Is it lazy for supply teachers not to work in the school holidays?

[strwmofthebnak]

If someone is in their early 20's, graduated from uni last year as a qualified primary school teacher, moved back home with parents and is currently looking for a contracted teaching job. So applying and going to interviews but has so far been unsuccessful in securing a job. Therefore since they qualified they have been working for an agency doing supply work. This means they have 12 weeks a year they do not get paid in. Would you expect them to find alternative employment in the school holidays as it's not on to have 3 months of year not working and not being paid?

If they've been working full time supply then I expect they need to have a break over the Easter holidays.

All employees in the UK are legally entitled to holiday pay.

That should say playscheme - keeps autocorrecting.

No, but I would want them to sign up with a teaching job agency and to keep applying for teaching jobs.

All employees are legally entitled to holiday pay. That includes supply/agency/casual workers. There will be a proportion of money added to their daily or hourly rate for holiday pay.

Not ‘lazy’ - that is harsh.

If the person can manage financially, then their choice. This is an adult.

I wonder if this is the OP’s partner and they are feeling this person isn't paying their way, or possibly pulling their weight at home.

They may however pick up a second job, zero hours contract. Large venues are good for this for concerts and match days, of course dependent on where this person lives.
Cruise ships are another option ( though VERY long hours) picking up childcare staff for the school holidays.

No. When I lived on my own and live was cheaper I used to save up so I had enough to live on over the summer holidays and the first few weeks of the new term when it's really quiet. Now we claim universal credit.

Applying for teaching positions is a job in itself; the application forms and interview prep is insane. Supply teaching itself is also exhausting.

Fine to take that time off if budgeted for, not if expecting others to pay their way.

Part of my daily pay rate, 1/195 of the yearly salary I would expect if I was a full-time contracted teacher, is holiday pay.

Assuming they can't manage financially in the holidays, they should be looking at teaching jobs like maternity cover, as well as permanent contracts- the maternity cover will include holiday pay- these jobs tend to be easier to get, as well, and can be a good foot in the door and help with a good reference.

What subject/stage do they teach and where in the UK are you? In most parts of England, there are loads of schools desperate for staff! If they are primary trained, would they consider switching to secondary?

If they can manage financially over the holidays, then I don't think it's any of your business.

They can do what they like and what it takes to get by. They don’t need any judgement from me or anyone else.

What company would employ someone for just 5 days?! (a half term)

Or 9/10 days for that matter (Easter and Christmas holiday).

It's not easy to find someone who will employ you for just one week at a time, several months apart.

Whilst you don’t actually get extra pay when you aren’t working, your daily rate contains an element of holiday pay, so the more you work, the more holiday pay you get pro rata.

I think this has been posted about before bu a parent. I find many parents think teachers are lazy even if their own child is one.

No it isn't lazy, especially if supply work is being done for most of the term time, this would in essence be their annual holiday. Assuming they have saved to cover their living costs then it shouldn't be a problem.

A couple of things to bear in mind:

1. If they're secondary, work can start to dry up in the second half term of the summer term, due to exam classes leaving and teachers being asked to cover in their "gained time". So they do need a plan for this period too.

2. After May half term, teachers who are in post can't resign, so this may well be their best shot at securing a permanent contract. They really should apply for anything and everything that comes up in this time period.

A lot of the holiday schemes round here are recruiting. Would make sense as this person would be good with kids. I used to get uni holidays that were nearly 12 weeks and our local temp agency would hire people to do boring admin stuff for a big head office in our town.

Not saying they should or shouldn’t work. Just saying there are summer jobs.

If doing supply work directly for a school you would get the same pay in a year as a full time teacher, but paid in relation to the number of teaching days in a month and paid at the end of the following month. Supply teaching, being available to work every day and job hunting combined is a full time job. A wise person will budget with regard to the fluctuation in income.

Supply teaching is casual employment - they don't get holiday pay.

Supply teaching is casual employment - they don't get holiday pay.

Whoops.

I do. It's on my payslip what proportion of my daily rate is holidays pay.

Anyone who describes teachers as lazy shows they haven't a clue about the reality of teaching.

HTH.

Depends if they need the money, they should be paying rent to parents. Personally yes I’d work in the summer for extra cash. Surely a teacher would be able to do playscheme or tutoring quite easily

Not lazy at all.

Teaching is exhausting. No other employer is going to hire someone for 5 days in a half term, or 10 days over Easter anyway

Supply teachers aren't eligible for holiday pay, just like all other agency workers.

Tbh supply teaching isn't always the same as a regular permanent one. I mean if you're on proper long term supply and therefore having to do all the planning and marking and stuff then yeah but I did supply for a term and most of it was just babysitting a class whilst they did pre-set work, it was crap sometimes and I had a lot of behaviour nonsense to deal with but I would never pretend it was on a par with "real" teaching (for want of a better word)

Depends on their agency contract. Some supply agencies pay above scale rate in lieu of holiday or sick pay. Some agencies withhold a certain amount in term time to cover holiday pay. Either way, the individual in question is likely earning a much higher daily rate on long term supply than M1 so I would let them have their holidays says. Teachers need them.