Do state primary schools directly employ supply teachers?

[JamieFrasersRealWife]

or do they have to go through local authority approved agencies? I worked in secondary for many years. I resigned when I had my son and have worked as a private tutor for a few years to fit around his primary years. My DH has a full time job. I have been volunteering in my DC primary school and really like it. To the degree that if they were likely to train me up (I can give my time for free at the moment and can fit it around my tutoring) could I then be directly employed as a supply teacher by them on an ad hoc basis?

They could employ you on an ad hoc basis if they knew you. Unclear if you have QTS? If you do, I don’t see a problem.

If you don't have QTS then you'll need to do teacher training and I can't see why the school would fund that.

Yes I have QTS. And quite a few years' experience in a tough city secondary. I have not worked in a secondary school for about ten years.

I have kept up to date with educational policy but only just thought in the last few months about trying primary teaching after volunteering and thinking that this might be the thing for me. I like the atmosphere, the children seem to be responsive, (might just be the school) .
I don't want it to cost the school anything. I know there are some return to teaching schemes but I would not want it to cost the school.

I would just go and have a conversation with the Head. They may prefer to have somebody reliable that they know on call rather than pot luck with an agency.

If you feel confident enough, you don't actually require any additional training.

Yes - chat to the head. The school manages its own budget and makes these decisions. As long as all the safeguarding procedures as regards recruitment are followed than that sounds fine - if the head is interested.

When I did supply I worked both through an agency and direct with a couple of schools. They definitely can do it.

I work in the office at an academy and we do both. Direct supply is much cheaper than using an agency, however it is likely that you will be paid the month after working.

Yes, talk to the HT. What was your secondary subject? Linguists, musicians, PE specialists and artists can be particularly useful in primary to provide breadth of curriculum via PPA cover and you could do some of these sessions to get your hand back in.

I was a French and Spanish teacher in secondary. Also taught a bit of ESOL.

No need for a back to teaching course-you are qualified.

They’ll be glad of the languages!