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Original poster

Should schools be using supply staff?

57 replies

Rhine · 09/12/2020 12:38

I work on supply in schools and up until a fortnight ago had been at the same school since the begging of term and was part of a ‘bubble’ there. The head then decided it probably wasn’t wise to have outsiders coming in and the placement ended. Since then I’ve been here there and everywhere, usually day to day.

It just doesn’t sit right with me going from place to place like that at the moment, and whilst some schools are very hot on being ‘Covid safe’ others are shockingly lax. The one I went to on Monday being a case point. Staff not even wearing masks in the corridors, staff in out of each other’s bubbles and no social distancing etc. I doubt they even realise how lax they are, but I did because I’ve seen what’s going on elsewhere.

I also get the impression that I’m one of the ‘last ones standing’ at the agency. Either that or people are opting not to work, and they are becoming even pushier than normal.

What do others think of this as I’m really worried that I’m either going to get ill myself or am asymptomatic and am potentially spreading it anywhere I go.

OP posts:
Barbie222 · 09/12/2020 18:38

We have not used supply teachers since the half term. It's covered by TAs with the teacher zooming in if they're well enough. We are now down to less than one adult per class when you take away the 1:1s, so I am literally running in between two neighbouring classrooms at some points.

Shieldingending · 09/12/2020 18:45

Ideally no we would not be using short term supply, but certainly in my school we would close if we didn’t ! I teach in a special school, where each class has about 6 teaching assistants. Each class could probably manage one adult short, but beyond that we either need to get supply staff in, or partially close the class. We recognise that it is not ideal, because obviously the staff could’ve been anywhere the day before but the majority of parents are just desperate for us to stay fully open plus we have a duty to be open as much as we can. We are very aware it’s not a good solution and does put people at risk ...

daisybrown37 · 09/12/2020 18:57

We are using supply, our cover supervisors and teachers would struggle to cover the longer term absences we have. We have had to use Rare cover as well - when a staff member was contacted by track and trace during the day.

It is hard though - trying to explain the.staggered breaks/lunches/one way systems/ seating plans.

cardibach · 09/12/2020 19:04

@Welcometonowhere

I think schools should be doing everything to stay safe but also everything to stay open, to be honest.
These things are incompatible.
Susanwouldntlikeit · 09/12/2020 19:06

I worked in daily supply for a few years as it suited my lifestyle being able to pick and choose days. Supply teachers should be used to kaleidoscopic lunches and routines as all schools are different and that is part of the fun of supply. In my current school we rarely use supply s teachers have reduced timetables (eg 20 periods out of 3I for a classroom teacher without other responsibilities) do as to be rotad for cover. It means that classes see usual teachers who know behaviour policy etc and cover is always qualified teacher, but ‘cover supervisor’
Schools need to stay open as absolute priority so would much prefer if we did have to call on external supply than close. If there is a (minuscule) result of higher infection risk that’s obviously unfortunate but given the situation we’re in with no perfect solution we need to prioritise keep schools open.

cardibach · 09/12/2020 19:09

@Plastichearts

What I mean is that they are covering the absences within the school with cover supervisors, not supply teachers.
There are 21 staff off with covid related issues at my (secondary) school at the moment. A couple of cover supervisors aren’t touching the sides.
ChloeDecker · 09/12/2020 19:15

I wouldn’t pay a huge amount of attention to what Susan writes-she doesn’t know if she works in a state school or independent school.

Welcometonowhere · 09/12/2020 19:19

Not really cardi but I’m not going to waste my evening in trying to point out not everybody gets to take time off on full pay.

Schools sometimes have to close. We all understand this.

That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be trying to stay open, and most are.

OverTheRainbow88 · 09/12/2020 19:24

n my current school we rarely use supply s teachers have reduced timetables (eg 20 periods out of 3I for a classroom teacher without other responsibilities) do as to be rotad for cover.

What on earth? That seems mad

lazylockdowner · 09/12/2020 19:28

In our class (primary we've had supply all term, one week we had 5 different teachers. We are now more stable and have same teacher 3 days a week but on the other two days she does supply in other schools usually at short notice .... not ideal for anyone really

Original poster
Rhine · 10/12/2020 07:54

Another different school today. The girl from the agency sounded almost tearful when I agreed to do it, presumably she’s getting it in the neck from schools and those above her at the agency. There needs to be bit more understanding from schools that agencies are not miracle workers and if they don’t have people available then there’s not a lot they can do.

OP posts:
OpheliasCrayon · 10/12/2020 07:57

@Rhine

OpheliasCrayon I think supply should probably be a very last resort and they should try and manage as best as they can without it. I know a few local schools have made a decision not to use supply, and the next county has stopped altogether (I think supply there are furloughed).
I don't know - we don't use supply really but we are SEN so alwsys try to avoid. I completely agree with what you're saying though. But then what's the other option? Schools shut and no education...I don't think there's a right / wrong / easy answer in this because at the base of it is...children do need an in school education, in my opinion, and staff will continue to be off for reasons other than covid so schools need cover!
OpheliasCrayon · 10/12/2020 07:59

@Rhine

Another different school today. The girl from the agency sounded almost tearful when I agreed to do it, presumably she’s getting it in the neck from schools and those above her at the agency. There needs to be bit more understanding from schools that agencies are not miracle workers and if they don’t have people available then there’s not a lot they can do.
I've worked in recuritment for schools when I was too unwell to teach.

