Ask the Expert: Changing career direction

I have been working as a teacher for several years and really fancy a change, but still in the children’s sector. I don’t know where to start.

Why not start by volunteering with a service completely different to teaching, such as social care, youth work or an early years setting – all of those sectors would value your skills and experience.

What do you enjoy doing most? Face-to-face work with children and families, group work, advice work or are you more of a policy and strategy person? You need to look at your strengths, experience and transferable skills, then look at what options may be available to you. See what training options are available via your local workforce development department, or your local voluntary sector training providers – the range of learning opportunities are often as wide as the diversity of options in working with children and young people, and also often free.