Tell me about supply

[CharlesRyder]

So, I am seriously considering going on day to day supply as a medium term choice (maybe for 3 years or so until DS is in KS2).

Do you generally get a couple of days notice of work or is it all 7.30am when someone phones in sick? How long after school do you generally stay- can you walk away at 3.30pm if you have managed to mark the num & lit at lunchtime/ break?

Is there regular work??

Should I phone round the local schools and ask which agency they prefer and then sign up with that one or should I send my CV directly to the local schools and try to get work without and agency?

Any experiences appreciated!

I suppose the amount of work depends where you are and whether you are primary or secondary. I teach primary and when I lived in Leeds/Bradford area there was plenty of work (in the days before HLTAs). I was generally booked in advance and yes, as long as marking was done, I could leave as soon as the kids were all gone.

Now though, I am in North Yorkshire and most schools here seem to use HLTAs for cover unless it's long term.

Good luck though, I loved supply.

Sorry, missed last part of your message. You'll get paid more without an agency so unless lots of your local schools use agencies I'd approach schools directly. You need to be careful with your CRB though, I had to pay £50 for mine and then if you don't get work for 3 months you have to do it again and pay again. I could never work out whether volunteering would count as work and keep my CRB valid (couldn't get a straight answer on that one!!).
As I say that's North Yorks/East Riding policy, may not be everywhere.

I loved supply! Now I'm back working as a full-time class teacher, I really miss the flexibility, variety and work/life balance! It takes a while to get used to at first but then your confidence grows and you build up a bank of regular schools and you're off!

I found word of mouth the best way to get supply, if you've got lots of teacher friends. I also joined an agency. I would also write to or email all of your local schools too.

I hated the early morning phone calls, but soon I would get booked up in advance and that suited me much better.

I found the hardest thing was getting into schools in the first place. Once you were in, they loved you and kept asking you back! I had around 6 schools who always used me for their infant supply and that created enough work for the 3 days per week I wanted to work.

Good luck! I found Sept-Oct half term quiet and then I was super busy throughout the winter, only for it to quieten down again during the summer term.

Oh yes, and I used to get there around 8-8.15am and stay till around 4pm. I always left the classroom tidy and left a nice note for the teacher, if she wasn't in school. I didn't want to be seen to be rushing out of the door after the children but there is no expectation for you to stay much longer after the children's home time.

I used to love going home to have my full evening when everyone else had to go to meetings, do clubs or have loads of prep to do! Oh and full weekends and holidays too. I do really miss supply!!!

I think I will go independent. I am relocating so won't have any contacts but I'm not under pressure to earn much money so I can take my time to build up a school base.

I'm quite excited actually.

I love teaching and have spent a lot of years in EBD so I'm down with behaviour management. The more I think about it the more appealing it seems!

I'm doing day to day supply and LOVE it, love the variety, getting a real feel for all the different schools and areas and loving the amount of work you don't have to do on weekends and in the evenings.

I've been doing it since April, signed up with 4 agencies but one has me booked solid 4-5 days a week since I started, and they are lovely schools. Other agencies I have worked with have had not so nice schools but you don't have to go back there.

Honestly, if you're able to cope with moving around, meeting new kids every day and going into new schools, you will thrive!

Good luck

Yes, I think I will enjoy the moving around and meeting different people thing. The only slight fear I have is about having to use other people's technology. I can only just about make my own classroom work!!

As a self employed supply can you pay into your own Teacher's pension?

I am currently free lance ( secondary specialist ) ... I used to have loads of work and it was great but big change over last couple of years ...now schools use teaching assistants or " cover supervisors" as cheaper work has dried up so much that I am now looking for something more regular again ! Beware ! It can be great and you can still pay into pension and pick and choose to suit you eg I am not in today as sports day but the nature of supply work is changing as although there is still work it is not as readily available as before

If you are employed directly by the school and therefore the county, you can still pay into your pension.

I was a supply teacher, but it just didn't work with preschoolers and chilcare to pay for. My current and previous posts have been direct with schools. Previously I used an agency and did quite well for casual and long term work. It was harder after long term work when I fell out of the loop. I'd be curious to know if demand is picking up, the jobs market has been its most active in years locally, and I wonder if a lot of people dropped out of agency work like I did.

As much as I like my present stability, I did enjoy the variation and work life balance of casual supply. On a tough day, you knew it would be over by 3.30, and the next day would be very different. On a good day, you'd pinch yourself remembering you'd be paid for it.

Being doing it for a while now, and it suits me beautifully.
Go with an agency at first and set the parameters you want. It will cut down on the jobs you are offered, but you can specify exactly what you want to do. Then you'll get picked up by schools who like you.
Yes, once you have discharged your obligations, you can walk out at finishing time on daily supply.
I have regular work, but I'm in a busy bit of the SE and am prepared to travel 20 miles to work, and I teach everything from reception to Y7.