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The staffroom

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

Supply teachers?

6 replies

Ihatesandwiches · 21/11/2019 21:10

Hi
So I left my .8 permanent post in July and signed up with a supply agency so I could spend more time with my family. I love it, I have enough money coming in, I get quite excited between 7.30 and 9 am waiting to hear if / where I'm working. BUT what do you do in the morning? Do you get dressed for work? Make a packed lunch? At the moment I am waiting to get dressed until I leave for the school run and then have to dash home and get changed if I'm needed. I'd rather have a bowl of soup but I'm not sure what facilities are available.... help please from more experienced supply staff!

OP posts:
Sotiredofthislife · 22/11/2019 15:34

It's been a while since I did day to day but I always got up and got ready and if necessary (rarely), I stood myself down at about 9:15am. I always make our packed lunches the night before so I just ate it if I didn't get work.

Most schools will have a microwave - although finding staffrooms, particularly in secondary, can take 20 of your 30 minutes in some secondary schools and you need the other 10 to find the bathroom! If you have time, warm soup and put it in a flask? Ask your agency to consider getting you as much prebooked work as possible so you know what you're doing which helps.

My supply bag consists of a full pencil case (lots of cheap pens - Wilkos very useful), my external hard drive (although few schools will let you plug these in now, it can be helpful if no planning left), KS3 and GCSE text books for my subject, a covered mug, sachets of all in one coffee with milk, tissues, wipes, hand sanitizer and lunch.

I carry a diary in which I write the school of the day and the agency that sent me (registered with 6 supply agencies at one point!) and then I have an elastic band over the inside front cover behind which I keep essential supply info the school gives me in written format (so I can pull it out next time) and I also write on that anything worth noting - odd room numbering, short cuts across school you discover after walking round for half an hour, timings of the day, codes needed to get in/out of doors and in/out of staffrooms and toilets etc. That's helpful reference for next time you're there.

Jenniferturkington · 22/11/2019 15:42

I take fruit/crisps etc which don't need preparation and usually have a Mug Shot type thing in my bag.
I get up and dressed for work as normal and stand myself down by 8.15.
I generally get days booked in advance though as it helps with childcare arrangements.

likeafishneedsabike · 22/11/2019 20:43

No helpful advice but I’m interested that you do the school run before setting off for a day’s supply. Surely you only arrive after P1 has started (or ended, depending on the journey!)

TheElfFellOffTheShelf · 22/11/2019 21:03

Do you get dressed for work? Only when I actually have work or else you can guarantee I'll spill milky cereal or tea or whatever all over myself and spoil my work clothes without having even left the house! Make a packed lunch? I usually find a shop near the school and buy a cheap sandwich and a small drink.

Dh takes the dc to breakfast club at 7.45 and I wait for the call with a nice cup of tea and enjoy the peace. If I haven't heard anything by, say, 8.30, I sometimes give the agencies a call to say I'm free should anything come in.

Ihatesandwiches · 23/11/2019 21:54

Thanks for the replies!
I have a "supply bag' with tissues, hand sanitizer, pencil case :-) just pop in my purse and phone.
I will be adding the coffee sachets!
I'm keeping notes of the times of the school day in different schools as the website doesn't always agree with reality.
@likeafishneedsabike - I rarely teach lesson 1 unless agreed in advance and I can book breakfast club! As a single parent, my agency knows I have to do the school run.in the morning - afternoons are covered by clubs, grand parents and friends. The grand parents are great and happy to say "no" if they are busy. School mum friends are great too as they work anti social hours and I will pick up their kids if I'm not working or babysit at the weekend.

OP posts:
Blondephantom · 24/11/2019 10:30

A thermos soup flask was part of my supply kit. It was the only one I found which kept the soup at an edible temperature. Plus keeping a couple of those water flasks which keep the water cold for hours on end in the fridge. I always managed with just the water but maybe a flask of hot water, if you prefer a warm drink. Handy for new schools while you work out how it works.

I didn't get dressed unless I knew I had work. Given you have a school run, I'd aim for some adaptable outfits. Pretty tops with trousers for school or change to jeans if not needed. Or just have an outfit to change into after the school run and keep your work outfit for the next day.

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