Tell me about supply...

[runlikeagirl]

I'm 10 years in, secondary teacher. I currently do 3 days a week, but honestly can't hack it anymore. The pressure and workload is too much. In particular behaviour at my current school is getting worse and worse, without any intervention. I have good behaviour management but it is exhausting.

I'm very seriously considering supply. We may be moving for Dh job, but even if we stay.

What is it like? Is it hard to have consistent work?

Do schools still use much supply? The primary where I work did when I was first there but now classes are all covered by TAs or (occasionally) the non-classroom based deputy.

Our secondary went to cover supervisors, but then had to shed money so lost 8 and went down to 3. There is a supply person in nearly every day now.

I did supply over winter whilst I was waiting to get busy in my main seasonal job [own business] and hardly had a day without work.

I'm primary, could work every day if I wanted to and get a lot of repeat businesss. But I'm in a good geographical location, am very flexible as to last-minute calls and I'm a good teacher with many years experience.
Pay is less as most schools here use agencies, but that's a minor consideration balanced against health and sanity.
It's also a good way of picking and choosing if you do want another post. You will know the schools well before you decide whether to apply.

I did primary supply about 5 years ago.
I was 'between jobs' so I wrote to every school in the area introducing myself and saying that I would be available for supply and I would love to come and visit the school.
After about two weeks of school visiting I had endless supply work. The advantage I had, and this won't really apply to you, is that I was willing to teach any age group from nursery to year six.
Nearly all my work was prebooked, some on a regular basis and some to cover courses etc. I only had a couple of early morning calls.
The down side is the way the pay works out. You are paid 1/195 of an annual wage for each day worked. So you need to keep some by for the holidays. Also you get paid a month in lieu as you have to submit a claim form.
The massive upside is no reports, parents evenings, targets, pressure!

Have been doing supply since September and have had only one day off (that I chose to have as DS hospital apt). Saw four agencies, signed up with two (the others insisted on paying through Umbrella Company which is very dodgy, so signed with those that pay proper PAYE (you must insist on PAYE!). Was originally thinking would do two or three days week, but have done five, now pre-booked at one of s few school I regularly go to so don't have to wait for the 7.30 call.
A couple of schools were so dreadful just didn't accept any more bookings from them.
The schools I am in are outstanding state secondaries and there is always at least one supply teacher, sometime several. Some days I see the same class two or three times in different subjects. (Quite amazing how many classes are covered - at my DC indie school they don't use supply teachers, the regular teachers have more free periods and cover other classes in some of those). I am enjoying it and have turned down offers for long-term supply which is all the hassle of a permanent job with out the freedom. Will carry on doing this until/unless I find a PT job in a school I like.

Thanks. We may be moving due to Dh's job, so may have no choice. I am fairly certain I cannot cope with full time again, and so few part time positions are advertised in my subject.

Such a hard decision. When did this job go from hard to impossible?

It's amazing - you'll love it!

I've been a supply teacher for 4 years now. At first, I accepted any job, any school, last minute calls etc. It shows you're willing and keen and agencies are much more likely to call you. It's also a great way to find out which schools are worth going back to and which year groups to avoid in some schools.

For ages now, I have only taken on pre-booked work at one school, although recently, I was there as a long term supply teacher but I quit as it was too much for me. Back to day-to-day supply.

Can I ask how much your daily rates are?

I manage supply at my school, most days I will have at least one in. My top tips would be-do the very best job you can, be willing and able to cover everything.(my day can go from PE to english via maths and tech). Make a point of getting to know the important people-no, not slt, but supply manager, office people, science techs and, if you are in just one department, the person teaching in the next room. Honestly, if you are a good classroom practitioner, friendly, and able to get on you will be turning down work. Like cool said, get out there in first 6 months or so, then Make it really clear to the agency what you want-2 or 3 days a week, no long term (you will be expected to mark and plan) and preferably pre booked.if you are core, you will be gold)(take a book, coffee and a mug in case it's not a friendly staff room) Oh and agencies-they may act like your bestest friend-they aren't.def make sure paye is included. Which general area are you going? (NE I can pm you with some tips)
It's a sad state of affairs, but becoming far too common.