Believe me - there is no "no". You find cover for your schools at ALL coats and if you don't it's your fault and you're to blame for lost business. It's absolutely ruthless, all about money and not about what's in the best interest for anyone. I can absolutely understand her sounding tearful if you said you'd go when no one else would. Because she will solely be held to account if she can't fill a booking. Irs a horrible horrible environment.

OpheliasCrayon · 10/12/2020 07:59

Costs!!! Not coats!!!

ChloeDecker · 10/12/2020 08:18

That sounds horrific Ophelia. So sorry to read that.

(Coats would Ben very welcome in schools right now too, ha ha!)

ChloeDecker · 10/12/2020 08:19

*be

(autocorrect is not helping us, eh!?)

Original poster
Rhine · 10/12/2020 08:42

Ophelia, thats awful. I’d always got the impression it was a cutthroat industry but not as bad as that.

OP posts:
OpheliasCrayon · 10/12/2020 08:44

@Rhine

Ophelia, thats awful. I’d always got the impression it was a cutthroat industry but not as bad as that.
It is absolutely as bad as that. And as a teacher who was doing it because I was too unwell to be in a classroom, I ended up just having to leave as I just couldn't face treating schools and teachers so badly. I've done supply teaching myself since so this is no criticisms at all on actual supply teachers but... The agencies are hellish.
Celandines · 10/12/2020 08:51

@noblegiraffe That's good news about the emergency fund. My dc secondary school have been having to send home year groups because short staffing. Im actually really surprised they are providing this funding. It feels like they never want to support state schools or teachers in any way and just treat them like the enemy. Maybe it's because kids being sent home is more visible to parents than the usual ways that funding cuts affect schools.

WhoWants2Know · 10/12/2020 09:37

My youngest is in primary and is now on her third long term supply teacher since September. Her regular teacher injured herself on the first day back, first supply teacher was hired elsewhere, and the second fell ill ☹️. If it weren't for supply teachers, she'd have missed the whole term.

Original poster
Rhine · 10/12/2020 11:17

The other week the agency tried to persuade me to go in with a migraine. I knew it was a migraine and nothings else, but a bad headache is also a Covid symptom. They didn’t seem to care I could potentially have the virus.

OP posts:
OpheliasCrayon · 10/12/2020 11:20

@Rhine

The other week the agency tried to persuade me to go in with a migraine. I knew it was a migraine and nothings else, but a bad headache is also a Covid symptom. They didn’t seem to care I could potentially have the virus.
Honestly - they will stop at nothing.

Their bonus (because the base pay is appalling and wouldn't even be the minimum wage ) rests on how many bookings they fill and how much business they drum up.

I cannot emphasise enough how cut throat it is, and how the last possible thought is what's best for teachers, schools and pupils. It's all business. Your migraine or possible covid was irrelevant as long as you were prepared to go.

Original poster
Rhine · 10/12/2020 11:57

You’d think that they’d lay off a bit with the hard sell given the current situation, but obviously not. I’m getting a lot of ‘we are struggling to get cover and are having to let schools down’. Well that’s because a lot of us are either positive, isolating due to close contact, or are just not prepared to be put ourselves at risk.

OP posts:
OpheliasCrayon · 10/12/2020 12:00

@Rhine

You’d think that they’d lay off a bit with the hard sell given the current situation, but obviously not. I’m getting a lot of ‘we are struggling to get cover and are having to let schools down’. Well that’s because a lot of us are either positive, isolating due to close contact, or are just not prepared to be put ourselves at risk.
No - I wouldn't think they'd lay off at all. In fact I'd expect them to step it up harder as they need to account for lost business due to school closures etc

Stick to what you feel is right though.

PrivateD00r · 10/12/2020 12:35

OP what would the alternative be? We are doing the same in healthcare, relying heavily on bank and agency staff to keep services going. It isn't ideal, but we have to keep going and to be honest, agency and bank staff would have no income otherwise so seem happy to be getting shifts?

I am assuming supply teachers feel the same or they would decline the shift surely. I know you say you feel pressure to come in but lots of permanent teachers seem to be facing the same issue unfortunately due to the pressures on schools to remain open. Obviously you couldn't properly teach with a true migraine regardless of covid, I can only assume the agency staff person has never experienced one Shock I have done healthcare shifts through an agency in the past, yes there is pressure due to them wanting their cut, I just don't answer if I don't want a shift or I have a solid excuse of 'no childcare that day, sorry' ready.

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