I resigned a full time job to go on supply at the point when there was too much going on for me personally that something needed to ‘give’. The school I resigned from was unsupportive of my personal situation and I knew as it inevitably got worse, I was risking my long term in the profession as they wouldn’t have hesitated to be difficult with references.
I have never looked back. I know all the local schools and know where I would never consider taking a job (and not what I would have expected). I have worked day to day, and long term from half a term to a full year. I now work 3 days contract in a school I got on well with on supply, one day on a PPA basis on a contract on another school I was introduced to through supply and the 5th day I do day to day work for one of the agencies I worked particularly well with when I supplied full time. I learnt the joy of primary (secondary trained) and that opened up a whole new side to the job that I had never considered.
The downside is that agencies are money making machines and some actively try to do their staff out of money. I am a shortage area subject which I think helps but on long term assignments I quickly learnt to settle for nothing less than pay at M6 equivalent because they pay it, albeit sometimes with reluctance. Day to day can pay very badly as you end up on cover supervisor or HTLA rates although once you are known to both agency and schools, you can start to push that basic rate higher. It’s a game but if you learn to play it you can win.
You need a thick skin and no nonsense attitude. Kids try and play you up but once they realise you didn’t come down with the last fairy shower, it is fine. Arriving early at schools can be helpful as they will say things like ‘maths, science or IT’ and you pick the day you want (always go for IT if on offer! Doddle!), tidying classrooms, speaking with HODs, having a cheery word for reception staff all helps enormously. There are lots of groups to join on Facebook which will give you an idea.