Each year thousands of former teachers return to the profession and you could be one of them. Find out more about the expert advice, support, and resources to help you return below.

Positive changes in the classroom

Whilst you’ve been away from the classroom, the Department for Education has been working with schools to improve the work-life balance of teachers.

The Department for Education has a well-established programme of work (This link opens in a new window)to reduce teacher workload. For example, they've published the workload reduction toolkit (This link opens in a new window)which provides school leaders, governors and teachers with practical solutions to bear down on workload and create positive and supportive cultures in their schools. They've also published the results of successful projects (This link opens in a new window) in schools using the toolkit.

The Department for Education has also been encouraging schools to offer more flexible working opportunities to their staff. You can access their case studies, research and information on the benefits of flexible working here (This link opens in a new window). Further support, including updated guidance, is due for publication in Autumn 2020.

One-to-one support for certain subjects:

If you're considering returning to teach maths, physics or modern languages, the Department for Education can offer you one-to-one support from the Return to Teaching Adviser support service.

A Return to Teaching Adviser, can:

• help you gain classroom experience;
• signpost you to relevant returners’ events;
• help you to update your subject and pedagogical knowledge by accessing a Teacher Subject Specialist Training course;
• help you prepare applications for teaching posts, including preparing for interviews; and
• provide information on vacancies in your local area.

Other useful links and contact information to help you return:

• The Return to Teaching webpage (This link opens in a new window) has further information and resources for returners

• Find for your next potential job on Teaching Vacancies (This link opens in a new window). Sign up for job alerts to make sure you don’t miss any opportunities that meet your search criteria

• Access frequently run online events for returners listed here (This link opens in a new window)
• Read about other former teachers’ experiences (This link opens in a new window)of returning to the classroom
• Contact the Get into Teaching helpline on 0800 389 2500 if you would like to speak to an adviser.

Re-enrolling in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme:

If you do decide to return to teaching, you’ll also be re enrolled into the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (as long as your employer is eligible) so you’ll start to build benefits in your pension again.