Vetro Recruitment’s Supply Teaching Guide Part 3: Preparing for Supply Teaching Placements

If you're new to supply teaching, preparing for placements can be daunting. In the final part of our Supply Teaching Guide, we'll explore practical tips and strategies to help you feel confident and prepared for your next assignment as well as letting you know how you can register to receive supply teaching assignments with Vetro!

For part one of our guide introducing the benefits of supply teaching, click here
For part two of our guide explaining rates of pay and opportunities, click here 

Registering with Vetro

“Staff are friendly and professional. No holds barred honesty and a wonderful, confidential atmosphere to air any personal or professional concerns or issues. I feel registering with this agency has been a significant step in my professional development… Have recommended and would recommend to any one in education.”  - Rob, Newly Qualified Teacher

The first step to your supply teaching placement is to register with Vetro. You can sign up on our website or call us at one of our offices. 

All our vacancies are displayed on our live page, and we also advertise positions through all the leading recruitment websites, including Reed, Total Jobs and Indeed.

To register with us you must have the right to work in the UK and be able to provide:

• Two proofs of address dated within the last 3 months
• A minimum of two professional references covering the last 3 years of employment (one must be your most recent employer)
• Proof of professional qualifications
• Enhanced DBS certificate
• EWC registration

Once you’ve registered your consultant will start to match you with roles through our booking system. When you have accepted your assignment, we provide a full briefing which includes information on the length and dates of the assignment, the location and confirmation of rates of pay. 

Preparing For Your Placement

To make sure your assignments run as smoothly as possible, it helps to arrive in good time to introduce yourself and to familiarise yourself with the school facilities, behaviour policies and class rules.

Its important to establish whether work has been set or whether you need to use your own pre-prepared resources.

Make a good impression by being proactive. Ask about the children you’ll be teaching, obtain a class list and seating plan and find out if any of the children have specific medical or educational needs. 

Tips for dealing with challenging behaviour

Managing disruptive behaviour while maintaining a calm and positive learning atmosphere can be challenging for even the most established and experienced teachers. Pupils naturally enjoy exploring boundaries so it’s important for supply teachers to gain the respect of the class and establish clear leadership from the outset.

Here are our top five tips for managing disruptive behaviour:

1. Familiarise yourself with the school’s Behaviour for Learning Policy

2. Build a rapport
   Greet pupils with confidence and a positive but calm attitude as they enter the classroom. Once pupils know you are familiar with school routine and procedures, they will be more respectful.

3. Engage with pupils
   Start with stimulating activities to prevent disengagement and boredom. Have a contingency strategy if there are no lessons in place and focus on teaching. 

4. Be fair
   Explain your expectations and be fair in your approach to all pupils. Reward positive behaviours and use sanctions appropriately and consistently for unacceptable behaviour. Only call for additional support for extreme behaviour to show you are not reliant on external support.

5. Stay calm and be resilient 
   Try to keep a sense of humour and maintain a calm exterior. Pupils may have been taught by a series of supply teachers and it may take time for them to acclimate to you. Every teacher has been in your position, so stay calm, be patient and stay consistent! 

Becoming a Supply Teacher - Frequently Asked Questions

If you still have questions about becoming a supply teacher, our comprehensive FAQ has all the answers you need to get started:

Can NQT’s carry out supply teaching?

Yes! Supply teaching presents an ideal opportunity for newly qualified teachers to gain practical, paid working experience, in a variety of school environments.

Supply teaching enables you to learn new skills as you work with multiple departments and age groups, and experience leadership under multiple head teachers.

Will supply teaching affect my pension?

If you become a supply teacher directly employed by a school or Local Authority, you can contribute to the Teacher’s Pension Scheme (TPS), unless you choose to opt out.

Teachers placed by supply agencies cannot contribute to the TPS. However, you can arrange to freeze the TPS, meaning that you can continue to contribute should you return to permanent or part-time teaching in the future.

At Vetro we can offer advice on enrolling in the Workplace Pensions Scheme.

Can I continue supply teaching after retirement?

Retired teachers have an invaluable wealth of knowledge and experience. Supply teaching can be a stimulating way for retired teachers to supplement their income and continue to contribute to the education system and to the lives of students.

While direct supply work should be limited to avoid impacting your TPS benefits, part time and supply agency work should not affect your pension.

How should I present my supply teaching on my CV?

Supply teachers can soon accrue a large amount of experience within a wide variety of schools. This can make it more difficult to decide how to present this information on your CV, while drawing attention to relevant and current skills. As a supply teacher it’s important to update your CV regularly so you don’t forget certain expertise you’ve gained!

• Use bullet points to keep information concise and organised
• List each school you’ve worked in, starting with the most recent
• Detail the subjects covered, and age ranges taught, along with specific responsibilities
• List advantageous skills, such as versatility within diverse year groups and school settings
• Provide details of ongoing training you have received to demonstrate your commitment to CPD
• Explain how you intend to make a positive contribution to the school based on extracurricular projects and activities you’ve been involved in
• Use positive language to create impact

Get more CV tips with our Career Toolkit. 

Find your perfect supply teaching role today with Vetro!

We understand the rewards and challenges facing teachers and support staff across the education sector today. If you are considering supply teaching, our consultants can help guide you through the process and match you with assignments that will develop your skills and achieve your goals.

With Vetro Education, you can be confident that you are getting the best possible support, value, and opportunities to succeed in the education sector.

If you'd like more information get in touch or explore our hundreds of live vacancies across the UK.