Supply teacher tips from PK Education

Here’s our 25 top tips for supply teachers

If you’re transitioning from permanent teaching into temporary or supply assignments in 2019, check out our top supply teacher tips below:

1. The first of our supply teacher tips. It all starts with your registration, be honest and tell us as much as you can about what you’re looking for so we can use it to find the right school for you.
2.  You can speed up your registration by contacting your references before us, if they know to expect our call they are more likely to be prepared and ready to complete them quickly.
3. Make sure you add your DBS to the online update service when you receive it! It will save you time and money in the long run, but you only have a limited amount of time to apply for it.
4. One of our top tips. Make sure you’re up early and your phone is with you in the morning, if we can’t get hold of you we can’t get you out to work.
5. Bring your own favourite  supplies – having a survival kit with your own stationary and items you might need just in case. It can help save time and stress in the morning.
6. Availability is key – keep us up to date with your availability and we can be more proactive in lining up work for you with local schools.
7. Leave the class at least as clean as you found it, tidier if possible! Saving regular staff the job of cleaning up leaves a lasting impression.
8. Leave some feedback with the school, by letting the contact know you’ve had a good day they’ll be more inclined to invite you back.
9. Be proactive! Don’t sit back, use your initiative and get as involved as you can do during the day.
10. Research the schools – check school websites and Ofsted reports for information, making an extra effort to find out about their school is a sure fire way to impress.

10 more supply teaching tips

1. This may  sound simple but it’s tricky to get right. Dress to impress – we always advise smart casual so no jeans or trainers. If you’re in a nursery or SEN setting though do check with us for any specifics.
2. Another great tip. If you’re unsure don’t be afraid to ask for clarification on what’s needed to make sure you get things right the first time.
3. Always take your DBS and photo ID to school with you. Even if you’ve been there before, it might be needed in case of an audit and you could be sent home without it.
4. Make a good impression. Introduce yourself to anyone you meet from receptionists to caretakers, they might give you some useful tips about the school and it could make you more memorable too.
5. Be on time! Good timekeeping is one of the easiest ways to make an excellent first impression in school, being early will also give you chance to get set up for the day with less stress.
6. Have some ideas for fun time fillers, a go to activity you can use to fill gaps in the day will help kids engaged and behaviour in check.
7. If you’re relying on public transport, check your route in advance and leave extra time for any traffic so you arrive in plenty of time.
8. Get to know the school’s routines. Knowing what to do and when will ensure the children know what to expect throughout the day.
9. Remember to ask someone in the school who knows the class about the pupils. Knowing their needs in advance will let you adjust your plans and deploy teaching assistants effectively.
10. Familiarise yourself with the school as soon as you can, check the timetable, behaviour policies and general expectations so there are no surprises during the day.

5 more tips for supply teachers

1. Ask if there’s a seating plan when you arrive in school or can pupils sit where they like? Sticking to these plans can help to keep behaviour under control in class.
2. Get back in touch with us at the end of the day and feedback what you thought of the school, this way we get to know which schools suit you best.
3. At the end of the day. Leaving handover notes for regular staff makes their return to class smoother and they’ll thank you for it too!
4. Go the extra mile, offering your help with midday duties, after school activities and saying goodbye with a smile will make sure you leave a good impression which will help lead to future bookings.

We hope these supply teacher tips have been helpful. Number 25 – our final advice is to make the most of the time off on weekends, recharge your batteries and relax. We update our teaching and pupil support jobs every day, so keep checking back for the latest roles.