#supplyteaching

...you were great where you lasted. 

Last Sunday was a productive day. The rain stopped and I got down and dirty in the garden, digging through the upper raised bed to remove all the stones and other detritus (including a complete hoe!), planting mum's tulip bulbs and starting to cover the 'lawn' with cardboard to kill it off over the winter ready for re-landscaping in Spring 2015.  Added some more yesterday - it looks very Heath Robinson, but will hopefully do the job.  Spending time outside getting my hands dirty was a tonic.

An early call from FRPS on Monday morning (the agency also called me just as I was leaving the house at 8.30am - too late).  Back in class 13 - knowing the children and staff really helps and the day went reasonably well.

Tuesday was a planned day off (hilarious).  Really useful meeting with AL at County Hall re: Adult Education Tutor post - it looks like it would be worth my while applying to their pool (application submitted yesterday, onlne).  This was just what I wanted to do with someone from the University - a chat to establish what they were after and whether I might have something useful to offer - it's so frustrating that they cut me off so abruptly rather than agreeing to an informal chat.

Visited the Dr and was given antibiotics (without having to ask - result!) for my persistant head/face aches (sinusitus?).  Met with Leisa and other Worcester Feministas that evening to talk about our forthcoming event next week.

On Weds and Thurs I covered Y2 at SRPS,  The TA, J, was welcoming and really helpful (although I didn't have her on Weds pm) and the children generally amenable, although there was a trio of difficult boys.  I got the perhaps faulty impression that I was expected to stick to the positive reinforcement road, rather than coming down strictly on unacceptable behaviour, and this set a limit on the extent to which I was able to deal with difficulties. Taking my cue from the TA, and lacking confidence in my own judgement, meant I avoided raising my voice and insisting on what I wanted.  The SENCO came in to help out on a couple of occasions (taking one or more of the trio off to the 'Nurture Room'), but it was her tirade to them at the end of the 2nd day that cheered me most - insisting on their NOT interrupting when adults were talking, NOT shouting out, and paying proper attention with their eyes on her was so refreshing and much more in line with how I would have liked to have managed the class.  Coming into someone else's class as a supply teacher feeds unhelpfully into my already shaky confidence in my own abilities/authority - don't really know what to do about it other than keep on trying not to be scared and have faith in my own judgement.

Working at SRPS is great in lots of ways - goodish money (better than agency); walking distance; part of the community and a really good mix of kids in terms of class, ethnicity and ability.  Also, the more time I spend there, the more comfortable and hopefully confident I will become.

Mooncups on Thursday and a really fitful night's lack of sleep (spent most of the early hours listening to the wretched World Service).  Was just contemplating a lie in followed by a lazy day at home, when I got a called from CP agency asking me to work in a Middle School teaching MFL.  When it turned out it wasn't even in Worcester, but nr Evesham, I demurred, but they are such assertive salemen, these agency guys, I caved in and agreed, even though (a) it was miles away (b) I was teaching MFL (which I'd never really done before) and (c) I was going to be arriving late.  Got up, brushed my teeth, failed to wash my face (water gone cold AGAIN), made a cup of tea and poured it into my NUT travel-cup and set off immediately in terrible rainy weather onto awfully jammy roads.  My sat nav took me in the direction of and through Pershore and when it told me I was nearly there I couldn't believe it - I was in the middle of nowhere, there couldn't possibly be a school here. There was.

