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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

“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

I don’t feel pressured to go to work when I have other elements to worry about such as Univeristy

Aspire People have really helped me find a number of work placements. My consultant asks for availability every week to ensure that I can work. I like the fact that I don’t feel pressured to go to work when I have other elements to worry about such as Uni. The other good thing is that I get calls and texts occasionally asking how I am and how I am doing with everything. It ensures that I’m happy and not uncomfortable. When I first joined I was given lots of tips and tricks for effective teaching. The good thing is I feel like with the advice my consultant gave me ensured that I could go out and have success with the different schools and lessons I’ve taught.

Brett, Cover Supervisor, Stoke-on-Trent

“The quality of Aspire’s services are second to none.

I have used other agencies before and Aspire have always treated me with professionalism and respect. Alan’s attention to detail is meticulous. I have always found Al professional, approachable, knowledgeable, amenable and diligent in everything he does. Al, on several occasions, has gone out of his way to help and support me and make me feel a valuable part of the Aspire team. Thank you for what you do Al.”

Stella, Leicester Supply Teacher

“Aspire People offer a range of solutions fit for the day ahead at St. Edmunds RC School”

“Aspire People’s supply teachers are reliable and always say they enjoy coming to work at our school. They have a range of solutions from HLTAs through to qualified teachers so I can pick what is most appropriate and cost effective option for the day I have ahead.”

Mrs. DiFranco, Finance & Cover Officer, St. Edmunds RC School

Friendly, efficient, fast and professional

We have used Aspire People for both short and long term supply teacher roles, the quality of the candidates that they have sent to us has been high, and we regularly have candidates return to us for further cover work. The aftercare and general service we receive is always friendly, efficient, fast and professional; timesheets are emailed to me via Aspire People along with all safeguarding information the day a booking is made. In turn invoices are always prompt and give the relevant details that our finance department require to be able to make payments.

Mrs de Laune, Cover CoOrdinator, Lordswood Girls School

“I’m always paid on time and any queries are dealt with efficiently”

The Payroll department at Aspire People is really efficient. I’m always paid on time, any queries I do have are dealt with efficiently and quickly. The staff are friendly
and respond to emails or texts without delay. From my point of view Aspire People is an excellent agency to work for.

Helen, Secondary Teacher

Within one minute of sending my CV, Aspire contacted me for an interview

Aspire have been very influential in my career. After qualifying as a teacher, I was unsuccessful in securing a full-time teaching job. Within one minute of sending my CV, Aspire contacted me for an interview. They have been able to place me in a school on a long-term basis, which has been welcomed with gratitude. I am grateful and thankful to all of the team working for Aspire people, they are a great agency to work for. All members of staff have shown true professionalism and worked hard to ensure that myself and other colleagues who I have met through the agency are always working.

Steve, Secondary Teacher, Warwickshire

“Find an agency that listens to what your school needs, like Aspire People”

Find a recruitment agency that will take the time to meet with you and actually listen to what your school needs. Show them around and let them get a feel for the kinds of pupils within the school. This way your consultant will have a great chance of matching the right candidates to your school. You can build trust up with the agency and in the end save so much time and money. Some years ago, Shenley Academy’s predecessor school had a poor reputation among supply staff. When ever Aspire People send a candidate to us, they love their day, if there is ever any negative feedback I always act upon it. Now they all say they would be happy to come back to Shenley Academy and nothing makes me prouder.

Mrs. Bain, Information Services Manager, Shenley Academy

I rejoined Aspire as a supply teacher after my PGCE, I am still working with them now

After graduating from university with sports science I started working for Aspire as a girls PE supply teacher I found them very helpful and they always managed to get me regular work. The work I got from them helped me to gain enough experience to get on a PGCE course. I rejoined Aspire as a supply teacher after my PGCE as an NQT and am still with them now. They are very friendly and reliable.

Christa, PE Supply Teacher, Warwickshire

Safeguarding documentation is fantastic

I have used Aspire People since 2009, during this time I have found my consultant, to be very professional, honest and accommodating. The quality of safeguarding documentation is fantastic, having photographic evidence already on it gets a very big plus mark from our front office staff! Our business manager also likes the easy and efficient way that payments can be made. Overall I am very impressed with the service provided .

Ann McEvoy, Deputy Head, Bordesley Green Primary 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

One of the best agencies in Birmingham with very good consultants

I would like to say massive thank you for helping me find work while I have been with you. I have really enjoyed meeting new people when going to different schools and have gained many experiences. You always looked for work for me, I was looking for long term work. while I have been with Aspire and my consultant has looked after me very well. If I hear or know of anybody that needs that start in teaching when they have finished their course from university or college I will definitely recommend them directly to Aspire People as they are one of the best agencies in Birmingham and have very good consultants.

Sue, Primary Teacher, Birmingham

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

“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

“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

“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.”