Supply teachers, give me your best tips

[MrsZola]

I've been teaching for years, but have decided I can't be doing with the shenanigans that permanent teaching has become. I can't afford to do full on retirement until the end of the year, so I'm doing a 2 day a week job share and supplementing with daily supply. What I need is some top tips from all you experienced supply teachers.
TIA 😊

It’s counter intuitive but keep the door open. It has a calming effect as they know they can be seen and heard by any passing member of SLT.

Ooh I did a bit of supply last year between contracts. I was secondary so some may not be relavent.

Dealing with the agency ensure you bargain for decent pay if you do a long term contract - there is nothing worse than finding out you are paid less than someone else. Also pay all your salary into a savings account and then pay your self from that an allowance each month so you have enough to cover holidays. I tracked using a spreadsheet.

Decide if you want to do half days or not - I did and enjoyed it but some people don't.

As for teaching don't worry to much about them completing of work. If I could get To a computer I did find doing the date title and tasks into a PowerPoint very effective. Showing a bbc teach clip related the to the lesson was also helpful

It's totally liberating doing supply. Just work out where to park so you can beat the buses at the end of the day. If I had a free I offered to help TA or just did the staff room pots- because I know how stressful it is teaching full time.

I loved finishing at 2.30 at some schools and going for a coffee!

I did take a permanent contract at one of my schools and i LOVE it so much. Also love the mental break . Take term time holidays too - loved that so much too.