Beating crappy supply pay

[JenniferYellowHat1980]

Having left full time teaching for a job in the NHS while I train for a specialist teaching role, I signed up for two agencies. One (a big, national one used by the neighbouring county) has only been in touch now for the first time since last July - and they want me to re-register and provide yet more references! The other is used by the county I live in and they offer me occasional work but it's usually on the days I've told them I already work or TA work because they have a TA with the same name registered!

I've started using my own contacts to put the feelers out for supply and am now fully booked. I'm declining to work for less than UPS3 as I want to protect my salary for when I qualify in my specialist role.

I think it's time to cut the dead wood with useless supply agencies who expect us to work for the bare minimum. Just intending to encourage people in a similar position really, but I think if we supply teachers use our own networks and demand what we're worth, supply agencies won't be so able to call the shots re pay.

How are you getting the training to be a specialist teacher? I am desperate to leave mainstream.teaching and was hoping to go the same route.

Schools in my county only use one main supply agency. They don't employ self employed supply teachers.

It's a masters route. I may or may not get a job at the end of it but I can wait it out.

Schools in my county apparently only use supply agencies too, but I'm making the most of my network because agencies can't provide the specialists that schools need.

Just out off interest is it normal for agencies to charge a fee for administering your payslip and also to pay employers national insurance? I visited one and they said it was the norm. I'm hoping to avoid the agency route but if it's normal I would like to be prepared for it! Thanks

I don't know as they've never actually got me any work!

What pissed me off was that they obviously took a cut when paying me, then also charged me a fee to "Administer" my wage via their scheme!
Unfortunately most of the county now use agencies as a first call.

Sounds like a common thing then! Surely the cut they take should cover their payroll costs !

User, you need to make sure that you are PAYE rather than being paid through an umbrella company who will charge to administer your pay. Some agencies will say this is not possible but they pay their own staff through PAYE so there is no reason why you couldn't be paid this way too. Good luck.

I was supply teaching for a year and it taught me a lot mostly about the way supply agencies work!
I am on UPS 2 so the money some jobs were offering was way below my expectations.

They work like Estate Agents - remember they work for you.
It's also worth bearing in mind that there are many, many supply agencies and they need you just as much as you need them.

In my experience I would suggest that you sign up with as many agencies as possible and check their pay rates from the outset.
You don't have to sign up to umbrella companies and if they insist then just strike them off of your list of potentials and go to other agencies.
Be clear from the outset about your minimum salary expectations, I live rurally but not too far from some larger cities so I was clear that I expected to be paid more for travelling time and distance.
I explained my higher salary expectations using my experience and additional qualifications. That they could put me in a class and know that I was a safe pair of hands, this isn't as arrogant as it sounds, some of the schools I had worked at had employed some supply teachers who just couldn't manage.

There is more money in longer term contracts, even just for a month or so.
If you take a longer term contract and you are expected to plan and mark be clear that you expect to be paid more for this and how much this will be.

As I say, in my area there are so many supply agencies that I could afford to be picky and in the end I was able to play one off against each other.

Don't be afraid to take a slight reduction in pay if the agency works in a fairer, more ethical manner on your behalf as this pays itself back in the long run.

I could recommend some agencies and tell you which to avoid but I suspect that each branch of a larger company varies from area to area and it's all down to their staffing.

Most of all; don't be afraid to stick to your guns and know your own worth.
They play hardball and you have to be prepared to do the same, I learned this the hard way.

As PPs have said - good luck.

Thank you all so much for all the helpful advice. I will definitely take it on board as I make approaches, as you say individual staff vary so much between branches.