you may feel this isn’t the right for you now.
The decision to return full- or part-time, to relinquish or apply for responsibilities and TLRs are difficult decisions now they have greater impact on your family life.
Returning full-time may be right for you. You are already aware of the amount of work and effort that is required. You would remain fully in charge of your class and could thus plan your timetable to suit you.
For instance, if you need to leave work early on a particular day, marking can be taken home and meetings can be scheduled around this home-life commitment.
As a part-time teacher, you may not be able to take books home with you if they are required the next day by students and likewise, there are fewer days available for after-school meetings with parents or colleagues, so flexibility on these could be limited.
If you decide that working part-time would best fit your new teacher-parent balance, you need to consider the pros and cons of a job share.
Collaboration with colleagues can lead to some of the most innovative and effective teaching practice; however, you are reliant on your partner-teacher to communicate effectively with you.
You would need to be proactive in finding out how your pupils found a particular topic to determine whether there are children who require intervention or post-teaching to embed this new learning.
You will also have to be prepared to share a teaching space and may find your partner-teacher has different ideas about how best to organise a classroom and when to mark those dreaded hot-writes.
Another option could be to discuss with your head teacher/SLT whether you could be responsible for a subject specific set, thus giving you full ownership over the progress of a particular group of pupils.
3 | Get organised
In order to reduce any potential anxiety upon returning to work, you need to be confident in your chosen childcare. Explore any options you can find, be it sweet talking grandparents or friends or choosing the right nursery for your child.
Consider how each of these options could work around after-school commitments, unexpected meetings or a parent’s evening that has overrun.
Have the dreaded ‘chat’ with your partner and determine who is responsible for picking up and dropping off on which days and how you will deal with any potential sickness.
If possible, start this routine early so that your child feels settled and you are confident they are happy in their new schedule before you return to work.
4 | Champion yourself
As each August draws to an end, every teacher begins to be plagued with the return-to-work doubts.
Can you still control a class of 30? What if they don’t listen to you? Can you still remember the answers to that subordinate clause KS2 worksheet? What even is a modal auxiliary?
These doubts rise to the surface of our minds after a six-week break from school, so it is utterly expected to experience a heightened case of ‘imposter syndrome’ when returning to work after a 12-month absence.
You will inevitably find that your doubts are unfounded and that 12 months away from teaching hasn’t somehow rendered your skill-set useless or outdated.
You may find your newfound status as a teacher-parent has increased your levels of empathy and will allow you to relate to your students on another level.
If you do still find yourself lacking in confidence, speak to your colleagues. Is there any training you need to be updated on? Are there new policies in place you should be aware of? Would they be prepared to allow you to unofficially observe their teaching practice?
5 | Be your own person
Don’t compare yourself to others. You must choose what is right for you and your family. Your priorities are going to be split from now on and this doesn’t make you any less of a teacher or a parent.
There will be times when you are asked to work late, cover a club or meet a parent. If the time suggested does not work for your new schedule, be honest but firm.
Have a few stock phrases prepared: “I’m not at school that day,” or, “That won’t work for me.” This will enable you to set boundaries and maintain a work-life balance.
In summation, trust yourself. Returning to work is daunting but you are a trained professional with years of experience under your belt.
Think back to your NQT year; tasks that would have seemed momentous have become second nature. NQP year: you’ve got this. Welcome back.
Emma Mallett is an oracy lead and Y6 teacher.
