Turning up for a supply job and being told I wasn't needed

[Sata]

Hi. I travelled a considerable distance to a supply teaching job today. After signing in and being issued a supply teacher ID, I was shown the classroom and given an outline of the day's activities. The class teacher was present but had to leave for an appointment. At about 8:55, the head arrived and told me I was not needed as there had been a mix-up, and a supply from another agency was taking the class.
I was speechless. It was too late to find another job for the day. When I left, the 'new' supply teacher was in the foyer with the headteacher.
I told the agency about my experience and said I thought it was unacceptable. I have received vague statements from the agency about whether I will be paid or not. I am surmising the school was at fault. I would like to know where I stand.

That's disgusting, they should have deployed you somewhere (or the later arrival, considering you'd already been briefed). It is their error they double booked cover from different agencies. At the very least, if they felt they needed to send one of you away it should have been the other person, who arrived after you. I can only assume they're a regular there who they didn't wish to upset but prioritising them over you, when you were already briefed is totally unprofessional.

Surely there was someone they could have released? Reception are baselining at the moment and can use all the cover they can get to allow them to crack on with it, as they need to pull children out 1-1. A subject leader could have been given some release time etc. Even just asking you to listen to readers would have been something! Of course you should be paid, they booked you and it meant you were unable to obtain other work that day. I would definitely keep on at your agency to sort this out as the school need to suck up their error and pay up.

I was mistakenly booked for the whole day once when I did supply when they only needed me to cover the sick Year 3 teacher for the morning as it would have been their PPA in the afternoon and the class was already covered by an outside agency sports coach. They apologised for their error and said they'd find me something else to do in the afternoon as it was their fault. Apparently the Year 1 teacher was owed PPA time, which they hadn't received the previous day, so the issue sorted itself and I was able to release her in the afternoon. That's the only rightful way for a school to respond when they've booked you for the day. Your take home income depends on how many hours you work when you do supply. They can't mess with people like that.

Make a note of telling your agency you do not wish to be posted to that school again.

I called the NEU, and the woman I spoke to said I should press the agency, especially since I was physically in the school and registered. She also said to read the contract I signed, which I have. In contract speak, it seems to say that the employee or school does not have to give any notice if either party wishes to end an arrangement. I wonder if that means a day-to-day supply arrangement, long-term supply or both. Either way, it seems appalling.
I am still fuming.
According to the NEU advisor, the agency is paid if the school is at fault but is not obliged to reimburse the supply teacher. If that is the case, I am surprised the head didn't find me something useful to do.

The agency should pay you half a day's pay, minimum. I've been in this situation twice with two different agencies. The firat time, the school tried to find me a class to go in to and I spent the morning covering a teacher on her subject release time. The second time, I got half a day's pay and went home. Any decent agency would have a policy for this and an agreement with the schools it works with. Schools would have already paid the agency at the booking stage and so usually scramble around trying to find someone for you to cover as they've paid for you anyway.

The part you mention above refers to your overall contract with the agency or if you're already placed in a school for any length of time. You weren't 'placed'.

Thanks for your responses. Much appreciated. I am new to supply teachinģ.

I hope you were paid. I have always been paid when something like this happened.

And was always paid full amount too. You were booked for the day after all.

I was working supply last term and I would expect to be paid if I was actually at the school. If they cancelled the night before I wouldn't.

I would take it up with agency in writing