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Supply Teaching

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Supply Teaching

Supply Teachers play a crucial role in every school, covering for teachers who are ill, absent or on training courses. Whilst the role of a supply teacher is hard work it can be a very rewarding and satisfying teaching job. Many teachers are leaving permanent jobs to do supply teaching as a flexible alterntive. On top of this, teachers with extra responsibilities in schools are finding that supply teaching gives them a chance to concentrate on what they love - teaching!

Make sure you take care over the education recruitment agency you choose to work with. They must be credible, have enough teaching jobs to keep you busy and should offer teacher training so you can continually develop your skills.

Supply Teaching Benefits

Concentrate on what matters, the teaching

Being a supply teacher enables you to actually enjoy teaching without having to do the excessive burden of paperwork and administration involved with the profession. Your workload and responsibilities are reduced so you get more flexible hours and you can concentrate on what matters, planning and preparing lessons effectively and teaching the pupils with as much passion as possible.

Giving teachers a breather

Switching to supply teaching can also be a great way to avoid burn out and give you the opportunity to decide if teaching is still the career for you. If you later decide to return to a permanent contract you’ll have teaching experience from a wide range of schools, this is attractive to prospective schools and colleges. Some teachers that are looking to retire use supply teaching as a way to slow down with the benefit of work-life balance and part-time flexible hours.

Teaching Continuity

All schools get staff shortages and the number of pupils that need teaching are rising. There will always be a requirement for supply teachers. Whether you are looking for day to day supply teaching or want a longer term contract before taking on a permanent work there is plenty of teaching opportunities available for you.

Supply Teaching Difficulties

Schools that have pupils with challenging and energetic behaviour tend to use more supply teachers, so naturally you will need to have the skills to teach in a challenging and sometimes stressful school environment. These skills will develop over time for less experienced teachers and your consultant will work with you to ensure that you are placed in to schools that suit your teaching style and skills.

There are some key issues that supply teachers encounter when teaching in a new school for the first time:

A lack of knowledge of the school’s behaviour policy, making it difficult to discipline pupils
Limited information on pupils that you will be teaching
Unable to follow up any work that you have set
Some teachers struggle to pick up on ‘staffroom politics’ and the ‘way things are done’

Tips on working with supply teaching agencies

It is really important that supply teachers work for a supply teaching agency that offers teacher training so that you can overcome any difficulties that you have. When working as a supply teacher the benefits clearly way out the negatives. Once you know what difficulties can arise you can over come them with the help and support from your consultant.

The most important thing to do is communicate with people. Find out what the behaviour policies are, the more information about the pupils you will be teaching with the better. Also become friendly with some permanent staff who can show you the ropes around the school. Its all about being personable so that you can get the support you need.

For more information see our section on supply teaching tips
If you are an unqualified teacher and want more information on how to get in to teaching or what is a Cover Supervisor don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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posted by Aspire People

Mon 25 July 2011

TESTIMONIALS

If it wasn’t for Aspire I don’t think I’d be completing my NQT induction

I am now completing my NQT year with a school I was introduced to through Aspire. Mark offered me to do a placement at the school, and this led to the school offering me a position. Had it not have been for Aspire, I don’t think I’d be completing my NQT year this year. I’d definitely recommend Aspire to other NQTs looking for permanent work.

Yasmin, Primary NQT, Birmingham

Sensitive, caring, friendly and extremely professional

This experience that I have had with Aspire People has really given me an insight into another side of employment that I have never had before. You are really sensitive, caring, friendly as well as extremely professional - this is unlike some agencies that I spoke to or have been told about by other teachers.

Ralph, Head of Drama, Birmingham Secondary School

“A consistently friendly service from Aspire People and our Consultant”

Aspire People offer a very efficient and friendly service. All their consultants are highly professional and the company is able to consistently deliver high quality supply staff

Mrs Hanks, Newhall Primary School

“A faster, more friendly agency”

I registered with Aspire People on 27th September and within 7 working days my vetting checks had been completed and I was placed in to a school.
The application process was informative yet friendly and relaxed. Other agencies I registered with were not as friendly and made me feel nervous and unwelcome. I get on really well with my consultant, Kelly. Overall Aspire People is friendly, helpful and professional.

Valarie

“Aspire People’s Work Experience programme taught our pupils about the working world”

Aspire People organised a Work Experience programme for Plantsbrook School. This was a major commitment by Aspire People and the students found the experience very beneficial. It gave them the opportunity to understand commitments of a working environment and develop skills in communication and organisation. We look forward to working with them again.

