Tips for supply

[BG2015]

I'm retiring this year after 29 years in primary. I've taught mostly in EYFS and KS1 (which is my comfort zone) but have done some PPA cover in KS2.

I still need some work topping up my pension but don't want a 'job' as such. I want more freedom as we want to travel when we can. I don't want to have to go through a long winded interview process and have 20 days holiday a year. Tutoring would still restrict me so that's out too.

I do have an interview coming up for speed awareness training which is self employed and quite flexible but now I'm thinking I could maybe do supply for 3 days a week.

Can I state I only want year groups up to Y3? I've read the top rate is about £120-150 a day? And can I go with multiple agencies or is it best sticking to one?

With Supply, you’re free to express your preferences, and you can decline any roles that aren’t a good fit. Rates vary across the country, but it’s completely acceptable to ask for higher pay—especially if the role requires a particular specialism, involves a long-term commitment, or is at a more challenging school.

No specialism - just your average teacher.
Thanks for your advice.

I only ever did Nursery-Year 3 when I did supply work between jobs. My agency respected my request. I think it's pretty normal for teachers to have preferred age groups to work with. The only downside would be less work opportunities. There was always plenty of work for me back when I did it, but that was pre-covid. I know less schools book supply cover these days due to budget cuts. A lot tend to rely on HLTAs to cover.

Yes, at my current school we haven't had any supply for years. I have been the cover teacher at my school for the past year as I haven't had a class.

I did it years ago back in 2001. It wasn't so bad. Beauty is you just walk away every day.

You can specify with the agencies what year groups you would like to teach - you will be sure to have plenty of assignments - Only thing I would suggest is to sign up to multiple agencies.

Thanks, I've joined a supply Facebook group and some people local to me have suggested who to go with regarding agencies.

Im still not sure whether it's the route I want to go down as it's probably hard work, but at least I can walk away and not go back if it's particularly dire.

Multiple agencies - they are all chasing the same work

Flexibility is important. You can request preferences but I have always found just saying yes and giving it a go means I get the work I want most of the time.

play agencies off against the other when you have established reliability and no complaints. You can get higher rates if careful - most will pay a bit more if they know the school will be happy.

I've been supplying pretty happily for 7 years now. My main reason being that I stopped being able to hack 65+ hour weeks with what I later learned was undiagnosed ADHD. I spent years feeling stupid and confused as to why I was struggling so much.
Then my dad died unexpectedly at age 62, and I just thought "fuck this."

The main thing I'd say about supply is that you have to have the right personality for it. You have to be pretty go with the flow and ready to face anything. You can wake up in the morning, and genuinely have no clue what the day is going to bring.
You also have to be pretty bullet proof. I wasn't to start with, and that's taken real work on my part. I've met some wonderful classes, and some fuck-the-hell-off classes. When you meet those awful classes, it's just about surviving. Accepting that you're not going to teach them anything, putting on your battle armour and surviving.

@zingallythats great advice. I've got appointments with 2 supply agencies soon to register. After 29 years I'm not phased by much. Had chairs thrown, kids sitting under tables to name a couple. Going to give it a go. I can always do something else if I don't lie, it.