Any tips? I've registered to do some supply teaching and feel very nervous.

[trulymadlydeeply]

Used to be a full time teacher until 3 years ago when we moved to another country. Money - or lack of - forces me to leave my husband and our 3 kids in France during the week to return to the UK to do some supply, which I've never done before.

I've no idea what to expect or how best to prepare myself.

Can anyone offer any ideas?

A lack of work! There is still work about, but I understand that the demand is much lower than it used to be.
The supply of Supply work has really dried up due to many schools now using full time 'cover supervisors' - who do not have to be qualified teachers so long as they do not prepare the lessons. This is of course much cheaper than buying in a teacher from an agency.

I am in the same boat. My CRB check came through last week and I am all set to go .... if and when someone wants me. The message boards at the TES are quite helpful. They suggest taking your CV round to local school so that they know your face - some people have apparently found this 'advertising' quite helpful in the quest for work.

Have you tried looking at the Training and Development Agency for schools (TDA) website? They run returning to teaching courses (sorry if I'm trying to teach grandma to suck eggs) which I hear can be useful - I'm waiting for the next one in our area. Not so much directed at supply work, but what I really want is a permanent part-time post, and this will help me to get updated.

I agree - get yourself known at two or three schools. I used to get enough work from 3 schools to keep me going. However, that was a few years ago... The school I work in now hardly ever buys in supply teachers as they get their part time staff to do some extra hours instead.

You have to get on the books of a good school, and use an agency for back-up only. You will get paid more, and you will be in a good, supportive place where you will be able to build relationships and develop a good reputation.

To prepare yourself, reflect on your classroom management skills - this is key to supply. When you are in lessons, get really involved as if you were the expert (not lying though). Even if the teacher has left decent enough work, it is hard to keep the class on task with just worksheets. You should of course do the work the teacher has set, but you can do more - such as oral Q&A with the pupils, and getting them to read the texts aloud. You can go over their answers as a plenary.

Give an air of confidence, and remember that you really do know enough about the subject to engage the pupils. They won't be that far ahead of you because your life experience will bridge any gaps. I have even managed to have a good go at Y7 and Y8 Spanish without knowing a word of it myself!

Bad supply lessons are mostly due to bad cover work being left by the teacher, so if that is the case, see what you can do to improve on it. If you are in a school frequently, you can develop relationships with the staff there, and they will respect you if you ask to alter lesson plans.

Thanks for the advice. I registered with eteach who told me ther was loads of supply available in Hertfordshire, which I was surprised about because all the schools I taught in before leaving the UK were employing cover supervisors by the time I left.

Will keep youposted with any success I have. Many thanks again.

I echo everything that all the others have said.

Also a great help to classroom management is to get yourself a tool kit, and make sure that you fill it with pens, pencils, board marhers, stickytape and glue. This will stop the kids fussing' I haven't got a pen miss' also get some 'well done' type stickers, it helps to build relationships and make you seem more 'real' to the kids

Have a couple a crossword puzzles, wordseaches that you can use as filler activities. The devil makes work for idle hands and all that!

MB! You're back!! How are you? I always wanted to be the teacher you sound as though you are - but in a drama department, not a science one!

Thanks to everyone. Rang my supply people this a.m to ask how much work there is - not flying back to the UK to sit by the 'phone and hope! - and they say it is beginning to trickle in as overworked teachers succumb to whatever bugs are flying around. They can't guarantee me anything, though...

The other work that you might be able to find is short term contract work, eg half a term, or a term's worth. The pay is the same as supply, but the downside is that you have to to planning and marking. The upside is that you have something decent for your CV, and proper references.

TMD
Still no luck here in Leeds...