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Supply teaching in London - good agencies? Also what do you do for childcare?

6 replies

reup · 14/01/2015 17:49

Am thinking of doing supply in London. Last did it 12 yrs ago but have done tutoring, school volunteering and worked as a teaching assistant (often covering for teachers).Its primary and last time I worked directly for a borough. Now it is all agencies and the daily rate has barely gone up! Do all agencies cover all areas? Do people sign up for a few? Any tips? I'm in West London.

What do people do for childcare? I use a childminder at the moment but I wonder if I will always get enough work to pay for her (and the dog walker!)

Thanks

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girlsyearapart · 15/01/2015 06:48

The school I work at (sw14) and the one where my kids go (tw10) both use Vibe agency.
You can also approach the schools in your area and get on the lea payroll which works out cheaper for the school & less hassle for you

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MaybeDoctor · 15/01/2015 07:12

I tried supply work on my return from maternity leave (ex-primary SLT) and found it very tricky to get into. No school wanted to employ me directly due to the rules on safeguarding/references. Agencies could not seem to get their head around me as an ex SLT teacher and the fact that I had been a SAHM for one year - I had to supply a reference covering that period and they would not accept one from voluntary work. I very much got the impression that a young NQT or OTT would have been a much more attractive prospect for them. The rates were low and the sums did not stack up with paid childcare. After several months of effort, in the end I only did three days, which I had found myself and persuaded the school to register with the agency where I was on the books. So much for the agency finding me work! I had registered for several, although bear in mind that you have to pay for and process a CRB check each time - although maybe this has changed with DBS? Thankfully, on the second day I got a job offer outside teaching, as I was finding all this hassle soul-destroying and very bad for my self-esteem. This was in north London.

All in all, I hope that you have better luck than I did!

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MaybeDoctor · 15/01/2015 07:20

The other problem nowadays is that you have to hope that none of your HT referees have retired/moved/passed-on as new HT in post will not want to give a reference for you if they do not know you personally - understandable due to safeguarding rules. Oh and references are deemed 'too old' if they are more than three years old. So this obliterated several of my references at a stroke, from schools where I had worked for many years and put in the kind of hard work and effort that comes with primary teaching...

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reup · 15/01/2015 20:18

Thanks! ! I'm OK for references as I'm working as a TA currently but I hate it due to a bullying deputy head and other irritations. I haven't heard of Vibe.

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girlsyearapart · 15/01/2015 21:26

Vibe does sound like a random dating agency doesn't it!
They must be busy thought my head tried to get someone today & they said they were maxed out.
We've had so many teachers via vibe

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reup · 16/01/2015 13:37

I worked with a supply teacher today and he recommended Sanza.

Anyone know if agencies just interview you or is there a demo lesson too?