We’ve all seen the films. The miserable ‘sub’ walks in and is instantly the target of all the kids’ bullying and pranks. And those substitute teachers can’t seem to shake that feeling of not being a ‘proper’ teacher.
Maybe your perception of supply teaching is just like this, even though you’re filled with great ideas for the classroom.
Well, here at Milk Education, we know that the reality of supply teaching is nothing like the films. Supply teaching encourages creativity, enthusiasm, and a passion for making a difference, and we’ve got the scoop on just how you can shake things up as a supply teacher!
The Benefits of Being a Supply Teacher with Milk Education
No matter what flavour of teacher you are, there is a supply teaching job for you, and Milk Teachers come in all different varieties.
Every Day is Different
Having a varied work day is one of the best things about getting into supply teaching. Working in supply teaching allows you to experience a range of schools, age groups, and ability levels.
This is perfect for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) who are looking to gain more experience, but it’s also a great opportunity if you’ve been out of the teaching world for a while and you’re looking to freshen up your skills and find what works for you.
Supply teaching gives a boost to your teaching application if you do choose to go into a permanent role in the future, as it gives you the chance to perfect your teaching style, improve your classroom management, and learn from other educators.
Training and Support
Working with Milk means you’ll have access to regular, friendly support from our trained consultants. Our consultants will guide you through your interview process and help you feel prepared to start at your new school.
You’ll also receive a FREE Educator Wellbeing Guide when you work with us, designed with practical tips and advice from our Education Insider, to help you manage your mental health as an educator.
We also provide training courses for all our educators, including courses on Safeguarding, Lesson Planning, Phonics and more!
Free Lesson Plans, Teaching Resources, and CPD Courses!
All our Milk educators receive access to FREE lesson plans and teaching resources, focused on sensitive topics that aren’t always tackled in the classroom. Designed by real teachers, our lesson plans cover topics such as:
- Vaping
- Body Confidence
- Anti-Racism
- Online Safety
- And more!
Along with detailed lesson plans, we also offer FREE and discounted CPD courses through Milk Academy, available for our educators at every stage of their career.
Flexible Working Hours
If you’ve got a side hustle, young children to look after, or you simply aren’t looking for a typical 9-5, then supply teaching is an excellent, flexible option.
Our trained Milk recruiters will find you local work that suits your preferences, so you don’t have to sacrifice other responsibilities with a long commute or hours that don’t work for you.
We know that teaching is a time-consuming job, but working in supply lets you choose what days and schools work for you, eliminating the extra stress of needing to squeeze everything into your already busy schedule.
Enrich Young People’s Lives
All educators – both permanent and supply teaching staff – can make a difference in young people’s lives. Supply teachers shouldn’t be underestimated when it comes to supporting young people, and when you work with Milk, you’ll also have the chance to become a Make Life Kind Charity Ambassador!
We partner with Make Life Kind Charity, helping young people to tackle modern-day challenges with the help of inspiring school speakers.
As a Milk Education educator, you can help bring school speakers into your school, exploring topics such as mental health, diversity, disability awareness, and more.
Join us on our mission to inspire the next generation and build a positive future!
Gain Experience Without Feeling the Pressure
Supply teaching provides you with a wealth of experience, no matter what your teaching background is. The variety and flexibility of supply allows you to gain experience to help you grow and develop as a teacher, whether you’re currently working as support staff in a school, or if you’ve got years of teaching already in the books.
You can hone your skills as a supply teacher, without the pressure of feeling like this is your permanent class. This means if you want to experiment with a new behaviour management style or try out a new pedagogical approach or assessment technique, then supply lets you do this with more freedom than a permanent teaching setup.
How to Become a Supply Teacher
Getting into supply teaching follows the same route as getting into any kind of mainstream teaching in the UK.
This means you will need an undergraduate degree and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which you receive after completing an Initial Teacher Training course (ITT).
Alongside qualifications, supply teachers typically need to be flexible, adaptable, enthusiastic, and have a passion for supporting young people. If this sounds like you, you could be perfect for supply teaching! Get in touch with us to discuss the opportunities we have available in your area.
Register and Get into Supply with Milk Education!
You can easily register with us at Milk Education.
Simply fill out your details and one of our expert recruiters will be in touch to help you get started in the wonderful world of supply teaching!