Advice needed…should I quit before my new role starts?
I’d really appreciate some advice from other teachers, especially single parents/teachers with young children.
I’m due to return to teaching in September after a few years out and have accepted a part-time primary role (2 days a week). I was really looking forward to returning, but my circumstances have suddenly changed and I’m questioning whether I should still go ahead.
I came out of a bad relationship and have been living in temporary accommodation with my two young children. Honestly, I expected us to be here for years, so I arranged everything around our current area — my 4-year-old is due to start Reception in September, my 18-month-old has a nursery place, and my new job is nearby.
I've now unexpectedly been offered permanent council housing in a completely different area. I'm incredibly grateful, but it means everything needs changing at the last minute — Reception place, nursery, childcare/breakfast club and travel to work. I also won't have a car because it’s a new build development and I won’t be able to park anywhere in the area. This means getting two children dropped off to different places and being at school myself for around 8am is worrying me.
To make it harder, I'm still waiting for the keys. I've been told it could be the end of August, but as it's a new build it could also be delayed, so I'm basically in limbo.
Part of me thinks it's only 2 days a week and I should try to make it work. Another part thinks moving, settling two young children, changing their school/nursery AND returning to teaching at the same time might just be too much.
I feel awful about potentially letting my new school down so close to September, but I'm also worried it would be worse to start and then realise the logistics aren't manageable.
What would you do — try to make the 2 days work, or withdraw now, get settled and return to teaching later? Is it worth being honest with the headteacher and seeing if I could start after half term?