Ruth - ESP Teacher |
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I came to teaching later in life, having been an insurance broker first, and then a TA for several years before doing my PGCE. I taught in one school in Exeter for 13 years before deciding to try supply teaching – 4 years ago.
I had been a fully qualified insurance broker for a number of years, working part time after having children, then, when a company I was working for closed, I got a job as a teaching assistant, in an infant school, which I loved. After doing some TA training, I was encouraged to apply for a PGCE. I was successful and trained at Rolle, in Exmouth.
My first job was in year 5, which wasn’t where I thought I would work, but I actually really enjoyed the Yr5 syllabus and the children’s developing sense of humour. I worked in years 3 – 6 during my time at the school, Yr 6 covering PPA time, which gave me a little taste how a supply teacher might be received by a class! I was the PHSE co-ordinator, steering the school through to the Healthy Schools Award, and later added RE to my responsibilities. I helped to organise a local Learn, Teach, Lead RE support group under the NATRE umbrella.
Why did you choose to become a supply teacher?
Wanting to visit my son living in Taiwan, where they have no Christmas or Easter holidays was the push that set me off to explore supply teaching. That and wanting to have some time for grandparenting fun closer to home. I would have the freedom to travel at a time of my choosing, to fit in with his holidays and the weather there, and be available flexibly for my grandchildren. It would also allow me to give time as a Governor in a local school, during the day.
I thought I would “try it for a year” and see what I thought! That was 4 years ago, and I’m still happy to be doing supply work.
Experience of supply teaching – has it been what you expected or different? How did you find facing new schools and experiences?
I have been in many different schools, and worked from nursery age through to Year 6. There is so much variety. Schools have their own way of doing things, but children are children everywhere and if you like teaching, then you will find positives everywhere you go. Schools are usually prepared with work for you to teach – unless you are called in with 30 minutes notice for an afternoon session after they have had “that call” and are preoccupied with what the inspectors will want to see the following day!
Although you may not remember everyone’s names, returning to schools is good, because faces in the office and staff room become familiar, and children also recognise you. Having a proper relationship with a class is something I do miss, seeing them across the whole spectrum of their learning and as they develop during a term or year. However, I have also had assignments where I have been in once per week for a term, and so you do get to establish those relationships.
Teaching Assistants in a class or year group you are working with are a great asset when you are doing supply work – get them on side – ask their advice on how to deal with difficult characters and check out the routines with them – particularly important when working in the early years and lower KS1.
Why did you choose to work with Exeter Supply Partnership?
I chose to go with ESP simply because the school I was leaving used them for supply and said that an increasing number of local schools were selecting them rather than any of the other agencies.
As a supply teacher what are your go to back up resources if there is no planning available?
I have a book that I use as a starting point for literacy work, which I read and then the children can create their own version. It allows for storyboard basic version, up to more sophisticated complex writing, so works for all year groups.
For maths, I would always include some choral counting or times tables work, and I find challenges and investigations from the nrich website very useful.
However, it is rare that planning is not provided.
What 3 benefits do you think there are to supply teaching/ working with ESP?
Flexibility – you can choose when to be available and when you want time for yourself!
No hassle having to “sell” yourself to a number of schools to get the work that you need/want – ESP do that for you.
Great friendly team in the office who feel like friends, and are efficient and always helpful if you have a query.
What tips/ advice would you give to someone thinking about supply teaching or just starting out?
When I started, I wondered if I would have enough assignments to meet my requirements. September was a slow month and I worried. No need! The work picked up.
Each person will have their own minimum days of work they would like a month, not everyone wants to be working full weeks and ESP do not put pressure on to be available every day. But I do think you need to be as available as can be, to give yourself the best chance of getting as much work as you think you need. The app that you use to state your availability is very user friendly and you can change availability at short notice.
