Education
Despite their long list of duties to cover, supply teachers are often overlooked as a fundamental part of keeping a school running smoothly. However, supply teachers are often the backbone of a school’s educational structure, bridging momentary and unfortunate gaps in pupils’ learning. In the following blog, we delve into the nitty-gritty of becoming a supply teacher, including qualifications and training, as well as challenges that will help shape the future of your
exciting teaching career.
What is Supply Teaching?
Supply teachers have multiple duties and are in charge of keeping the class organised and engaged in the absence of a teacher.
They are responsible for covering any lesson across the curriculum daily or for shorter periods to provide the support a school needs to fill a gap in students’ education.
The continuous progression in learning when a teacher is absent, whether planned or unplanned, is key to this.
A supply teacher will prepare national curriculum-based lessons to help avoid these gaps and will provide feedback for students as they work.
Supply Teaching: What does
it take?
Becoming a supply teacher and maintaining the position requires hard work and dedication. From qualifications to mindset and ongoing training, taking on the supply teacher role can sometimes be tricky. With that said, you can gain plenty of opportunities and positive experiences by doing so.
Below are a few requirements for becoming a supply teacher that you should know if you are considering this career.
Qualifications
Having the relevant qualifications goes without saying when stepping into a teaching role, especially with children or young adults.
Any teacher currently employed in the UAE is recommended to have a UAE Qualified Teacher Status.
These qualifications can be obtained via a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
Supply Teaching Agency
Placements from Ambitek UAE
If you are keen to enter the world of teaching as a supply teacher but aren’t sure where to start, get in touch with the professionals at Ambitek UAE today. We are a highly experienced supply teaching agency and pride ourselves in finding the perfect teaching positions for everybody across the UAE.
Training
Once you have the relevant qualifications to become a supply teacher, it’s vital to maintain your training and knowledge of teaching by undertaking regular courses.
In addition to having an undergraduate degree with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), continued and up-to-date training is a valuable asset when applying for future teaching roles or seeking progression within your current company.
Challenges
As with any job, there will always be challenges to face and overcome. However, supply teachers are never without the support of their close-knit teaching team.
Some of the challenges you can expect to come across include:
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Sometimes struggling with short-notice bookings.
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Assignments taken at short notice, with teachers having a limited time period to prepare themselves.
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Supply bookings are usually made well in advance, but this isn’t always the case.
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Students under your watch may misbehave due to the absence of the regular class teacher.
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Recognising and educating yourself about these challenges can alleviate their effects and assist in smoother employment. The role of teaching is never without additional support and expertise from those around them, creating a safe and welcoming environment.
Expectations
The most important aspect of becoming a supply teacher is understanding the expectations others will have of you. For example, one of your duties may include arriving early to a supply teaching session to introduce yourself to senior members of the team and their leaders.
Additionally, you may be expected to report back to the cover management at the end of a lesson with an overview of exemplary or problematic behaviour for the regular teacher to understand upon their return.
Last but not least, a fundamental expectation is to keep students engaged and well-behaved in the absence of their regular teacher. Achieving the right level of learning depends on the material you provide to the class and ensuring that you remain on target to cover all topics left to teach.
