Supply teaching. It has quite the name for itself.  Picture a football manager out of their depth on the touchline with the team conceding goals. Or, the speaker of the House of Commons battling to maintain control of squabbling politicians. Both are instances where the phrase ‘oh, they’re just like a supply teacher’ are used in jest. But are these comparisons fair? We don’t think so! Our supply teachers are passionate and dedicated problem solvers. When students risk missing out on crucial learning time, they are on hand to deliver excellent lessons. Students are very fortunate to have them!

What are the realities of supply teaching in the UK at the moment? Why is it becoming an increasingly popular role change for experienced teachers? And, is it a viable career option for educators wishing to step away from the pressures of permanent teaching?

We ponder these questions and more in our blog ‘Supply Teacher Survival Guide.’

Why choose supply teaching as a career option?

A better work-life balance. The flexibility to work when you want. No staff meetings! These are just a few of the many factors that make supply teaching an attractive career choice. The information on this page is intended to provide you with a wealth of information about supply teaching, as well as advice on how to be successful in this field.

What are the responsibilities of a supply teacher?

Supply teachers are expected to teach, not just cover work. You will get asked back to work into the same schools if you deliver high-quality lessons. Teachers are responsible for teaching pupils according to the national curriculum, just as permanent staff are. Furthermore, they should mark students’ work and provide feedback, criticism, encouragement, and support as necessary.

What’s it like teaching with cover work as a supply teacher?

As a supply teacher, you will not be expected to spend long periods planning lessons. Great news for your workload! However, you will need to grapple with cover work that is left for you by the regular class teacher. In reality, this can be a mixed bag. Some teachers leave immaculate lesson plans with interactive whiteboard slides ready to go. Others leave minimal notes and resources that require you to think on your feet.

You may often need to use your initiative with regard to cover work. What would you do if:

• • The cover work is late?
  • The cover work is too challenging/easy?
  • The cover work does not take the whole lesson?
  • The cover work is not appropriate for the class?
  • The students tell you they have already done the cover work?
  • There is no cover work?!

Read: Advice on following cover work as a supply teacher.

Worried about leaving the classroom tidy for the regular teacher’s return? Read our tidy classroom tips here!

Using worksheets effectively

If you find that you are being left with fairly dull worksheets to complete with classes (that are likely to lead to poor behaviour) here are some tips for ‘making worksheets work for you‘.

What skills and strategies do you need to succeed as a supply teacher?

At Prospero Teaching, we regularly host live CPD sessions for teachers and teaching assistants. One of our most popular is ‘Supply Teaching Strategies’. This course offers you the chance to meet and share experiences with other supply teachers whilst receiving the wisdom of one of our expert teacher facilitators.

Check out our live CPD courses catalogue.

How do you manage behaviour as a supply teacher?

This is a big one. It’s a topic that puts many people off supply teaching. Is this fueled by the public perception of supply teachers or our own memories of cover teachers back when we were at school? Ultimately, positive behaviour management is challenging for supply teachers. Due to the nature of the role, you are meeting and setting behaviour expectations for new classes every day.

What are the causes of misbehaviour?

In our aforementioned CPD session, we cover behaviour in detail, looking at causes, preventive strategies and how to handle misbehaviour if it occurs. Engaged students are less likely to misbehaviour. Most misbehaviour is due to:

• • Boredom/lack of stimulation
  • Fear of getting something wrong
  • SEN/requirement for extra support
  • Pitch of the lesson being too high/low

Which parts of the lesson do we need to get right to maintain good behaviour?

There are many transition points during a lesson that can cause behaviour to break down. For example, when students are told to start a group activity or asked to hand out resources. How are you going to manage behaviour at each ‘transition point’? When arriving for a day of supply, look at the lesson plan you’ve been left and think about how you adapt it to reduce the causes listed above. Think about:

• • Pace of lessons
  • Assessment for Learning
  • Differentiation
  • Activities
  • Resources

What happens if I experience major misbehaviour as a supply teacher? 

Here are our top Dos and Don’ts in case you experience any major behavioural issues.

• Do stay in the classroom.
• Do stay calm and in control of your emotions.
• Do ask for help (school phone in the classroom, TA, nearby teacher).
• Do open the classroom door.
• Do use the children to help you deliver messages if necessary.
• Don’t make unrealistic threats.
• Don’t make physical contact with the children.
• Don’t block the exits.

Improving your behaviour management strategies through supply experience

On the flip side, supply teaching also offers the opportunity to hone and perfect your behaviour management strategies. A major part of this is learning how to quickly and clearly show a class you are in charge of the room and have high expectations for behaviour – you’ll want to work on your teacher persona for this.

See our below posts for loads of practical advice on preparing to manage your classroom behaviour successfully:

Read: Using a positive reward system is a great way to motivate students to behave. Here’s how to do that.

Read: Is controlling noise level disrupting your lessons? Here’s how to keep your classes calm.

Read: 5 Behaviour management tips for teachers returning to school.

Read: Getting lesson starts right – Classroom behaviour management advice.

If you have a longer-term position and want to help improve a classes’ behaviour, read: ‘Teaching learning behaviour and resilience with Primary classes.’

Where are the best places to work as a supply teacher?

Typically, supply teacher jobs are better placed in larger cities due to the proximity of schools. The greater the opportunities for work; the greater the flexibility.

Supply Teaching Jobs London

Supply Teaching Jobs Manchester

It is of course a great option in outer cities and more rural areas as long as you are prepared to travel greater distances. If you are new to the UK and are looking to gain teaching experience through supply work, here are 3 key aspects of lesson delivery that you should prepare for.

How much does marking impact your workload as a supply teacher?

You will of course still need to mark the students’ work after your day as a supply teacher. If the class teacher returns to find 80+ books to mark, it is unlikely you will be asked back to the school! Remember, substitute teachers, cover teachers, and relief teachers (whichever term you use) are there to support learning progress, not just to ‘babysit’ a class. Feedback and marking are key parts of the learning process.

Read: Marking strategies to reduce workload

I’ve had an offer to return to one of my supply schools for an interview. What should I do?

That’s great news! Check out our post on preparing for observation lessons and teacher interview questions here. If you are registered with Prospero Teaching, you have the option to receive individual support from a primary or secondary teacher who has experience as an interviewer too.

If you are in the process of writing or updating your teaching CV, check out our CV writing advice for teachers.