Provides a positive angle on supply teaching within UK schools - also introduces new concept - Learning Days - specifically aimed at supply teachers within primary schools.
[UKPRwire, Mon May 08 2006] It’s been reported that 15million teachers are required worldwide, therefore, there is an obvious need to inspire more people into embarking on teacher training. However, as an industry, do we actively promote the positive aspects of supply teaching?
Nationwide educational specialists Supply Desk celebrate their 6th year this Spring, successfully placing thousands of supply teachers throughout the nations nurseries, schools and colleges. Operating from 13 branches nationwide, they are one of the top five education staffing suppliers and one of the first holders of the DfES Quality Mark. Robyn Wilkinson, Supply Desk feels that supply teachers are long overdue for a spot of the education limelight: “Over the years supply teachers have been subject to some negative press. We know they do a tremendous job within schools and we have been prompted to raise this issue because we are also celebrating our first successful year in partnership with a new concept: ‘Learning Days’. Supply Desk has exclusive rights to the Learning Days projects and have trained up hundreds of our leading supply teachers to implement the project within schools across the UK”.
The Government also has a commitment to raising the effectiveness of supply teaching. Primary and secondary classrooms have changed radically over the last few years with effective classroom and behaviour management as one of the major concerns of schools and supply teachers alike. It can be difficult for a supply teacher to walk into a new classroom and manage successfully the pupils’ behaviour. Supply teachers are fully aware they cannot deliver an unprepared 'cover' lesson, based on what they think might 'fit' - cue the introduction of ‘Learning Days’, a concept which has been piloted within schools across the country and has been rolled out nationally over the past year.
Robyn Wilkinson, spokesperson for Supply Desk continues: “Learning Days is changing the nature of supply – as a result supply teachers can add value and change the general view that they are second class in the teaching world”.
Learning Days is made up of several themed modules which are practical and cross-curricular and designed to keep the children engaged. The modules incorporate sound Numeracy and Literacy lessons within the day but all the activities are fun and quite games-orientated with real-life relevance. There are individual and collaborative activities ranging from miming energy sources and writing scripts for radio adverts to creating posters to save polar bears - through energy conservation! The teachers benefit because they don’t have to plan and prepare a lesson for the supply teacher, which can often take longer than the work they plan for themselves. The head teachers are happy because they are adding value to their supply budget and the curriculum areas are covered.
Winnie Leung, a supply primary teacher in Brighton: “Learning Days is a fantastic initiative. I’ve found the children gain a tremendous amount from the modules, the key is it’s completely different to any other lesson they are taught, the resources supplied are engaging and motivating and are easy to use as well as being suitable for all levels of ability. I’m really pleased Supply Desk have provided me with this opportunity of working on the Learning Days initiative.”
David Milne, developer of Learning Days: “We believe we have created an all round winner for all involved. Learning Days have been designed as a very worthwhile alternative to normal daily supply cover. We have developed modules to make learning fun and informative, creating the opposite to a ‘heads down worksheet’ approach - this enhances the supply teacher’s experience. We also tackle subjects with a public interest agenda. For example, there is a module titled ‘An introduction to energy’ aimed at KS2 pupils. It covers global warming, renewable energy and the need to conserve energy. The main objective for the day is to develop the pupils’ awareness, understanding of, and respect for the environments in which they live. It's been a great success so far”.
Jamie Hiluk, Supply Desk Branch Manager: “The schools in the area are really beginning to embrace the new concept and we have received fantastic responses from head teachers. They are all very impressed and give us glowing feedback. In fact, one child told our Leaning Days teacher – ‘that was the best lesson I've ever had’. The modules covered are varied and offer a sound educational grounding. We are very pleased to be able to offer them to our clients.
Elizabeth Thomlinson, a primary supply teacher based in Sussex chose to be a supply teacher after a very challenging year of unexpected responsibilities owing to prolonged staff illness: “I decided to opt for less planning, more flexibility and a chance to step back and see the bigger picture. Among the list of positives, she states that the flexibility of being a supply teacher is great if you have family commitments, “There are endless opportunities to try out fresh strategies, new tricks and the opportunity to meet more than a hundred children a week - despite the challenges of working with children you don't know, they are fascinating and it is surprising how much of a rapport you can set up in a day”.
Elizabeth has been working with Supply Desk since September: “They are a great agency, run by teachers, they know their business inside out and they really tune into and respect the needs and preferences of their teachers as individuals, trying to match us with suitable schools and place us in our favourite schools to establish a long-term relationship where possible”.
Elizabeth Thomlinson: “The reason I enjoy teaching the Learning Days modules is because it takes out all the uncertainties of supply work, I know in advance what age group and subject I’m teaching, I can focus on setting up for a special themed day on arrival with all the resources ‘under my wing’ instead of having to scan whatever notes which have been left for me and chase around the school to find magnets for science or switch on all the computers for ICT and change for PE - all at the same time! When I’m supply teaching I don't want to just make the best of a bad job in the cases where little or poor planning has been left and there is a lack of crucial resources - I want to make the best of a good job and the Learning Days allow me to do this”
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