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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.

Calling all primary supply!

6 replies

countdowntobaby2020 · 15/05/2025 18:36

I’ve been tasked with creating an information/welcome booklet for any supply that comes to our school. Not specific information relating to the class/lessons they’re teaching but the general need to knows like break times, safeguarding team, fire plan etc. If you are a primary supply what would you like to know about the school on arrival? Any tips appreciated ☺️

OP posts:
Lancrelady80 · 15/05/2025 20:11

Name and where I can usually find key personnel - safeguarding team, head, secretary. Photos of them ideally.

TAs attached to each class (if this is the case.) 1:1, specific interventions or general TA?

Daily timetable clearly showing breaktimes, assembly time, lunch. The exact order of lessons will be different for each class, but you could still fill in as Lesson 1, Lesson 2, BREAK and so on.

Plan of the building, with fire meeting point clearly highlighted. I would want each classroom to modify their copy slightly so their class is outlined in a colour to help orientate. Lunch hall and staffroom equally clearly marked.

Any marking requirements eg marking codes if used, coloured highlighters, which colour pen used by children to edit vs used by teachers to mark. Is there a specific code to use to indicate work done by a supply teacher?

Presentation policy - ch write in pen or pencil? Print, cursive, continuous cursive? How work is laid out in books- date then title or vice versa, long date or short date ,WALT vs LO vs general title?

Photocopying code if needed at your school - we have a "Guest / Visitor" code. Location of copier! Also where spare paper can be found when it inevitably runs out with three copies left to print.

Info about staffroom - whether it's a free for all on the cup front, or if Mrs Jones gets sparky when a supply teacher accidentally uses "her" cup and so you have school branded ones for visitors (obviously you wouldn't explain about Mrs Jones, just about the branded cups!)

Lancrelady80 · 15/05/2025 20:19

Can't believe I forgot behaviour policy! Stickers or Paul Dix style? Dojo points? Traffic light style reward system? Team points? How to deal with bad behaviour - initials on board as a warning, or is this a no no? Children in at break? Or is that a straight no regardless? How to get help if needed - red card sent via child to a specific person? Walkie talkie?

Also hard copies of forms to fill in should they be needed for safeguarding purposes, and info on what to do with them once filled in. Sealed envelope dropped off at office? Sent via TA?

countdowntobaby2020 · 15/05/2025 21:25

@Lancrelady80 This is soooo helpful thank you!

OP posts:
zingally · 02/06/2025 11:43

A clear school map, with staff toilets and staffroom clearly indicated.
Codes for any doors.
Codes for the photocopier.
Timings for the day.
A couple of paper registers for each class.

RainyDaysAndGlumDays · 07/06/2025 19:59

That is a great idea - I had a folder in my classroom for supply with some of this general information - now that I'm in supply myself, I wish this was more widespread.

Things like are teachers expected to collect their class from the playground at registration/end of break/end of lunch?

First aid - do children get sent to the office or are there specific staff members to call?

Are you allowed to put Newsround on/movement videos as brain breaks, etc?

List of school-specific vocabulary, so if children ask if they can go to The Core/Hub, etc. you know what they mean.

Assembly expectations - are teachers expected to sit in assembly every day or only on Fridays? Do interventions/readers happen during those times instead?

Regular visitors to the school/class, e.g. piano teacher on Mondays, trumpet teacher on Tuesdays and parent volunteer for reading on Wednesdays.

Do children need lanyards to leave the classroom or toilet passes.

End of day arrangements, in terms of does the supply teacher also need to take children to wraparound care or the bus.

HundredPercentUnsure · 07/06/2025 23:32

Where the toilets are.

Safeguarding team.

The order of whom to call on for support, if needed - the behaviour policy.

The photocopier access.

The situation around tea bags, milk, coffee, sugar and mugs in the staffroom.

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