So, is Cover supervisor the worst job in the world then?

[MaureenMLove]

Should I just do the interview for experience and get out before I'm in, iyswim? I'm getting vibes that its not a pleasant job! Tell me the truth now, MN is good for telling you like it is!

As Roisin, she is a cover supervisor!

Until she comes along, I'll give you the feed back that I have had from the cover supervisors that work where I work.

It is a tough job. the kids will 'try it on' re behaviour, because they see a lesson with a cover supervisor (or teacher for that matter) as a 'free lesson' and will often not want to work.

Initially you will have to work very hard to make sure that you have a reputation as a person who takes no nonsense from the kids (this is also true for teachers)

You also need to be very organised, good at remembering names....names give power in a school(!), and very thorough is following school guidelines on behaviour etc

It is tough. Can't you remember how your class used to regard supply teachers as fair game?

BUT, you will get known within the school (kids will recognise you after half term or so and play up less); teaching staff should support you and there is no marking or prep to do.

in interview, ask them about referral system for poor behaviour - i.e. how do you get support when they are causing you problems

yes, and it depdends on level of work set. tbh its a hrad job to do wihtout experience of teahcign id say

OK. I have no teaching background.

I have been a childminder for 12 years. I have a dd of 12 already in secondary. I help run a Guide troop and my mother is a retired head teacher in the borough, so I have some knowledge of what the little blighters can do to you!

I am not a person to take any sh*t from a child, however old they are, but also can see life from their point of view. I understand fully the need to talk to them on their level, but also let them know who's in charge.

How am I doing? [hopeful emoticon]

Hiya! I'm here now

It depends a lot on the school and what the general level of behaviour is like, as to quite how tough it is.

At interview I would want to know very clearly what is the average amount of cover I would do, and what is the maximum.

In my school I do 15 hrs a week cover, plus usually 2.5 hrs of form times/registrations. This is sustainable (for me in my school), and I wouldn't do more for the money I'm paid.

(Supply teachers coming in would do 25 hrs + 2.5 hrs - literally zip from one lesson to the next - I wouldn't do that.)

But also find out what else you will do with your time, and whether that will be enjoyable/rewarding for you.

I've been doing the job for almost 3 yrs, and it can be very hard at times, but it does get easier. And the students do learn to treat you differently to supply, because you are around long-term, and you do follow up on any/all incidents, and it's not worth their while to muck you about.

Having said all that generally I don't find 'cover' to be very rewarding - I think that's inherent in the very nature of the job. So I've fought quite hard to carve out some little niches/roles for myself elsewhere which give me some job satisfaction.

dh did it for a year when dd was tiny. it was bloody fantastic - no meetings no parents evenings, and they paid him as a qualified teacher

he did find it a bit boring and after a year he could hack it no more, but was very good when we had a tiny baby as he was home at 4pm evrynight

m,auireen you soudn great!

Sorry, that's all very negative.

Time off/hours etc are great! I'm paid 52 wks of the year (check you are), but work only 39. I don't work at all in the holidays, and work 8.30 - 3.30 daily. I occasionally bring something home, but that's 'choice' - it's not expected iyswim. And the other CS in our school largely don't.

Also we do a good job and I genuinely believe it's usually better for students to have cover from in-house staff rather than irregular supply. I am continually and repeatedly thanked by teachers because the students have completed the work set for them, when with supply teachers the instructions haven't been followed, and the pupils haven't done what was expected.

Thanks Rosin! The hours are 25 hours a week! I know that the school is not the best in the borough either. I'm not sure now! I doubt I'll get it tbh! Its my first interview since 1984! What have you carved out then, that makes it worth the money? (Which ain't bad actually!)

What's the difference (& I should know this but have never asked!) between a Cover Supervisor and a Supply Teacher ??

is it that the school employs a permanent cover supervisor whereas supply teachers can be transient??

No, I need to know the facts! So, do you cover for all subjects and what do you do if you don't know the answer to a question? I have a fear that I'll be covering a subject that I know nothing about! My french, for examples, extends to asking for 4 beers and a chocolate icecream!

