New to supply teaching

[cornwall1]

I've just finished teaching 2 years of yr 6 and will as of september be doing primary supply teaching till I get to know the new area I'm moving to (Cheltenham).
As I'm completely new to supply teaching, any tips that anyone might like to pass on would be great... perhaps a TOP FIVE things to do / prepare/ NOT to do would be really helpful.
I will be going through an agency and hopefully I'll have work coming in regularly. I have to say I'm rather worried about teaching KS1 as I have next to no experience with the very little ones- so any helpful resource
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s/ where to find good books would be great.

Thank you
Cornwall1

[firecrest]

Hello and welcome to the Forum.
I
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ted supply last year and from Sept to Dec was wor
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day to day supply, after then I have been doing long term contracts so I plan myself now.
Generally spea
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I have found most work set for me but I usually had a
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of activities for any age ready - check out Primary Resources as they often give an age range for work.
I teach in infants (although I would rather teach older ones) give them short sharp tasks keep it fast moving for them so they stay focussed. In an emergency to give you time to sort yourself out I have given chn of all ages a sheet with letters a-z and they have to find animals, countries etc beginning with each letter. I also have written a word on the board and the chn have to find words with in it.
I take with me pencils pencil crayons and glue (cheap tescos one) stickers, and trainers.
That is all i can think of right now but I am sure others will offer their advice.

[NuttySupplier]

Hi Cornwall1!

OK, top five, here goes:

1. Don't panic, appear confident, and you'll have a much easier day and the school will be more likely to ask for you back.
2. Take bottles of water, the staffroom can range from hostile to looooovely, but mugs for visitors tend to be few and far between!
3. Have 3-4 activities up your sleeve that require no resources, even if it's simple things like mental maths games.
4. 99% of the time I find also that planning is done for me, but if it isn't, ask, ask, ask, it should in theory all be there somewhere!
5. Although it's nice to visit the staffroom, appear friendly etc., make sure you use the whole of break, and 45mins out of an hours lunchtime mar
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if you're in KS2, or you may be the last to leave!

Keep coming back here too, this forum has tonnes of stuff (hidden between chocolate cake recipes!)

[Footiegirl]

Hi Cornwall1,

don't know if I can manage 5 top tips, but I will see how I go!

1) have an easy to read map in the car so you know (roughly) where you are going!

2) Be nice to all school staff - secretary, cleaners, caretakers etc as they all talk to the HT about supply staff - and thank them for a nice day (if you liked the school and want to go back!!) on your way out.

3) Have a few 'emergency' activities up your sleeve - as Nutty has said there are a few on here and on supply bag. If stuck, ask again and we will rack our brains to help!

4) Have some lunch/water/flask of tea/coffee with you incase the staff does not have any/ is not welcoming.

5) Some generic stickers/certifi
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es for good work/behaviour etc as an incentive for class.

Overall have fun and remember if you do not like the school/class you do not have to go back again
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Look forward to chatting to you again!

[cornwall1]

thank you all for your helpful tips- it's great to have this kind of support... and of course some random recipes for those days off!!
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[NuttySupplier]

Just don't make too many of Clarabelle's recipes, they all taste too good and you'll end up twice the size you are now!

[ruby_tuesday]

Bit too late for top tips but hope you managed to get some work and it went well!

[cornwall1]

yes- the work is coming in more steadily. I'm having a huge range of experiences- as would be expected. Some schools are great- others terrible- with teachers who shout at the children and teaching assistants who tell children they're thick- awful! But it's great to have a look into so many different schools.

I'm just peed off that my agency (Hays) is ma
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me pay £40 to have another CRB check done in Gloucestershire- cause they have to have their own one done- as though it's any different from the one I did the very day before!!! Ridiculous!

But other than that- all good.
And thanks for the continued support- this is an excellent forum!
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[NuttySupplier]

Glad you're getting on well!

CRB checks are a joke... what if you went and robbed someone the minute after the report was generated? No-one would find out until you moved county again!

[danfur]

I totally agree. I can't understand why there isn't just a national database that can be updated all the time and checked by designated people in schools. Would make life so much easier.