Mrs. S Westwood, Business Manager, Plantsbrook School

“I have been looked after from the minute I registered”

In addition to providing a high level of professionalism, Aspire People offer a friendly, pleasant and efficient environment for supply teachers, office and technical support staff. They provide work on a regular basis and strive to place employees in recurring positions where possible. My consultant has always listened to my needs and fine tuned the assignments I do

Martyne

“A friendly and reassuring communication motivates me to do my best”

Adam Cox has been my consultant at since September 2013. His friendly and reassuring communication keeps me inspired and motivated to do my best at my assignments. I get regular assignments almost every week and I cannot recommend him enough for his efficiency and skill as a consultant. His professional and courteous interaction and commitment towards me and other cover supervisors in Nottingham is evident. I find him extremely professional, efficient and consistent in his role and it’s a privilege to work for Aspire People.

Mrs. Mayer, Nottingham Cover Supervisor

Emily, always happy on the phone, helping with any queries, nothing ever feels like too much trouble

During my time working for Aspire I have found them to be a very friendly and reliable. My consultant Emily does her best to make sure that I have a steady flow of work. Her attention to detail is excellent and the information she provides enables me know exactly where i’m going and what I am going to do. Emily communicates in a very professional manner whilst also allowing for a more relaxed, personal touch. Always happy on the phone, helping with any queries, nothing ever feels like its too much trouble for her. I have no issues, she is a pleasure to work with.

Adam, Cover Supervisor, Cannock

“I really enjoyed the training, a very interesting and engaging module”

The Behaviour Managment Course was a very interesting and engaging module. I liked the honesty given from the trainer and it was great to be given example planning sheets. Thank you Aspire People”

Marvin, Primary NQT, Birmingham

Trusted because of an honest and open approach

Wheelers Lane Technology College have used the services of Aspire People for the last five years. The quality of staff supplied by Aspire are excellent and they adapt well to our school environment.
One of Aspires’ many qualities is the excellent relationship developed between their consultant and the school. Aspire are agency that are trusted because of their honest and open approach to their customers. Aspire will continue to be the agency that this college will contact in the first instance in respect of daily cover needs.

Mrs Brettell, Cover Coordinator, Wheelers Lane Technology College

“If you’re looking for an honest, efficient & quality provider of staff look no further than Aspire”

“Holyhead had previously not used agencies. As a last resort I approached Aspire People about a DT technician. It was the best decision I could have made. We have been so impressed by their quality and efficiency we now contact Aspire People first regarding vacancies. If the candidate is suitable we keep them on a 10 week temporary basis then employ them ourselves with no extra cost! If you are looking for an honest, efficient and quality provider of staff then look no further than Aspire People.”

Marie Shiels, Business Manager, Holyhead Business & Enterprise Academy

Aspire understands our needs and so we invariably employ their candidate

Aspire People have always been able to respond to requests with quality staff. Although we use a range of agencies when trying to fill long term we invariably employ the candidate recommended by Aspire People. This is because we have built up a relationship whereby our requirements are known and understood by them. As an Outstanding school at the forefront of educational provision it is essential that every lesson is delivered to the highest standards. The relationship we have with Aspire People is that we can candidly make our requirements known and they are able to choose a candidate that they are confident will meet our needs.

Mr. Wilson, Deputy Head Teacher, Bishop Challoner RC School

Holyhead have used Aspire People’s services since 2011, I have no hesitation in recommending them”

Holyhead had previously not used agencies, as a last resort I approached Aspire People when looking for a DT Technician. Kelly ensured the candidate met all of our needs (of which there were many) and had undergone the safeguarding checks. We have been so impressed by the quality and efficiency of service provided by Aspire People that we now contact them in the first instance regarding any vacancy. If the candidate proves to be suitable then we employ them ourselves. If you are looking for an honest, efficient, quality provider of education staff, look no further than Aspire People.

Marie Shiels, Business Manager, Holyhead Secondary School

I was very wary and nervous at the start, but my first day of work was great!

I worked with Aspire a few months, after graduating as a teacher. I found it difficult securing a full time position and supply was recommended to me. Like everyone who goes in for supply I was very wary and nervous at the start, but my first day of work was great!

Shahida, Primary NQT, Birmingham

“Aspire People don’t harass me like other agencies”

Aspire People take a personal approach, the staff have managed to achieve that fine balance of being readily available to be contacted but not being constantly harassing every morning.

Mr. Kay, Cover Co-Ordinator, Finham Park School

“If only all agencies valued candidates the way Aspire People do”

Even though I came from an industry background my consultant genuinely valued the experience I could bring to a school. She really went that extra mile to find me work by organising training on school IT systems. On top of that she secured me voluntary work to support my Diploma in School Business Management Studies.