A Survival Guide to Supply Teaching
Survival Guide to Supply Teaching
So, you’ve decided to be a supply teacher, or you are thinking about it; whether this is for a better work/life balance, to top up your earnings, find the perfect school and position or to get more experience in different schools; a career as a Supply Teacher can be very rewarding. Working as a Supply Teacher myself, I have developed a ‘Survival/Beginners guide’ to help you get the most out of supply teaching, and to be a successful supply teacher.
Firstly, you need to register with an agency…
How do you choose the perfect agency?
1. Ask the schools/teachers that you work with or have worked with in the past; whether you worked, volunteered or trained at the school; ask them which agency they use, and ask for recommendations based on this.
2. Use search engines; Google will normally find the ones best located to you; if not make sure you enter your location – you don’t want to be registering with agencies that are not well-known/established in the area.
3. Research the agency; speak to the consultant that you would be dealing with – do they understand you? What teaching opportunities could they offer you? Do they think they would be able to help you? An honest and open conversation will allow you to set your limitations, your wants and needs from supply teaching and it is up to your consultant to be open and let you know if they feel they can help you.
You don’t necessarily have to work with lots of agencies, many of our teachers have expressed that they have registered with many agencies; and this has not found them more work, it has just meant more time updating all the agencies on a weekly basis, and more time spent trying to get their consultant to understand them. I registered with two agencies when I started supply teaching, and both were very different, it happened that one found me lots of work and the other offered me unsuitable work. I found that by speaking to the consultants prior to registering, really allowed me to gage if that agency would work for me.
You will need to go in and register with an agency; they will tell you what you need to bring to the appointment, who you will be meeting with and it is very important that you bring as much as you can with you to this appointment, as if you do not then this will delay you in getting registered. It may also be a good idea to give your reference details prior to the appointment, as these can hold up your registration processes with agencies. Being organised and working with the agency will speed up this process.
Your First Day on Supply
So, after you have fully registered with an agency; and all of your vetting checks have been completed, you will start receiving work! The more flexible you are with location, age groups, subjects and type of schools – the more work you will get – and don’t be scared to try something new, this is a great opportunity to do so! Some work may be pre booked; other work may be a last minute, early morning call.
From experiencing supply myself and speaking to my teachers, I feel the most important tips are;
- Plan your route and arrive early; plan your journey – check your route. With morning bookings this can be challenging; but plan as best you can! Use your sat nav, ask about parking – your consultant will be able to give you this information
- Dress Smart and Comfortable – make sure you look smart and professional when entering the school, but also think about the job you will be doing that day; for example, if you are working in a Reception Class or nursery; there is going to be bending down involved; wear something comfortable and suitable
- Always take your DBS and ID; although the agency will send your vetting details to the school, it is always important to take your original DBS and ID so that the school can verify your identity
- Prepare a ‘Supply Bag’ – it is a good idea to prepare a bag of helpful props! I used to take some activities; just in case the planning was not available, these were simple lesson plans that I could differentiate easily with different years, and different age groups. I also used to take pens, notepad, sticky labels (to remember names) and board pens.
- Be personable, positive and flexible – making first impressions with the schools you supply at is very important, if you show you have a positive, approachable personality and can be flexible, this will allow you to create a good impression on those schools!
- Use your Teaching Assistant – if you are lucky enough to have a TA in the classroom with you; they will normally know the class very well; and be able to tell you names, structure of lessons, behaviour policies, learning groups etc – use this knowledge to help you.
- Fit in with the schools needs– ensure that if there are plans left, it is important to follow these. The teacher will be expecting you to do this to the best of your ability, and if these plans are not followed it could effect the short, medium and long term plans for the class. If unsure, just ask! Also, familiarise yourself with the behaviour policies at the school, as you start going to the same schools, you will be able to remember these – make sure you know what to do if there is a student disrupting the lesson, how many children are allowed to go to the toilet together if any etc. Remember your Teaching Assistant is your best friend when completing supply
- Go that extra mile – volunteer for break duties, assemblies or anything that you feel you could help with – this is going to help build a professional and loyal relationship with the school
- Don’t rush off when the bell rings! – ensure that the work you do with the students is marked, if it needs to be. Also, make sure the classroom is left tidy, so that the teacher next day doesn’t have to do this. Imagine if it was your class – how would you like it to be left? I always made sure that I left a note for the teacher at the end of the day – a summary of the day; and anything they need to be aware of. Also, make sure you say Goodbye to the person at the school that organises the supply – whether this is the Business Manager or Headteacher.
All of these tips will help you make a good impression with the school, and create a loyal and professional relationship with the staff and students. This will mean the school will ask for you back, and recommend you to other schools too! If you are looking for long-term work, this is a good way to network with schools; which could lead to a longer term or permanent position. Even if it is supply work that you are looking for, the better impression you make the more work you are going to get!
Good Luck with your supply teaching – and remember to enjoy it! You will develop your own style in managing new classes, behaviour management, socialising with other staff and it is important that you use these opportunities wisely! If you are looking to register with an agency, and would like a chat with a consultant in your area; get in touch 01392 267 229.