Background knowledge

It is extremely important to ensure that you prepare thoroughly for the job you are applying for and that you spend time looking at a wide variety of schools. You may have in your mind the type of school you would like to work in i.e.  this may be a large school or a small rural school, but try not to narrow your search and be open minded about the schools you visit.

Make sure that you have a good look around the school website which will tell you about the curriculum the school follows, the policies school has and will give you an initial sense of what the school is like.

If you get the chance it is also really helpful to go and visit the school and take the opportunity to meet the headteacher, the senior leadership team, teachers and pupils. Take time to look around the classrooms, look at the displays on the walls and look in the pupil’s books. Ask questions of the senior leadership team which will help when the school receive your application form and remind them of the great conversation and discussion they had with you.

Working on supply is a great way to ‘try before you buy’ and allows you to spend time working in a variety of schools to find out what works best for you. Link here to find out more about working on supply in primary schools -
https://www.exetersupplypartnership.com/

Taking the step to begin supply teaching can be daunting, whether you are stepping away from the security of a familiar teaching position or starting out as an ECT straight from your training.

But it can also be exciting and it is important to be prepared for this new journey.
 
Finding the right supply agency for you
It is key to find an agency that is the right fit for you, as there are a variety of agencies out there providing services for schools. Things to consider would be:

• Ethos and values – find an organisation that aligns with your approach.
• Location – look for an agency with schools in your local area.
• Feedback from other teachers and schools – contact your local schools to see who they recommend and use for their supply cover, speak to teachers about their experiences.
• Size of the organisation – do you want to work with a big agency or a smaller one with a more personal feel?
• Processes – what process does the agency use for recruitment e.g. will this be an online meeting or in person, how do they manage teacher availability and bookings.
• Contract arrangements – will there be any barriers to finding permanent work in the future due to the agency charging schools a finder’s fee, are you required to work a certain number of days, are you paid via an umbrella company.
• Additional benefits – access to professional development, career progression, a variety of opportunities, flexible travel, year group and contact time preferences, support from the office team.

 
Preparing for your bookings
When working on supply being prepared is key. Where you have bookings confirmed in advance you will have time to prepare, to ensure you are ready to work and do your best for the pupils and school that day.

Working as a supply teacher means that you are walking into a new situation every day and don’t know what your day is going to look like or what you will be teaching.
In most cases planning will be provided by the school, however it is always useful to have some back up ideas ready in case a lesson needs adapting, the planning isn’t detailed enough, an extension activity or time filler if needed.

Useful websites
There are lots of websites available for teachers with lesson ideas and resources, here are a few that our teachers recommend.

BBC – Teach
Twinkl
Planbee
Hamilton Trust
Premier League Primary Stars
Oxford Owl
The World of David Walliams
National Numeracy
White Rose Maths
NRICH Maths
STEM Learning Maths resources
Natural History Museum
Code Club
National Geographic
The PE Umbrella
BBC Super Movers

And there are lots more!

Continuing professional development is important in all industries, but for teachers it’s especially vital to ensure effectiveness in the classroom.

Not only that, it can increase teacher motivation and confidence and stand you in good stead when moving between schools – something supply teachers know all too well.

CPD for teachers helps keep you up to date with your chosen specialism, if you have one, as well as stay abreast of the latest approaches to teaching.

It’s easy to get swallowed up in the day-to-day busyness that being a teacher inevitably attracts; however, investing in CPD can put you head and shoulders above the rest, as well as making sure you offer the best possible teaching environment for the students in your classroom.

What is CPD and why should you do it?

So, what exactly is CPD training for teachers?

Put simply, continuing professional development is the practice of engaging in activities which develop your professional skills in a given industry.

It encourages teachers to take an active role in their career, enabling them to keep their qualifications up to date and even train in new areas.

It is of huge benefit to supply teachers because not only does it strengthen your professional credibility, it can also boost your confidence levels and allow you to be more creative in the classroom.

An additional benefit, and one great reason why schools and supply teaching agencies promote CPD, is it underpins high teaching standards and ensures everyone in a school is working towards the same goal.
Finally, CPD ensures teachers are compliant and up to date with the Department for Education and Ofsted’s requirements, which are continually evolving and changing.