A FORMER teacher is one step closer to doing what she loves thanks to a programme helping staff get back into schools.

Following an Essex County Council campaign, 40 ex-teachers started a Return to Teaching programme in March.

Now the programme has finished, six people have been successful in securing teaching posts.

Marie Noble, who lives near Colchester, is hoping to find a part-time primary school post and has applied for a few jobs.

The 36-year-old, of Main Road in Wormingford, left teaching at Maldon Primary School about six and a half years ago to bring up her children with her husband Thomas.

Now Isabella, nine, Benjamin, six, and Stanley, three, are older, she is looking to start work in a school again.

She said: "I came from a large family and I always knew I wanted to work with children, I applied for a university course after six months of travelling with my husband, who was my partner at the time.

"I was really lucky to finish my degree and get taken on in June, I was at the school for about seven years."

She left the school to have her first child and after she was born she went back to work part-time. However after having more children she dedicated her time to looking after them.

She is now determined to go back to doing what she loves.

She said: "I wanted to make plans to go back in time for when Stanley starts school. I knew I always wanted to return, I just needed the confidence as the curriculum has changed a lot.

"I love watching children grow and develop skills, it's such a rewarding job."

The county council launched its Return to Teaching programme after recognising how daunting the decision to return to the classroom can be.

The programme helped participants get up-to-date with the curriculum and supported them with job applications. It was funded by a strategic group set up to explore new teacher recruitment.

Ray Gooding, county councillor responsible for education, said: “A strong supply of good quality teachers is vital in ensuring children in Essex continue to receive the best possible education, particularly as pupil numbers continue to grow.We work closely with the county’s schools to help them with the ongoing challenge of recruitment and are delighted we have been able to give former teachers the confidence and knowledge to return to the profession."