Getting back into teaching.. nightmare!

[schoty77]

My DD did her Postgrad teaching qualification in 2015, but wasn't able to work immediately due to illness (Big C). Now she's trying to get back into it, but has no references. Has done a bit of supply in London (we're from New Zealand) over the last two years but the agency said they can't give her a reference because they haven't seen her teach. She hasn't done enough days in one school for them to be helpful either.

She's come back to NZ and tried applying for a teaching refresher course that includes a stint at a school, but her registration is still valid so no luck. I've told her to try emailing the lecturer at her uni to ask for advice, but she said that's not the common done thing.

Any advice to pass on would be a great help.

Could she contact more agencies, plus go and have a chat with the schools very local to her.

You don’t say whether senior or primary. Our primary had a teacher locally who was in similar situation. She spent some time helping out with reading practice, got to know the head teacher and explained that she could do supply at almost zero notice. Last winter, a year 2 teacher got bad flu and she covered for her. She got a full time role this September.

She is senior school, teaching English and Media. I will pass on that information. She is very happy to volunteer for the whole year if that's what it takes!

I imagine she has to do relief/supply work at a school, build up a relationship then talk to the principal / head of depts about her situation and ask to be considered for contract work - even short ones (great way to get in).

This is how everyone I know got back into teaching.

Where I live no experience or references wouldn’t be much of a bar to getting an English teaching job if you weren’t picky about the school. She should tell the agency she wants long term no matter where it is and they’ll find something - I briefly did supply and a couple of years later still get job details for English jobs 100 miles away they can’t fill.

The supply agency I signed up to told me that if references were a problem (been out of teaching some time) I would have to do four days as an unpaid volunteer in a local school.

The schools in London saw her teach! They must be able to attest to her competency. Obviously the agency wouldn’t but she did supply in schools - ask these schools and explain the situation to them. Agree with volunteering. New teachers never have references. What references could she get from her post grad year? She should have taught on that. That’s all NQT teachers have here! She’s just in that position.

Sorry - I see the schools were not helpful. Go back to post grad teaching then. Also the schools can confirm dates she worked for them. Also applicants are often asked to take a lesson as part of an interview. This can prove you are competent. Or do a “back to teaching” course where you get a placement.

Try doing cover supervisor work. You can get that on supply where I am as well as teaching. It pays less but could be a foot in the door of a school. I did 9 months cover sup. at one school and am now teaching there permanently

There is a shortage of English teachers nationally so it might be a case of looking in other areas?

Block supply (maternity leave, long sickness cover) will provide enough evidence for a good reference.

I dont know the answer to this off the top of my head, but is she classed as being fully qualified for working overseas if she has her training year but not her NQT year.

In the UK she could do up to 12-18months (something like that) on short term supply before she'd have to take a post with induction, unless things have changed since I trained.

Overseas might have a different set of requirements.

Thank you for all the suggestions, have shared with DD.

She tells me she is happy to do supply here in NZ, but can't sign up with an agency without teaching references.. vicious cycle.

Like the UK we have a massive shortage here in Auckland, but they aren't making it easy!