
08 Nov How can supply teaching lead to a safer, more secure career?
Supply teaching is often associated with providing short-term cover solutions within the education industry. Providing teachers with a flexible working option, supply work paves the way for the fulfilling career they’re qualified for without commitment. But what if you’re seeking a placement lasting more than a few days? What are the positive aspects of a long-term position, and are the benefits of supply teaching still relevant?
Faster access to work
By opting for a supply teaching role, you’re more likely to be paired with your new school quickly, and you won’t be limited to starting at the beginning of a new term. This can also be an advantage for the school if they need to find teaching cover quickly. Suppose a staff member suddenly goes off on long-term sick, for example. In that case, schools will find a replacement teacher much faster if supply cover is organised through an agency as opposed to going through a time-consuming recruitment process.
Flexible lifestyle choice
Although short-term supply teaching provides flexibility because you can pick and choose the days you’re available, long-term positions can also provide an effective work-life balance. By undertaking this supply work, you will gain valuable teaching experience but can take time off afterwards or move on to a different educational setting. This will allow you to gain experience in all aspects of teaching, such as lesson planning, marking and attending parents’ evenings, with the freedom to pursue other interests or opportunities once the placement has finished.
You might want to provide maternity cover for six months, for example, and then travel before starting another supply position when you return. Long-term supply teaching essentially offers a middle ground by providing a more stable working arrangement with the option of exploring other commitments.
Explore different teaching options
Whether you undertake long-term cover or prefer to work more sporadic basis, supply teaching allows you to work in different educational settings. For example, you might provide cover for two terms at a primary school and then finish the school year in an SEN setting. This allows you to try out new school environments without committing to working in them permanently.
Through working in various schools, you’ll also be able to talk to others employed there and observe different ways of teaching that you can apply and put into practice in the future. Not only is this a great way of improving and developing your skills, but it will help you to decide on the sort of permanent roles you might like to apply for in the future. This knowledge and experience can be compelling because if you’ve worked in several educational settings throughout your supply career, you’ll be able to apply the wide range of skills you’ve acquired to whatever teaching path you choose.
Contact us about Supply Teaching
Speak to the team at The Teachers’ Hub if you want to venture into supply teaching. We will help you find a suitable school for you across Derby, Nottingham and the rest of the East Midlands.