Talk to me about Supply

[BookWitch]

I feel I am at a crossroads and don't know which way to go.

I have a very very old PGCE in Secondary MFL. Last taught in a UK state school in 1996. My French is very rusty. My German is better but is not taught much in this area. I am out of date with the GCSE syllabus.

From 1996-2004 I was a registered Childminder and did NVQ3 in Early Years

I have been overseas for the last 15 years, have done CELTA and have been teaching ESL in a small private school since 2014.

I am now back in the UK in a very Welsh area. I need Welsh to teach. My Welsh is OK, and I am currently on a language course to improve.

I have registered for supply, but quite frankly, I am really nervous about it. Behaviour for one thing, I know supply staff will get the shittiest end of the stick and I am used to very well behaved, small classes of eager to learn Asian students.

I am a strategic planner and like to have my week planned out. I can think on my feet, but I'd rather not. I'd rather have my own classes/classroom, but can't see me being employed with my experience.

I've thought about retraining for primary, but workload and my standard of Welsh will be an issue (all Primary schools here are Welsh Medium), and there seems to be no training available to me as I already have a PGCE.

There is very little EAL/ESL work around.

I'm lucky that money is not an issue right now, I can afford training but what to train as?

WWYD if you were me?

[ohreallyohreallyoh]

I am MFL supply - I always seem to be able to work. There are plenty of longer term contracts around and certainly where I live, MFL supply is both in demand and in short supply. MFL is a shortage area so some reading up on the current specifications, a look at past papers, and joint a few Facebook groups would help. Try ‘Secondary MFL Matters’ on Facebook. There are also supply groups.

I enjoy day to day supply and it would certainly ease you back in. You will soon get the hang of behaviour. My best tip is to keep the door open - it has a calming effect on behaviour as they know they are exposed.

I would sign up to some agencies and get in schools and see how it goes.

[BookWitch]

Thanks for your response
I guess I'm just worried about no longer being in my comfort zone, but at the same time wanting to do something different.
Hence the dithering
I'm 48 so probably my last chance to make some sort of career change

[KateTTC123]

Just a brief comment; I think your age is in your favour behaviour-management wise. None of the pupils know you haven't been teaching for long, they will assume you've been doing it your whole career; don't give them any info to counter that and you'll likely get better behaviour for it because they'll assume you're super confident. Fake it till you make it!