A bit of waiting around to confirm who I was (I forgot my CRB in the rush) then, having by now missed 1st lesson (arrived at 9.30am), taught the four remaining lessons of the day, all Y8 (obviously outside my comfort zone), first German (fine - biddable class, went ok); then PSHE in the Music Room (some troublesome characters, particularly a girl called A who was difficult from the moment she arrived).  Marked over lunch, did some playground duty then French (OK) and German again, this time in the vast resistant materials room with the students spread out and pretty unmanageable (by me, at least).  Last lesson of the day, in an unsuitable room, with a supply teacher - I was asking for trouble.  They were chatty and loud and lazy and I was glad when it was over.  After that I returned to the MFL room on the top floor and marked the work from French and German.  Finished by 4.15pm.  When I came down the office was closed and the school deserted.  Of c.30 cars in the car park, only 4 were still there.  Hilarious!  Back home through the unfamiliar countryside in the dark, tired and very headachy.  The students were so unlike any cohort I've taught before - homogenously white, middle class, apparently prosperous.  Behaviour clearly generally very good, although perhaps not with the hopeless supply teacher (me), where some were snidey and rude and bitchy (laughing at my brother creepers and answering back).  Lots of pretty skinny girls with long legs, short skirts and ballet pumps, and wholesome blonde boys with officer-class haircuts.  None of them are going to Nat's school in Evesham for KS4 - all set on Prince Henry.

On Sat am I went round to Fran's for a morning cuppa and chat, and Nat came round early pm to mark, whilst I finished my application.  Read the paper and watched TV and in spite of being invited out by Lu, stayed put.

Today I've delivered the strimmer back to Lucy's mum and dad, shopped at Lidl and written this.  Am going to see Kate Tempest in Birmingham this evening.

After two years, another life-changing move and several changes of heart, I returned to teach yesterday. When I departed my last position; an abominably businesslike establishment, I was at the point of retiring from the profession after only eight years’ experience. Bad management, severe culture-clashes and a disillusionment harking from the ethos of education being choked by money-making machines – made it seem like yet another new career was necessary.

It must be a sign of the times that careers – as opposed to jobs – are the scarcest notions since honest tabloids, as the scramble for a chance at settling in a professional position for a lengthy few years are now like gold dust. Especially as a foreigner. So, as “needs must” is the deciding factor in this case – in other words, as financial stability in the world’s sixth-most-expensive city dictates – another stint on the supply line beckoned.

After just a couple of hours, the signposted places I’d been a hundred times or more in eight years were already being visited encore. The satisfying feeling that most of them brought was highlighted by the beautiful late winter blue sky – the overexcitement of kids in “Book Day” costumes, the regular toilet requests in class and the daily sight of a child running, tripping - then frog-leaping helplessly onto the hard concrete before the delayed loud wail….Ah, that’s when I thought “I’m back”.

Of course, the last one didn’t bring a laugh. I did the usual checking of any major injuries, with the usual “none to report” and “be on your way carefully” to follow. Children’s comments, still, can be so priceless. At the end of an art lesson taken outside in the brilliant sunshine, what I did hear was as much a sign of the times as the job selection. Innocently trundling back to class, two grade one-grade two classmates (aged between six and seven years) said

                   Boy 1: Yeah, my mother gets drunk.

                   Boy 2: Yeah, my mother gets drunk. But she’s not      embarrassing.

  Another was a five-year-old trying to befriend me on my yard duty, taking my hand (which in this day and age is seen as a no-no) and telling me that he'd lost his time machine in some galaxy in space, but also the Hadron Collider and how it deals with large things, in contrast to protons and neutrons which are tiny. Not one to use the word “cute” very often, but this was mind-bogglingly cute.

  What was easily the winning feeling of the day, was finding that a random school was normal, with happy children enjoying childhood. No stark Tony Blair-style bureaucratic politicians in charge or outlandish targets based on children who couldn’t speak English upon entering a Year 2 class. No hokey-cokey of parents at the classroom door at 3:30pm, with an equidistant line of irrelevant questions to ask.

While all of these hopefully-vanquished demons were absent, the one sobering thought was seeing one of the little boys taking earlier snacks than the rest of the class, because he had cancer. Not only did he have cancer, he was very direct in informing me. At this point I was lucky to have asked the student teacher what his ailment could be – before he nonchalantly told me. Such statements can shock from young mouths when one is an inexperienced educator.  May he and his famiy grow and defeat it over time. 

This brings me to the final reassuring point. Experience. I could point to cliches and adages in reference to my own hardships. “You have to hit the bottom to reach the top”. “Rise from ashes”, blah, blah, bleurgh. As I covered a class whose teacher was on a course, the class' student teacher reminded me of all those moments, flapping and panicking – trying to impress either my training teacher or higher authorities. When told I showed a lot of experience by a student teacher, I did feel as though it was years of happiness, grief, being undermined and determination which brought me back.

