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Supply, planning and sickness

8 replies

Iamboudicca · 01/10/2019 06:41

I’m a long term supply 3 days a week. I work in a non standard environment and teach a very wide range, both age and ability. The planning is a bit of a nightmare to be honest and normally takes at least one of my free days. I have reduced contact on the days I work in order to do more planning.

This week I have a nasty virus and am not sure I will be able to go in. I have a feeling they will expect me to send in planning. I also expect I won’t get paid.

How can I approach this?

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donquixotedelamancha · 01/10/2019 07:04

Are you on contract, so you are being paid sick pay?

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spoonyJoe · 01/10/2019 07:08

Whenever I have a long term placement, I have had the same amount of PPA as a regular teacher would. And I don’t have to do extra jobs like assembly, displays, meetings.

If you aren’t going to be paid when you are ill, which is what I’d expect as a supply teacher, then I’d say something like ‘the other supply teacher will have to do the planning’. If you are going to be paid then I’d do the planning as you are being treated like a member of staff really.

If you work for an agency I’d let them handle it. Really, this is an opportunity for you to remind them that you are not being paid for all of the planning.

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Iamboudicca · 01/10/2019 07:08

No I’m currently on a daily rate... I was on a short term contract which ended.

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spoonyJoe · 01/10/2019 07:16

All of that is madness! Whenever I have a long term placement, I have had the same amount of PPA as a regular teacher would. And I don’t have to do extra jobs like assembly, displays, meetings.

If you aren’t going to be paid when you are ill, which is what I’d expect as a supply teacher, then I’d say something like ‘the other supply teacher will have to do the planning’. If you are going to be paid then I’d do the planning as you are being treated like a member of staff really.

If you work for an agency I’d let them handle it. Really, this is an opportunity for you to remind them that you are not being paid for all of the planning.

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likeafishneedsabike · 01/10/2019 22:01

I remember being asked to set cover work while I was being paid by the hour (no show, no dough if I was unwell). I laughed and reminded them that I was a casual worker.
In another hourly paid job I did get caught out, though. I missed a day (and a day’s pay) to go to a wedding but an assessment was done while I was away. I had to mark it, and because marking was included in the hourly rate I ended up doing a shit load of marking for free.
Hourly paid teaching is very thorny.

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donquixotedelamancha · 01/10/2019 22:10

No I’m currently on a daily rate

You would be mad to set cover. You would not be paid (as PPs have said). I can't imagine many schools asking.

You should only be planning if you have sufficient PPA and support to do so. Is it really worth an extra unpaid day to keep this job? Have you tried discussing the issues?

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saraclara · 02/10/2019 20:42

I have reduced contact on the days I work in order to do more planning.
Presumably that's your PPA then?

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Iamboudicca · 02/10/2019 20:59

Thanks, I do get some PPA but it is nothing like enough. However this is a very niche environment and (I think) I want to perseverve with it. I am hoping for a long term role in the future - just waiting for a vacancy. That being said if they want me to continue after half term - my current end date ( although I have been extended 3 times now!) I will be pressing for a proper contract.