Supply or part time teacher?

[girlladywoman]

Hello there!

I am returning to teaching and have joined a supply agency. Obv I won't get paid for 3 months of the year so am considering finding a part time teaching role such as a job share. Has anyone got experience in either and know which would pay more. Obv it would depend on how many days etc etc but just hoping someone has experienced the same choice?

What do you teach? I think they will give people a clearer idea.

I’d say the main thing with supply is not knowing. You can have periods of just not working and there might be greater travel costs involved rather than taking a part time role.
You can do supply in some schools and hate it and not want to go there again and be turning down jobs.

Whats your childcare situation as a lot of supply is getting phone calls at 7-7.30am for work that day. You might have childcare arranged and no work for instance.
Not a teacher, but booked supply in secondary.

I was considering this last year, in case it sways you, if you want to continue contributing to Teacher's Pension (if you had one previously), I believe you can't do that on supply. For that reason, plus job and regular income security, I'd go for part time myself.

An alternative would be took look at being a specialist mentor (teaching study skills) to university students. Most agencies pay £30ph and it’s WFH. Downsides are it’s seasonal (Oct to March) but there is plenty of work available. I easily fill 9-3 4 days a week.

Primary ?
Secondary?
Which subject?
Where do you live (as in a big city / rurally, not specifically)
Can you go in if you get a call that morning, or are you needing childcare?
Have you got your own transport ?
How willing are you to teach across the age range ?

All the above will make a difference as to how much work you get.

It used to be that if you worked every day of the school year, you would end up with the same amount over a year as a FT teacher - getting a higher daily rate, but nothing in the holidays. Then agencies came along and undercut each other until supply don't get paid nearly so well. Plus school budgets are now so stretched that schools try to 'manage' as long as they can without getting supply in.

Also depends on how 'part time' you mean of course.
Finding PT roles when your foot isn't already in the door is also a challenge, as there are a LOT more teachers that want to work PT than there are roles.

You can’t contribute to your teacher pension as supply.
Your daily rate will probably be around £110-120 gross.
Phone call can be anytime from 7am onwards, and you may have to travel a considerable distance in a week if you need a living wage.

The flexibility is fantastic, and if you are any good, you’ll build up schools that ask for you as a first choice and that you enjoy working in.
The lack of guilt at not working when you’re ill is also wonderful.

If you find a PT job in a school you like, you could supply on other days, but PT has a known, built-in creep factor and you’ll likely end up working more than your contracted hours without extra pay.

It really depends on what you class as part time and how much you need financial security. I did Supply for a while (Primary) and quite enjoyed it. I loved choosing where I worked and you often get called back to schools so you can build good relationships. The workload is very low so getting home at 4 was lovely and I easily worked 4 days a week.
That said, you never really settle anywhere, you don’t have a guaranteed income and you can’t build the same relationships with the kids (or staff).

approach schools directly and be asked to put on their supply lists. Some schools will even interview for these positions. You’ll continue paying into your pension this way (assuming it’s local authority) I’d avoid agencies

Hi everyone and thank you for your replies! I'm a primary school teacher, have a car, my daughter will be at school so can go to morning/afternoon care etc. I don't mind doing extra on PT as as a full time teacher - before I had a child - I worked 7-7 most days in school so understand the extra work needed. Maybe if I start as supply and see how I go and then start looking for PT and also being employed by a a school for cover. I've seen some being advertised. I live in a small town equidistant to two large towns and a city.

As a primary supply teacher, I can say that you will very probably be offered a job within a couple of months, and would be in a good position to negotiate PT then. You will also have a realistic idea of what the school is like.

FWIW, I’ve been supplying for a year, and have had job offers. At first I was enjoying my freedom, so didn’t go down that route. Now I’m ready for stability, so will be applying for TA roles.

That's great!!!

I would apply for HLTA roles in your positon - bit more money and with your experience, you would easily get one.

Schools are desperate for more TAs & HLTAs at the moment.

Sign with as many agencies as possible.

Some will withhold some of your pay so you can receive it over the summer. It is unusual to be offered work in September and it usually dries up between Easter and Summer.

I did a mix of long term supply and day to day.

The rules have changes about claiming expenses, basically you can't claim travel like you used to.

Day to day is probably the worst, you get called up to cover a secondary school, each classroom has a piece of paper on the desk asking the children to make notes and answer questions on page 52.

The students know you are only there for the day and they will play up. One thing I would do was start them making notes and then go around the class writing the time in the margin next to the last word written and then leave a note for the teacher.

It's good to have something up your sleeve for covering things like tutorials, I used to have a pack of cards with logic puzzles on, I'm also a sign language user and that has come in useful a couple of times.

If you cover secondary (I know you said you were primary but to start with take what is offered) most students will claim they do not have a pen, if you start off your day with a box of pens they will be gone before 3.00 pm, I got round this by having pens printed with 'stolen from Ms sashh' in a pencil case so I knew how many had been handed out, it was worth the cost and the pens always came back to me - they were also glittery so I could spot them.

Always take a packed lunch and flask of coffee. Most schools you need to have your finger print taken or an ID card to pay for food so don't expect to be able to buy something. On the other hand one school had unlimited hot drinks and compulsory free breakfast for staff and students.

If you agree to do half days check the timetable. I did long term supply at a school that had a late lunch and then just one period after lunch so the staff on day to day might be paid for a morning but actual work 4/5 of the day.

Overall I really enjoyed doing supply.

Good luck.

I think rates depend on experience and where you are in the country. I got between 140-160 gross a day for secondary and this was a few years ago now. I also worked for 2 different agencies. One deducted a small amount and paid it over holidays, one didn't.
Loved no work in evenings (again depends how long supply contract and what they/you want).
Flexibility
Saying no
Booking holidays whenever you want
Never ever been short of work with the exception of September, that can be quiet whilst teachers return
Good to get a feel for different schools
Negatives are no sick pay and uncertainty. Once you get started you'll be requested back a lot providing you do a good job
Part time work is likely to still have a mountain of stuff to cover. I've never known a part time teacher do the hours they're paid for but then again, I've never known a full time teacher do so either!
It really does depend on your risk factor. There's a huge shortage of teachers at the moment so I think work wise you'd be OK but there's still a risk of no work. A lot of supply is just cover work but can also be longer term placements so it's up to you. You can specify if you're prepared to mark/plan

Thanks!!! This has all been SO helpful

Hi,
what did you do? How did you get on?
im considering supply or part time but i am u sure.
Thank you

Has anyone got experience of retiring at 55-57 with 30 years of experience and drawing pension and doing supply 2 or 3 days a week? Another option I have been thinking of is reducing to 3 days a week and do supply on 2 days as and when I feel like. I m currently a full time secondary school teacher for 30 years. Feel exhausted and wanted to focus on me and my health as I work very long hours. I need to reduce work load but worried financially so exploring various options. I know I can't pay into pension on my supply days which I fine.

Can you look at being a supply teacher with your local authority or direct with a few schools.