A Star Teachers want to hear from education professionals, who are interested in video blogging, or vlogging as it’s now known! 

For each video blog which we publish, you will receive a  Love2shop voucher to the value of £25......but that's not all! 

We have teamed up with CXC Global, a world leading umbrella payroll company. In addition to the £25 high street voucher received for every blog published, you will be automatically entered in to a raffle with a chance to win a £100 voucher of your choice! What's not to like about that?

Some ideas for your video blog:

A testimonial on your experience with A Star Teachers

Tips on lesson planning or behaviour management

Perhaps you have recently moved to London and would like to let people know what it’s like to teach and live here

Whatever your idea is, we want to hear from you!

The deadline for submissions is 31st July 2014, with the winner announced on Friday 8th August 2014!

For guidelines, FAQ’s and tips, email [email protected]

A big thank you to everyone who attended our social last Friday, sponsored by My Key Pay. This year was made extra special as we celebrated National Supply Teacher Week - a fantastic event set up by Sharon Wood of The Supply Teacher.

We know that everyone who attended last Friday are very busy people, but we cherish the opportunity to show our appreciation for the work which they do, and we hope that they enjoyed the evening, as much as we did!

Congratulations to Sarah who won the Topdeck Travel voucher - enjoy planning your trip Sarah! 

Thanks again to everyone for all of your hard work this year!

Roll on the summer holidays!

Marie x

Thank you postcards to our supply Teachers!

Marie and Emily

Richard, Ken, Emily, Marie and Carol-Ann

Ken and Marie

Marie with Mark from My Key Pay

Carol-Ann and Marie

Photo Bomb!

Our primary girls - Tanya and Carol-Ann

Serap and Lizette

Another photo bomb!

Carol-Ann - The rock of Gibraltar in the primary team!

Have you ever worked as a supply teacher, Carol-Ann?

Yes, definitely! I worked as a daily supply and long term teacher through A*Star Teachers, before making the decision to move into recruitment. Since working in the office, I like to keep my finger on the pulse and go out for daily supply bookings as and when I can… This has always been my favourite part of my job!

What service do you provide to supply teachers? 

We’re teachers who have moved into recruitment. We have been in daily supply teacher’s shoes! We know what demands are placed on supply teachers and we like to support our staff through the ups and downs thereof.  We’re friendly, reliable and honest in what we do!  We keep in close contact with our candidates and clients. We work with teachers and support staff in both primary and secondary schools across London and the surrounds. We’re here to help!

Can you tell me a little about the recruitment process for potential supply teachers?

We invite candidates in to register with our agency upon receiving a minimum of two professional references (covering the last 5 years), and updated CV. Our dedicated compliance team will assist with the paper work and clear the candidates for work. We work as a strong team to get our candidates out to work quickly! We create summaries for each candidates, accompanied by their CV and references, which is sent out to various schools. These emails are followed up by a phone call by the consultants, thus creating teaching opportunities for the candidates.

How do you welcome a new supply teacher?

We have an open door policy! All are welcome! We greet our candidates with a broad smile and warm hand-shakes. We sit them down in the interview room and discuss exactly what their requirements are. Introductions to the team too, of course! 

What personal qualities do you look for in a supply teacher?

Flexibility, honesty, professionalism… We also love friendly, ‘vibey’ teachers!

How do you support supply teachers?

We’re in the office from sunrise (and before in the winter) until sunset (07:00 – 18:00) Mondays to Fridays. You don’t need to fret, we’re only a call or an email away and we love to hear from our candidates. We are able to help with lesson plans and interview preparation. We’re also able to assist in generating resources… if you need copies for the classroom, or the use of the internet we’re happy to help!

Do you have any stories relating to supply teaching that you could share with us?

Where do I start? Where do I end? I have tons! Ring me up and we can chat about them over the phone! 

And finally! Who would be the ultimate supply teacher?