Supply teacher is a trained teacher. Cover supervisors are civvies iyswim!

Quick Hijack - Cod, what are you doing workwise? Are you starting something soon? Medium-term supply?

Is that 25 hrs cover? Or 25 hrs they are paying you for?

I was sure I had no chance at my interview (far less experience than you), so I was super-relaxed and got the job. Hope it goes well!

I do literacy intervention with yr7s. I also run two reading clubs; effectively one of these is in a lunch hour and one in my paid time. But I also spend time planning all of these in my paid time. I organise guest speakers occasionally, and have got an author in doing creative writing workshops next week.

I also do all the admin (letters, liaison with parents, collecting money etc.) for two MFL trips, and go on one of them each year.

In my school CS are linked to departments - I'm with English and MFL, and I do a variety of admin/support work for them when cover commitments allow.

MaureenMLove - but what makes a cover supervisor able to teach, or are they not supposed to 'teach' - merely to read out set work left by a teacher ??

Exactly that Whizzz, they are just there to read out instructions for lessons left by the teacher and assist, if they can!

I'm being paid for 25 hours a weeks. The job spec says, 25 hours p/w, 39 weeks per year. Then it gives the salary as p/a. I will check that its pro-rata over 12 months.

I have a generally high level of education, and the school is 11-16 and low-achieving. Work left for cover is usually things that students should be able to complete with minimal assistance. So I hardly ever have get asked something I can't answer. When I do, I'm quite honest as I think the students respect that more than bluffing.

(Actually more often than not knowing I sometimes pretend I can't help, if students are prevaricating and making out they are unable to start the work themselves, which is usually complete rubbish and just a time-wasting exercise. Sometimes you get a very needy class, and have ten hands up at once. So I just say I haven't been in your last three lessons: you have. I know you've done some work with Miss XXX on [persuasive writing]. She tells me you should all be able to complete this work by the end of the lesson. If you really struggle with a question, read it through again carefully; and if you still can't do it then skip it and go on to the next one. I monitor the students as they're working, and if there's something everyone is finding difficult I will do some 'teaching' from the front if I'm confident - it's easier in some subjects than others - but also I will pass that back to the class teacher in feedback. Another thing I do with a class like this is to say, right hands down. I'm not going to answer any questions for ten minutes. I want everybody to have a go at this themselves and give it their best try. In ten minutes we'll check again to see how everyone's getting on, and go through the first 20 questions - or whatever.)

So, what do you do at your desk if they're all getting on with their work? Just sit and watch them? Or do you have papers to shuffle! Sorry for all the questions, but forewarned is forearmed and all that!

you read grazia
arf
have got a job rosiin! oh yes 0.5 geo and phse till july

one summer hoiday IN the bag

you soudsn a great asset to the school r

Wahey Cod - way to go
Hope it goes fantastically.
Is it starting now - Monday?

Have you got your timetable, Schemes of Work, etc? What age are you teaching phse? (I hate phse!)

Our CS do 25 hours per week, all cover. This is on a 25 period timetable. They also do registrations as well.

I think that is quite tough tbh AND they are employed until 4.30 to help out with clubs etc.

However, out of 4, 2 have stayed long term and one of them is training to be a teacher, so it can't be that bad!! I will point out that the ones who stuck are the more ..ahem...mature ones.

I love CS's. As they teach all of the kids they are great for moaning with, as they know all the difficult kids!!

Good luck....as for what do you do in lessons when you have started them off....tee hee I used to think this before I started teaching.....You will find LOTS to keep you occupied.....

What do you have to deliver in PHSE?

MaureenMLove - 95% of lessons I don't sit down at all: it's just not that sort of school. There's always someone poking someone else, or getting their mobile out, or chewing, or passing notes, or whatever! Or someone who genuinely needs some help or inspiration. When I'm "not doing anything" I usually stand at the back or side of the class and surreptitiously lurk.

The only time I sit down are the very rare classes when I really do expect they will get on and work exceptionally well with 0 input from me; or to prove a point for 5 mins and pretend I'm not watching them and to give them the impression I expect them to get on with their work without me breathing down their necks!