Supply TA... advice please!

[Teachymummy]

Hi I'm thinking of signing up to a supply agency for September and looking for advice.

What are the pros and cons of supply work? Can you request "in advance" bookings? As I would need to sort childcare so "On the day" booking would be tricky. I don't want to have to book and pay for childcare and then I don't need it if I don't get the call. Is it common to get a block placement in a school or is it usually just one day?

Does the supply agency sort tax/NI etc or would I have to sort that myself.

What about things like doctors appointments / kids appointments they need taking to etc? I have some things booked but deliberately did them first thing so as not to impact a school but can you say to the school / agency I can't come in until eg 9.30 on a particular day or will they get someone else for that day and then I'd lose a day's pay?

Do you have a bag ready packed incase you get the call?

What do you do about lunch? Obviously I won't know what facilities they have eg can I use the kettle?

So many questions 😂 all advice and tips appreciated thanks!

I haven't done supply work for 8 years or so so I imagine it's changed a bit since then as sadly many schools don't use supply teachers regularly since Covid and then the cost of living crisis, they tend to use HLTAs to cover unless absolutely desperate due to a big outbreak of staff illness. However, I'll do my best to answer some of your questions.

It may be agent dependent but yes you can request pre-bookings. Be mindful though that this will limit you greatly in terms of how much work you get. I use to be booked in advance to cover things such as courses but, due to budget cuts, it's not as common for schools to pay for staff to attend a course and, if they do, they'll likely cover it themselves these days with a HLTA. Schools are far more likely to need unexpected on the day cover now.

You can get block bookings. I use to quite often have 2 week placements to cover things like paternity leave or jury service. Longer blocks can be for things like long term sickness (maybe a staff member recovering from surgery who has been signed off for 6 weeks or so) or maternity leave, or later in the year just to take over a class whose teacher has left if they've not been able to appoint through advertising.

If you are to take on the day bookings, yes definitely pack a bag and make a packed lunch the day before as you don't want to be rushing around at 7am whilst also looking up directions. Some of my placements were the other side of the county a 40 minute drive away.

You'll be paid through the agency so yes they sort NI/tax codes for you. They'll even offer a pension scheme.

I really wouldn't advise asking if you can go in late due to an appointment. The school will almost definitely say no and ask for someone else instead. They're booking you for a reason, because they have nobody else to cover. If you have an appointment you have to accept you're only available for a half day that day. There's still call for half day bookings. Sometimes schools just need someone to cover PPA in the afternoon if their usual cover isn't available. If ever I wasn't booked in the morning I'd always make it clear to the agency that I'm available if needed for the afternoon, and sometimes the call would come in before 11am that yes there was work for me that afternoon. Half a day is better than nothing. Nursery classes often need cover as they have certain ratios to keep to, so if they've sent a member of staff home sick they may need half day cover.

If I was you, if you need something more structured because you need to organise childcare I would ask for block placements as ad-hoc supply only really works for those with no commitments. If anything, there's probably more block placements available these days than ad-hoc. It's not unusual for schools to struggle to appoint these days after advertising for things like maternity leave, so they approach agencies asking if they know anyone who may be available for 2 or more terms. More and more teachers these days sadly need to be signed off for their mental health too, so there are often placements of 2 weeks or more out there.

Thanks for your detailed reply @BoleynMemories13 .

I'm level 3 so I can cover classes.

Bag and packed lunch sounds a good plan then even if I don't get a call at least I'm sorted ready just in case.

Will look into half day options for appointment days.

Hi
I have been on Supply for a couple of years now. You can contact whoever is finding you work from the agency and say if you'd prefer advance or happy for both.
We have an online calender where you can click 'work not needed' or 'unavailable' too.

The best thing I invested in is a good lunch bag and a coffee/tea mug which keeps your drink hot for a few hours. Always have a few snacks, tea bags and a plastic spoon in my bag so if I find I can use milk and a kettle I am ready.

Try to keep appointments to after school time if possible.

The beauty with supply is if your child is sick/needs to go to doctors you just alert agency and someone else will cover you.

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