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

Supply topTips

8 replies

Cannedheat1999 · 15/01/2024 08:49

I’m starting supply work for the first time. Been teaching for over 20years but never as supply. Any top tips?

OP posts:
PrimaryTeacher123 · 15/01/2024 19:40

It might seem obvious, but be friendly and I mean to the office staff, the TA's, the teachers. The TA's and other staff members will inform the teachers and the senior staff what they think of you! Supply is a great way to earn some money, do some teaching but without all the admin and rubbish that goes with being a full time class teacher and you can have a life outside the classroom. But you are a visitor and it's someone's class, bear that in mind.

Best course of action is to be firm with the children, check the behaviour policy but stay calm at all times. What I mean by that is with your own class, the kids know you; you can afford to get cross etc with your own class. But don't go down that road with kids who don't know you. Just keep calm, use humour, praise and positivity. Tell them they're great all day, and you are likely to have a good day. In conjunction with this, sus out the school. Some will like you to be really strict, some will like you to be warm and fluffy. Work out what they want and just go with it.

It can be challenging. Some schools you will never want to set foot in again, some will be ok, some you will like, but just go with it, so to speak. Most schools will be happy with you, just as long as you can adequately cover the class for the day without any major traumas.

The joy of supply is that if you have a bad day (and you will!), just tell your agency you don't want to go back there again, and that's that, worry no more and enjoy your evening. In the schools you like, make an effort in all respects, mark the books, praise the school and they will call you back.

And finally, always have one of those pens to hand that has all the colours. Some schools mark in blue, some in red, some in green! I used to bring a pack of spare glue sticks, pencils, whiteboard pens etc (just a few spares) as you can end up with kids without resources in a few schools and nobody around to ask.

Dendron123 · 18/01/2024 21:51

Always remember (if things go awry) that you never have to set foot in that particular school again…..it always lifts the spirits in difficult moments…

Expect things to go wrong that are not your fault but will make pupils assume automatically are… (eg school login not working)…

On a more positive note you will meet some delightful children and schools are often grateful….

RedLeicesterRedLeicester · 23/01/2024 21:55

I loved supply for years.
My best trick was I had a little bag of prizes (mostly stationary from £1 shop) and did a points tally for each table then the best at end of day got a prize.
it was a great way to keep positive vibes going.

Also mark as you go, don’t want to be stuck there all day marking. If doing a longer piece of work that you take over tell kids to put a dot in margin where they start that day and only mark that.

Defo be firm.

RedLeicesterRedLeicester · 23/01/2024 21:57

And if there’s work set that you just don’t understand sometimes I think the teacher who set it & colleagues don’t either so don’t sweat it. Just put your spin on it or do it for 10 mins & have something else planned.

if you have gaps in time get them to stop working in books & do stuff on paper. Then recycle it

good96 · 24/01/2024 11:16

Organisation and time management are key when it comes to supply teaching- you won’t have a permanent teaching base and you’ll need to be adaptable too.
In general there should be work set for you to teach but in some cases - you may only have guidance from the HoD or another teacher as to what to teach.
I’d also say you would need to be resilient too - some students think that when their permanent teacher is absent - they don’t have to do any work of the like….

good96 · 24/01/2024 11:19

I would also be wanting to make a positive impression too - as you will be asked back again and again……
a bad reputation will get around - and you’ll find yourself with no or minimal work…

Dendron123 · 27/01/2024 09:33

I would also say, consider using some down time to retrain in another field. I wish I'd done this.

Alternatively, if you want to remain as a teacher, set yourself a maximum length of time to be on Supply before applying to be permanent again (I would suggest 2 years max)

TitaniasAss · 27/01/2024 10:12

Get to know the Cover Manager. Be firm and consistent.

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