Supply Teachers

[DanyellasDonkey]

I did supply when my kids were small and always went prepared with a bag full of stuff, but was delighted if any work was left for me to do with the class.

We have a couple of supply teachers who swan in and expect everything to be ready for them. If it isn't, they go around all the other staff beginning for stuff. It seems they are incapable of looking for things by themselves. When I was doing this, there wasn't even internet resources.

One even came into my class today and asked for stuff and when I said I didn't, she walked over to my desk, looked at some things I had and helped herself to some of them.

AIBU to think this is a bloody cheek? I get work prepared for my class - it's not up to others to do her preparation for her. Nobody minds helping people out but this is getting beyond a joke.

I have done supply for a couple of years,.
In secondary work is always left, but I adapt it so that it is not just kids working through never ending worksheets.
In primary, there seems to be a passive aggressive attitude towards supply teachers. As another poster said, why would you want your class taught randomly?
The better schools also insist on supply teachers being given seating plans, proper breaks, info on where the toilets etc. Those are the schools that I and others go back to repeatedly.
If your school is getting a succession of rubbish supply teachers it is probably because the agencies have to beg and plead teachers to go to chaotic and hostile schools and those who have a choice of schools are not choosing yours..
I am currently on a contract so am setting cover work myself for my absences, and always leave enough proper work, to be done in books, not on paper ( work to be done on paper is another sure sign of a lazy incumbent teacher who won't bother marking it, and the kids know that) and with seating plan and notes on the kids. I ask for feedback on effort and behaviour and follow it up.

I often wonder if agencies are actually causing a lot of the problems....

Back in the day, supply cover used to be via the LEA. Much better imho. No agency fees!

Agencies defiantly ARE causing these issues. I am being charged out at £175 a day and being paid £100. Then add to that if the school want to retain me (which they pretty much do) the school are locked into a 20% charge of my salary. You may as well forget the AWL regulations on this since the agency are saying that the school will be introducing me to the LEA and as such the 14 week rule doesn't apply ever!

I did have an agency inform me that AWR had kicked in for one of my regular schools. Sure enough they did pay me that for a few days, but then (not so)mysteriously did not book me again for that school. However, I had the last laugh, because after three months of not being booked there by that agency, I approached the school direct, and they took me on as ad-hoc supply teacher directly, PAYE. Win/win.

I have been with the school for a solid 15 weeks. At week 12 The "consultant" rang to suggest I might want to work in other schools to " get my name out there" and hinted the school had said they wouldn't need me in a week or so.

Which is weird because the Deputy Head has said Easter at the soonest and asked me to organise various different things.

My conclusion is they are lying swines.

Well said, Lindor.

Sometimes it can be difficult to follow the teacher's plans too, especially if they are full of acronyms &c.

I've always been left work/planning/resources.

You don't need to slavishly follow them - just a guide is enough - Supply Teachers are used to thinking on their feet, but if the class is to progress, the incumbent teacher needs to tell them what they want the pupils to learn...

I am lucky that my LEA (apparently one of two in the country) have a supply service!

Are you in the Midlands banging?

I'm amazed. At every place I've worked at we've had to phone in work if off sick. How is a supply teacher supposed to provide any continuity of learning if work has not been set by the regular teacher. What a waste of lesson time for all involved.