I did a couple of weeks supply as an NQT. Daily supply was good 8:30-3pm and then your day is your own.

My agency put a lot of pressure on to go for long term supply posts which would have been no better than a full time position. The interviews were poorly organised and the schools a poor match for my experience. Just insist on daily supply. Insist on a working radius that suits you (my actual radius was 45min - I told them 30min to allow for traffic and they still pushed it).

I was paid £65-80 per day as a cover supervisor and £95 per day as a supply teacher - depending on what the school booked. But I'm an NQT with no experience and I would have negotiated more if I was more experienced.

I have a friend that's been doing supply since summer term. She works 4 days a week and has barely had a day off. I've been surprised at how much work there is available (secondary science)

Yes, insist on day-to day-only and tell them the number of days a week you wish to work per week. Also, specify the distance from your home you'd be prepared to travel.

'Can I ask how much your daily rates are?'

£110 before tax and the like, which works out at around £90 a day actually in my bank account.

Thanks, really useful!

At the moment I'm in Leeds, if we move for Dh's job then it could be Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire. I will insist we live near a decent 'hub' where there is likely to be good supply (Peterborough).

I'm very tempted. It started as an idea of if we moved. Then I realised how much I dislike my current school and the paperwork of teaching at the moment. So might do it even if we stay

I get paid through an umbrella company - round here, all agencies do that. It's not too bad because my main agency increased my daily rate when they converted from PAYE to an umbrella company so that I still took home the same pay. I get 99% of my work through them. My daily rate is £135 with them but £120 with other agencies.

How much do you pay the UC to process your pay? Are you aware that it is a tax evasion scheme to reduce the employers' NI the agency pay? Do you have an overarching contract with the UC? If not, you are not in compliance with HMRC rules.

I got paid through a company which 'can act as an umbrella company if you would like us to'.

but all they actually did was process the PAYE. I paid them nothing to do so.

I double checked and NI was paid correctly. From my research some of the dodgy stuff was around claiming tax back on mileage etc. Which was never even mentioned so all good. Def research umbrella company stuff so you know what to look out for.

The only other thing to watch is that they will automatically retain 12.5% 'holiday pay' unless you ask them not to. Imo get your full pay and put some aside to cover half terms etc yourself.

P.s. Peterborough is not the best place in the world to live....Stamford is much much nicer in that area and I think you shpuld still be ok for supply....if you habe children of your own just be aware that Lincolnshire still habe a grammar school system in most parts with entrance exams etc.

Yes, I know that it's a get out of paying for employers' NI and yes I do an overarching contract with the UC (inc pension). TBF, the UC is pretty hot in being in compliance with HMRC rules. I need to double check how much I pay UC to process my pay though. But it's not like I have a choice dont - there are no agencies around here who have their own PAYE.

I've got to say, I have built a good professional relationship with my main agency and they were incredibly supportive and fully on board when I quit my long term post.

Places with rurally located secondary are always difficult to place supply (bitter experience of using my half term chasing a core subject supply teacher) so if you are willing to travel to them you will get repeat business.

its really quite boring

If you loved being with young people etc its just not the same. Its easy ( in the right school) , but boring

I've never found supply boring, Data. Would you care to elaborate?
The variety is one of the plus points for me, from tiny schools in the forest with 90 pupils to large schools of 400 by the seaside. Likewise the pupils are all different, and you can leave bad days behind with ease and enjoy repeat visits to schools you found interesting.

As of this afternoon we are relocating. To Cambridge, or near enough. My worry with applying for jobs is how able I am to do full time work with two small children. And a husband that has to work away sometimes.

And there are so few part time positions advertised.

Can someone explain what the advantages and disadvantages of payment through an umbrella company are? I've just begun doing supply- I'm with an agency and I'm paid through an umbrella company. What's the alternative?