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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

Supply teaching - advice.....?

21 replies

MsHerodotus · 23/09/2014 16:05

Hi, have a separate thread about pay, but am also keen to seek advice on the job itself (secondary) and if there are others on here doing regular supply who can share war stories advice...

OP posts:
DownByTheRiverside · 23/09/2014 19:24

It suits me beautifully.
I have 30 years of primary classroom experience, adult children and I can drive. I live near three large towns and a city, and most months I could work 5 days a week if I wanted to.
I get a lot of reserved work, where a school has phoned the agency and asked for me, but I'm also ready and able to go if I get a call at 7.30am and be in the school by 8.20am.
I don't get any money in the holidays, but I'm good at budgeting and storing up for the tough times. Smile

Original poster
MsHerodotus · 24/09/2014 08:41

DownByTheRiverside Sounds good! I also have grown up children and live on the outskirts of London, with car etc, so am hoping for a similar set-up.
Do you mind me asking, do you work for one agency or several? (Not asking the names, just the quantity...:-) )
Also, do you teach a range of subject, or just your specialism?

OP posts:
Original poster
MsHerodotus · 24/09/2014 08:42

Sorry, just saw is primary, so please ignore second question Blush

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LostInMusic · 24/09/2014 12:05

I'm secondary supply (will do a bit of anything) and really enjoy the actual work - I've done a mixture of pre-booked days and last-minute, which can mean a call as late as 8 in the morning. It is slightly odd having to get up and ready for work then maybe not getting a call, but I guess that's just the nature of the beast.
Something that is fairly obvious, but I underestimated, is that there is effectively half the year when there is no work available - once you take out all the holidays, Sep/Oct and the week following other holidays, it can be really tough. I've come to the conclusion that I probably need a regular part-time job (teaching or otherwise) to go alongside supply. Or I need to get better at budgeting for the lean times...

Littlemisssunshine72 · 24/09/2014 13:31

I echo what lostinmusic said. Keep coming up with ideas to do self employed but never quite having the time to see them through!

DownByTheRiverside · 24/09/2014 14:36

One agency at the moment, no problems with them so far and if the work did drop off I could register with others or link directly with schools.
I'll teach everything from reception to Y6, and I've got a lot of experience with SN in the mainstream classroom and with EAL. I'm also fairly adventurous and have added a number of new skills to my set since I started supply, such as african drumming and maypole dancing. Grin

Littlemisssunshine72 · 24/09/2014 16:25

I have no problem getting work term time but as lostinmusic says, 13 weeks of the year with no income is a lot. Unfortunately as my income is pretty important, those 13 weeks make a big difference. I do do tutoring too.

Original poster
MsHerodotus · 24/09/2014 16:47

maypole dancing Grin

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Appervine · 27/09/2014 21:51

I do primary supply in outer London two days a week. I have fixed childcare on these days and was worried that I wouldn't get work and would end up out of pocket but I've only ever had one day with no work. Most jobs were booked in advance and I'm now in the same school every week for the next term at least. I am only registered with one small agency

CoolCadbury · 27/09/2014 23:30

I have been a supply teacher since I got my NQT. 4 years now. I've been very lucky. When I started I took any job, was always there when I was supposed to be, took everything on the chin and always upbeat about everything - even if I knew I was never going to go back to the school ever again. Smile. Nothing has changed except that I know which schools I like and which schools to avoid and I only accept pre-bookings, no morning calls.

For the past three years I have done maternity covers for various members of staff in the same school. It's been great. This year I am only doing set days there (only started last week) so doing day to day stuff as well.

I am ready to leave supply teaching. DS is older and I really crave stability in my finance. I won't stay in teaching though. Work-life balance and all that.

rollonthesummer · 01/10/2014 16:22

I am ready to leave supply teaching. DS is older and I really crave stability in my finance. I won't stay in teaching though. Work-life balance and all that.

Do you mind me asking what you are planning on doing instead of teaching? Just desperately looking for ideas!!

minkah · 01/10/2014 16:28

May I ask a question?

Would one get work as a supply teacher having only just qualified as a teacher? Or does one need to be experienced?

What is tha pay rate, or does it vary a lot according to experience?

minkah · 01/10/2014 16:29

Two questions!

Bumpinthenight · 01/10/2014 21:10

I got work before I started my NQT year.

Pay varies dependant on location - city school : village school and day to day supply : long term in my case.

DownByTheRiverside · 01/10/2014 21:56

minkah
If I was going for long term, I'd negotiate directly with the school and keep all the money. Grin As it is, on a daily basis, my agency has different rates depending on your experience, so I'm probably on the top. I also get to claim petrol mileage. £0.45 a mile and I did 40 miles today.
You need to check with the different agencies in your area to find out what the daily rate is.
I get a lot of repeat business not just because of my experience but because I do a professional job for the day, as if it were my own class. That means marking properly, pastoral input and the whole package.
So if a school likes me, they ask for me by name when they phone the agency again.

MiaowTheCat · 02/10/2014 07:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Misssss · 04/10/2014 08:23

Down by the Riverside, can I just ask... Does your agency pay the milage costs or do you use an umbrella company? I might try and get milage from mine xx

DownByTheRiverside · 04/10/2014 09:05

Umbrella company, online and at the end of every week. I also claim when I have to park and pay, many schools in Brighton don't have a staff car park.

Original poster
MsHerodotus · 04/10/2014 09:45

I have found an agency that has got me work every day I want to work, pay me a the top rate and do not insist on an umbrella company. It is risky to rely on claiming expenses - if the HMRC decide they are legitimate, they will pursue the teacher, maybe years later, not the agency for the underpaid tax and NI. Umbrella agencies work by reducing the taxable element with expenses, and so pays a lower rate of employers' tax and NI. This is tax avoidance, which regardless of your morals on that point, is risky if the as if the HMRC pursue underpaid tax and NI, you will be effectively paying the tax that the employer should have paid... (As well as paying for the privilege of paying the umbrella company to process your pay - something a normal employer does anyway without charge to you.)
The practise is dubious to say the least, but teachers are caught up by the temptation of the shorter term higher net pay, without thinking it through.
I have reported one agency to my union, as they were insisting on an umbrella co, instead of just 'offering' it Hmm, and this is illegal.

OP posts:
Original poster
MsHerodotus · 04/10/2014 09:46

...HMRC decide they are not legitimate...

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DownByTheRiverside · 04/10/2014 10:35

5 years til I get my teacher pension, so I'm doing what is the easiest, least stressful and most workeable for me. Short term plan.
My agency is a national one, so if the shit hits the fan it will involve thousands of members. Just have to see what happens.

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