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 you compare a public sector job, you’ll get almost 7 weeks holiday. So she is just having 5 extra weeks. What work do you think she can do in the 5 weeks ? What choice of jobs?
if she’s also prepping for forthcoming jobs and interviews, that’ll surely use up 5 weeks over the course of a year.
Not sure what else you expect her to do. Or why you have these expectations.

I'm a teaching assistant, full time contract, and I only get five weeks paid holiday a year. I get paid every month, but that is because they take my annual salary and divide it by 12.

I can understand doing some temp work in the summer holidays, but logistically it will probably harder logistically to get a job for the start of half term/easter/Xmas and then hand your notice in 7-14 days later because you are going back to your other job. That would really irritate employers as well, unless they only want someone for a week or two. Unlikely because in most jobs it will take that long to train them.

I'd think; there's an independent ADULT earning their own money and if they have set enough aside to cover expenses in school holidays, then what they do with that time is their own business.

I wouldn't see it as my business. Whatever worked for them.

If they're not expecting you to sub them, it's really none of your business. And I hate the way you're labelling people.

In the olden days supply rates took account of the holidays and supply teachers were paid at a daily rate which was the equivalent of a full time teaching salary if you worked every day. These days the rate has been whittled down by agency work so it is barely just above minimum wage levels.

Are they expecting someone else to sustain them? I get 6 weeks leave in my job, and have often taken another 6 weeks, unpaid to travel to the other side of the world. Does that make me lazy? Does it make teachers themselves lazy? Bit of an open ended question, without any context.

When I was supply last year I got, I think, £12 a day as holiday pay (as part of my £130/day before tax). That was day-to-day supply, not in one school longer than a day or two.

OP - why do you begrudge them a couple of weeks holiday at Easter? Pretty mean-spirited of you.

No. They should use the time to travel / hobbies at that age. Also the 12 weeks are not in 1 block, so what job would you be thinking of?
Also a normal person gets 5 weeks holiday so if you allow them normal holidays that would now be 7 weeks not 12.

I suppose it depends on whether they have been doing supply full time at one school, in which case attending training, planning, and marking, or whether they have been doing days here and there when they can get it. If they have been working as a full time supply teacher, they will need a break. When I started teaching I went on supply, but I only got a few days a week so did casual bar work, tutoring and summer exam marking to supplement wages. I seem to remember having a second job also pushed my taxes up, so sometimes it wasn’t worth it.

No I wouldn't "expect" them to do anything! It's up to them how much they work surely.

They are not really a supply teacher though , they are a teacher looking for a full time job .

It would depend.

If they are still paying their bills in full then they don’t need to work.

But if they’re expecting to borrow money and things then they are of course being lazy and disrespectful.

Is it your child who is the teacher or are you the teacher?

Supply teachers are paid at a slightly higher rate than full time teachers to allow for holidays. At least, it was when I did it many years ago.

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?

I would expect to keep my nose out of someone elses business, that's what I would expect. I certainly wouldn't suggest they are lazy. If this is about your being a parent who wants a household contribution to living expenses, that is fair enough - have that conversation like a grown up without resorting to calling your adult child lazy. If you are said adult child and your parent(s) are calling you lazy, I suggest you move out - it won't do much for you self-esteem is you are struggling to find a permanent role and judgemental name calling is your parents idea of building your confidence. If you are anyone else - butt out because it isn't your business.

Eh? If they are doing supply work in term time they will be earning plenty enough to not have to work in the holidays. Besides, who would employ them for the just the school holidays?

It's nobody else's business if they are paying their way, rent etc.

I had a weekend job (5 hours Fri pm, 10 hours Sat, 4 hours Sun) and I kept that job going once I finished uni and started supply.
I only gave my notice once I'd secured a term-long temporary contract. Luckily I'm still there 25 years later and didn't have to stay on supply more than 6 months.

Are you the newly qualified teacher op?
If your parents are having to support you and feel you should be looking for something part time then it puts a different spin on things

If you're able to support yourself through the work that you are doing, not being an extra cost to anyone else then it's no one's business but your own.

Not over half term but maybe over the 6 weeks summer break. No reason they could not do tutoring. They could pick and choose when they did that.

It depends how much work they’re getting sureky.

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.

Really? Even ad hoc supply teachers who don't work for an agency?
When I was doing supply I certainly didn't look for other work in the holidays. Fuck that! Dh was a (permanent) teacher too and didn't do another job in the school holidays. Why on earth should I have done?

Are they able to meet all their financial obligations year round? If so, why do they need to work those weeks too?

I thought the daily supply teacher rate was inflated to account for lack of holiday pay.

No, not lazy at all.

OP
Your child or partners child?

Many universities boast that their primary education graduates are employed before they finish their course .
Is this mystery person trying out schools before they commit to one?
Are they still able to contribute?