Give it a go! I am so glad that I did! And I see teachers in schools who got their jobs after working with ESP after qualifying, so if you are just starting out on your teaching career, it’s a great way to get yourself known, as well as building confidence and earning money too!
I had been a fully qualified insurance broker for a number of years, working part time after having children, then, when a company I was working for closed, I got a job as a teaching assistant, in an infant school, which I loved. After doing some TA training, I was encouraged to apply for a PGCE. I was successful and trained at Rolle, in Exmouth.
My first job was in year 5, which wasn’t where I thought I would work, but I actually really enjoyed the Yr5 syllabus and the children’s developing sense of humour. I worked in years 3 – 6 during my time at the school, Yr 6 covering PPA time, which gave me a little taste how a supply teacher might be received by a class! I was the PHSE co-ordinator, steering the school through to the Healthy Schools Award, and later added RE to my responsibilities. I helped to organise a local Learn, Teach, Lead RE support group under the NATRE umbrella.
Why did you choose to become a supply teacher?
Wanting to visit my son living in Taiwan, where they have no Christmas or Easter holidays was the push that set me off to explore supply teaching. That and wanting to have some time for grandparenting fun closer to home. I would have the freedom to travel at a time of my choosing, to fit in with his holidays and the weather there, and be available flexibly for my grandchildren. It would also allow me to give time as a Governor in a local school, during the day.
I thought I would “try it for a year” and see what I thought! That was 4 years ago, and I’m still happy to be doing supply work.
Experience of supply teaching – has it been what you expected or different? How did you find facing new schools and experiences?
I have been in many different schools, and worked from nursery age through to Year 6. There is so much variety. Schools have their own way of doing things, but children are children everywhere and if you like teaching, then you will find positives everywhere you go. Schools are usually prepared with work for you to teach – unless you are called in with 30 minutes notice for an afternoon session after they have had “that call” and are preoccupied with what the inspectors will want to see the following day!
Although you may not remember everyone’s names, returning to schools is good, because faces in the office and staff room become familiar, and children also recognise you. Having a proper relationship with a class is something I do miss, seeing them across the whole spectrum of their learning and as they develop during a term or year. However, I have also had assignments where I have been in once per week for a term, and so you do get to establish those relationships.
Teaching Assistants in a class or year group you are working with are a great asset when you are doing supply work – get them on side – ask their advice on how to deal with difficult characters and check out the routines with them – particularly important when working in the early years and lower KS1.
Why did you choose to work with Exeter Supply Partnership?
I chose to go with ESP simply because the school I was leaving used them for supply and said that an increasing number of local schools were selecting them rather than any of the other agencies.
As a supply teacher what are your go to back up resources if there is no planning available?
I have a book that I use as a starting point for literacy work, which I read and then the children can create their own version. It allows for storyboard basic version, up to more sophisticated complex writing, so works for all year groups.
For maths, I would always include some choral counting or times tables work, and I find challenges and investigations from the nrich website very useful.
However, it is rare that planning is not provided.
What 3 benefits do you think there are to supply teaching/ working with ESP?
Flexibility – you can choose when to be available and when you want time for yourself!
No hassle having to “sell” yourself to a number of schools to get the work that you need/want – ESP do that for you.
Great friendly team in the office who feel like friends, and are efficient and always helpful if you have a query.
What tips/ advice would you give to someone thinking about supply teaching or just starting out?
When I started, I wondered if I would have enough assignments to meet my requirements. September was a slow month and I worried. No need! The work picked up.
Each person will have their own minimum days of work they would like a month, not everyone wants to be working full weeks and ESP do not put pressure on to be available every day. But I do think you need to be as available as can be, to give yourself the best chance of getting as much work as you think you need. The app that you use to state your availability is very user friendly and you can change availability at short notice.
Give it a go! I am so glad that I did! And I see teachers in schools who got their jobs after working with ESP after qualifying, so if you are just starting out on your teaching career, it’s a great way to get yourself known, as well as building confidence and earning money too!
