Could the perception of the “family-friendly” nature of teaching entice more trainees into the profession?
(Guest Blog)
12th September 2025
Emma Sheppard
Founder, The MTPT Project
Balancing teacher training with family life is a challenge many new entrants face. In this guest blog, Emma Sheppard, Founder of The MTPT Project explores whether the perception of teaching as a “family-friendly” profession could attract more trainees – and how schools, providers and mentors can better support parents on their training journey.
The perception of teaching as family-friendly
It may seem barmy to many seasoned teachers, but the perception of teaching as a family-friendly career choice persists in the general population.
After all, as teachers, we benefit from 13 weeks of holiday every year where we can not only be at home to look after our own children, but in doing so, save thousands on the holiday activities upon which working parents in other industries rely.
What teaching offers parents
For trainees who are already parents, teaching offers a purposeful career, full of fun and variety that results in a sense of self-worth and professional identity. What’s more, despite valid qualms about below-inflation pay rises, teaching comes with a stable (recession and pandemic-proof) income and the promise of ongoing professional development and personal growth.
For parents, teaching can be appealing because it uses skills they’ve already acquired with their own children:
- nurturing curiosity
- general caregiving
- safeguarding awareness
- creating structures of discipline and regulation
- having first-hand insight into the different phases of child and adolescent development.
Training to teach also gives parents the chance to contribute to a system in which they are already invested, with education and healthcare being two of the most essential public services for families.
Are we supporting parent-trainees enough?
Taking all this into consideration, is it therefore any wonder that around half of our trainees every year are aged 25 or above, with 37% of new entrants in 2023-24 aged between 25-39[1] – the typical age to consider or start a family, or to be balancing work with parenting young or teenage children.
How well, then, are we maximising on this potential recruitment market, and supporting parents when they do begin their training journey?
Part-time and salaried training routes
Part-time routes into teaching can make a big difference to new colleagues balancing a career change with the logistics of family life. According to the DfE’s Get into Teaching website, such routes make up between 10% (Maths) and 15% (Primary) of training courses, and so remain an option offered by the minority of ITT providers.[2]
Salaried routes also help potential trainees who already have mortgages, childcare fees and the latest gadgets or new wardrobes for growing children to pay for. While there is recognition from government that these salaried training options play an important part in recruitment, just 15% of new trainees followed a salaried route into teaching in 2024-25.
Mentors and parental support
At school level, what then can we do to support colleagues entering the profession as parents?
Supportive and flexible school cultures, with staff and leaders that understand the demands of family life make the ITT and ECT journey far easier for parents.
Where possible, consideration should also be given to the choice of mentor assigned to parent-trainees. Mentoring is an excellent development opportunity for teachers at the start of their own professional path, and many younger mentors are of great value to trainees who are a decade or two (or even three!) older than them.
But are these colleagues trained to understand, and meet the needs of a trainee who is also a parent, and therefore has other commitments in their life that need attention?
Do they know what to do if their mentee announces that they are expecting a baby, preparing for adoption, or undergoing fertility treatment whilst also completing their ITT or ECT years?
Do they know the options available to trainees who pause their qualification to go on an extended period of maternity, adoption or shared parental leave?
Mosaic’s partnership with The MTPT Project ensures that such training and support is available through three on-demand webinars and ongoing events throughout the year. Find out more about our offer on Eventbrite, or get in touch with The MTPT Project to learn more.
Further Support
The MTPT Project is running two on-demand workshops to support trainees who are parents: Teaching and Parenting: Realistic Expectations and Teaching and Parenting: Managing Change. Both are available to watch until 31st October 2025, with follow-on optional 1:1 coaching sessions for personalised support.
References
[1] Department for Education. (2024, December 5). Initial Teacher Training Census, Academic year 2024/25. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/initial-teacher-training-census/2024-25
[2] GOV.UK. (n.d.). Find teacher training courses. https://find-teacher-training-courses.service.gov.uk