Zoe - ESP Teacher |
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I am currently in my 8th year of teaching. I have been supply teaching since September.
I did a degree at the University of Plymouth is Early Childhood Studies. Following this I went onto do my PGCE in Plymouth and got my first teaching job in the Taunton area. As an NQT I worked within a year 4/5 class in a deprived area. This quickly taught me a lot about child protection and safeguarding. In my 2nd year at the school I took on the leadership of art and design and languages. I then moved schools to work somewhere bigger, firstly teaching in year 3/4 and leading languages. I remained teaching within the lower juniors for 3 years. I took on the role of PE coordinator at the school and moved to year 2 for the last 2 years. Unfortunately, the school wasn’t in the position to meet my part time requirements so I began looking for alternative employment.
Why did you choose to become a supply teacher?
I choose to become a supply teaching because of the flexibility it offers you which was really important to me as a mum of a young child.
Experience of supply teaching – has it been what you expected or different? How did you find facing new schools and experiences?
At first I wasn’t sure if supply teaching would be for me. I was worried about going to lots of different schools as I wouldn’t be able to form relationships with one class. I was also worried about the attitude of staff and parents towards supply teachers. However, my worries were soon put to ease when I was greeted by friendly, supportive staff and parents at the ESP schools.
Why did you choose to work with Exeter Supply Partnership?
I chose to work with the Exeter Supply Partnership because they seemed different from all the other agencies, offering training opportunities and long term placements as well as flexible working hours.
As a supply teacher what are your go to back up resources if there is no planning available?
Throughout my teaching career I have collected a bank of resources on a memory stick. I always carry this with me just in case planning isn’t provided. I also have a box, which I keep in my car, with things like maths and English games and story books.
What 3 benefits do you think there are to supply teaching/ working with ESP?
-The only work you have to do at home is to check policies/ maps before a job
- Flexible hours to work around you and your family
- Great communication from ESP office staff/ the tempbuddy app makes booking etc. easy/
What tips/ advice would you give to someone thinking about supply teaching or just starting out?
Approach each job with an open mind. It’s such a great opportunity to see how different schools do different things! Some of the ideas I have seen I love, others I don’t think quite work. Supply teaching has helped me to understand which elements of teaching are most important to me and to store up many brilliant ideas that I will use if I choose to have my own class again one day.
I did a degree at the University of Plymouth is Early Childhood Studies. Following this I went onto do my PGCE in Plymouth and got my first teaching job in the Taunton area. As an NQT I worked within a year 4/5 class in a deprived area. This quickly taught me a lot about child protection and safeguarding. In my 2nd year at the school I took on the leadership of art and design and languages. I then moved schools to work somewhere bigger, firstly teaching in year 3/4 and leading languages. I remained teaching within the lower juniors for 3 years. I took on the role of PE coordinator at the school and moved to year 2 for the last 2 years. Unfortunately, the school wasn’t in the position to meet my part time requirements so I began looking for alternative employment.
Why did you choose to become a supply teacher?
I choose to become a supply teaching because of the flexibility it offers you which was really important to me as a mum of a young child.
Experience of supply teaching – has it been what you expected or different? How did you find facing new schools and experiences?
At first I wasn’t sure if supply teaching would be for me. I was worried about going to lots of different schools as I wouldn’t be able to form relationships with one class. I was also worried about the attitude of staff and parents towards supply teachers. However, my worries were soon put to ease when I was greeted by friendly, supportive staff and parents at the ESP schools.
Why did you choose to work with Exeter Supply Partnership?
I chose to work with the Exeter Supply Partnership because they seemed different from all the other agencies, offering training opportunities and long term placements as well as flexible working hours.
As a supply teacher what are your go to back up resources if there is no planning available?
Throughout my teaching career I have collected a bank of resources on a memory stick. I always carry this with me just in case planning isn’t provided. I also have a box, which I keep in my car, with things like maths and English games and story books.
What 3 benefits do you think there are to supply teaching/ working with ESP?
-The only work you have to do at home is to check policies/ maps before a job
- Flexible hours to work around you and your family
- Great communication from ESP office staff/ the tempbuddy app makes booking etc. easy/
What tips/ advice would you give to someone thinking about supply teaching or just starting out?
Approach each job with an open mind. It’s such a great opportunity to see how different schools do different things! Some of the ideas I have seen I love, others I don’t think quite work. Supply teaching has helped me to understand which elements of teaching are most important to me and to store up many brilliant ideas that I will use if I choose to have my own class again one day.
