Starting out...

[AlexF]

Hi all - my name's Alex and I'm considering Supply Teaching for the stárt of this academic year.

Basically, I'd like some advise on my situation, whether anyone has heard of the Agency that are helping me and hopefully settling any nerves I have about the profession!

I'm an English graduate and have always played with the ídea of teaching. I thought that supply would be a great way of letting me know whether or not teaching is for me. I put it off the first time round, due to nerves, I must admit, but have come back to the ídea again.

I've seen first hand how Supply Teachers are treated by pupils. Going to an inner city school in Birmingham I have seen most things! It's not that I am scared, it's just the fact that I have had no previous classroom experience - so contrólling the pupils will be something I will learn on-the-job! From what I have seen, doing this will be a tough task. Seeing what I have, can have its pro's because nothing will surprise me; but knowing it could happen unsettles me.

Obviously this is daunting for me, I was just wondering whether anyone has stárted supply teaching from a similar situation as myself and whether anyone could offer any advise that will concentrate my train of thought?

Aspire People are the agency lookíng after me and they have suggested that getting me work would not be a problem - has anyone worked with these people before? I hear that 'work not being a problem' is a common phrase used by agents.

Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated!

All the best

AlexF

[NuttySupplier]

Hi AlexF...

Would this be primary or secondary?

My initial thoughts reading your post are that trying a different route may be a good
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
... rather than get paid as an unqualified supply teacher, you could try work as a TA to start with?

After my first degree I spent a year as a non-teaching assistant and special needs assistant in a
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
of schools, it really opened my eyes and to be honest, I learnt more about teaching observing and working with the teachers for that year, than I did on my PGCE! Invaluable. And less threatening... and probably not much difference in wages really.

[AlexF]

Thank you for your response, Nutty.

Well, I have been thínkíng for God knows how long about what level! I know quite a lot of teachers myself and they all state that Primary is much better and as stated, I'm pretty nervy about the whole thing so Primary seems the better option. Even though I think Secondary would be something to get my teeth into!

The only problem I have, let me take a deep breath here, I don't have a C at Science and Maths GCSE! I D'd on both! If I were to take the TA route, would I still need to obtain the C's as well as the TA NVQ? Or do schools still allow TA's in without the NVQ? Sorry for my lack of knowledge!

This would seem a more obvious option as I need to be earning due to financial commitments, so voluntary work wouldn't cut it!

[NuttySupplier]

I'd be
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
if you weren't allowed to be a supply TA and you would be able to be a supply teacher without Maths C grade! Something would be wrong there...

Can you register with your local college and put in for the Maths GCSE this December? That'd sort out a lot for you...

For a TA, there really are no qualifications needed at entry level... lots of mums fall into the positions from doing voluntary work, though this is becoming more rare as qualification levels are created and Heads can't justify taking a mum on when someone with HLTA status comes to the same interview, if you see what I mean.

You could start with doing TA supply and by October half term I would expect that schools would recognise your degree and not even consider the missing GCSE.

[AlexF]

I've registered with a cóuple of agencies that specialise in TA supply. I've got some youth work experience, so that has helped me out with registration.

If I can avoid getting the Maths GCSE, I'll try to as I absolutely hate that subject, no offence to Maths teacher - hah. But if need be I'll go and get it, or at least an equivalent.

Hopefully the agency get me some work, a good month or two worth of it, then I can approach colleges for the NVQ course. Let's just say I get the NVQ - will that set me up well to approach a school to take me on a GTP or something?

[audrey]

Hi Alex and welcome to the site-lots of good advice from Nutty already. To be honest I started off as a TA and also can confess to learning more about strategies etc from teachers than on my PGCE!

Just one thing though-you may have to also do your science GCSE as teaching courses also ask for that these days. Don't stress though as it is possible whilst you work as a TA.

I wish you all the luck in the world, it is obviously something that you have considered for some time so you will probably love the educational environment once you get in there.

Good luck and keep us informed as too how you are getting on
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

[AlexF]

The predicament I'm in now is this; my partners Mother is a full-time Teaching Assistant. I told her about signing up to a TA agency, her concerns were that work may be scarce and also the majority will be special needs schools, which will be harder than supplying Secondary school.

Would you advise me to just go and try Secondary school supply and bite the bullet? At least then I'll know for definite whether teaching is for me?

[NuttySupplier]

Originally Posted by AlexF
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

1. work may be scarce

2. the majority will be special needs schools, which will be harder than supplying Secondary school.

3. Would you advise me to just go and try Secondary school supply and bite the bullet? At least then I'll know for definite whether teaching is for me?

1. Not round these parts!! I guess, as with supply teachers, it depends on the area you live in / the attitude of the schools.
2. I personally wouldn't go near a secondary school on supply, but have done special needs schools for years... that depends on your character I think. If you're a supply TA in a secondary school, chances are you're working alongside a special needs kid for the day anyway... in a special needs school I imagine you'd get more support.
3. No! Can your agency not just send you to different places? Tell them you'll accept work as a TA or teacher, in any of the key stages. And don't think that a day on supply as either will help you decide... my first day on supply in the north (after teaching in the south for 6 years) I cried and walked out of the classroom... it was horrendous. If I'd not had the years in the south beforehand, I would never have gone back into a school... It was nothing like what being a teacher means! My issue was the school / lack of support from the head / children's behaviour...

However... doing supply work you'll find yourself working very short hours, up to a third what you would normally do with a contracted job, you'll find you never get to know the kids (sometimes a good thing) and a whole load of other good / bad points... you'll find yourself having massively different experiences each day... it's fantastic experience and I believe anyone who is a qualified teacher should do at least a year as a supply teacher, they'd learn so much about themselves / the job, but it's very different from being a teacher and having your own classes...

I'd still plump for being a TA to help you decide rather than doing supply at an unqualified rate... observe others without the pressure of having to teach and manage the kids yourself.

Oh, and on the GCSEs... you definitely need to get them!!!!!