11 Ways For Supply Teachers to Boost Income Over The Summer Holidays

In this blog, you will learn:

• 11 ways for Supply Teachers to boost income during the summer holidays. 
• Where the latest Supply Teacher jobs are and how to apply for them.

Despite the many benefits of supply teaching, such as the flexibility of work and chance to build classroom confidence, the 6 weeks of summer can leave Supply Teachers with no work and financial concerns. However, there are plenty of alternative ways for Supply Teachers to boost their income and keep themselves busy over the summer period. 

The best part is, not only can summer work help Supply Teachers maintain financial stability, it is also a great opportunity to develop new skills, meet new people and try new experiences. 

If you’re a Supply Teacher looking for ways to boost your income over the summer holidays, we’re exploring 11 of our favourite ways to do so. 

11 ways for Supply Teachers to boost their income during the summer holidays

Our favourite ways for Supply Teachers to boost their income during the summer holidays include:

• Private tutoring or online teaching.
• Exam marking or invigilating summer exams.
• Freelance writing or blogging.
• Childcare or babysitting.
• Temp agency work.
• Retail or hospitality jobs.
• Delivering food or groceries.
• Pet sitting or dog walking.
• Selling handmade items or crafts.
• Claiming benefits.
• Setting money aside.

Private tutoring or online teaching

The school doors might be shut but that doesn’t mean the learning stops. Throughout the summer holidays many parents and guardians choose to enroll their children into online or face-to-face tuition, especially if they require additional support in a certain subject. 

Supply Teachers who are used to managing a classroom are the perfect people to provide additional tuition. The best part is, online tutoring can be carried out from the comfort of your own home!

Why not sign up to a local tutoring agency, such as Pegasus Tutors, to see if there are any children and young people in your local area who could benefit from your teaching support. 

Exam marking or invigilating summer exams

Whilst the summer holidays are a chance for secondary school students to unwind after a busy term of exams, they’re also a waiting game to find out their GCSE and A-Level results. Working as an examiner for an examination board such as AQA, is a rewarding way for Supply Teachers to fill the holidays.

Gaining a thorough insight into the way students think and complete exam papers can be useful for shaping your teaching style and is a rewarding way to boost your income over the summer period.

Freelance writing or blogging

Working on another passion alongside teaching? Freelance writing or blogging is a great way to make money and talk about something you love. Whilst making money from your own blog can be a slow burner and often relies on an established readership and sponsored ads, there are plenty of existing websites who offer monetary compensation for blog submissions. 

A quick Google search around your subject of choice, whether it’s films, food or fiction, is bound to bring up a number of blogs that accept guest writers. 

The best part is, these jobs often offer great flexibility over the number of blogs you write and when you submit them, meaning you can still enjoy the 6 weeks of summer.

Childcare or babysitting

Supply Teachers are required by law to have an up to date DBS check in order to work with children and young people. This means that choosing to child mind or baby sit over the summer holidays is a great way to boost your income. 

Whilst casual baby sitters (e.g. friends of the family) can earn money without a DBS check, those who choose to child mind on a more official basis will be required to have one. 

It is important to weigh up your options when exploring childminding as a career. Do you want to simply offer out your services to friends and family who already know you? Or would you prefer to establish an official childminding service? 

Many parents will be struggling to juggle their full-time job and childcare over the summer holidays so this is the perfect time to help them out whilst boosting your own income! 

Temp agency work

Registering with a recruitment agency (like ourselves!) is a great way to discover multiple temporary job opportunities in a variety of sectors. Why not register with us today to see how we could help? 

Retail or hospitality jobs

The retail and hospitality industries are both great sectors for securing temporary work. Many shops and restaurants have their busiest time over the summer and Christmas periods and will rely on temporary staff to maintain a high level of service. With the schools closed during these periods, Supply Teachers can take on temporary roles to boost their income. 

Delivering food or groceries

If you have a valid UK driving license, choosing to work as a delivery driver over the summer months is a great way to get out and about and increase your income. 

Companies such as Uber and JustEat employ drivers on a temporary or self-employed basis which makes it an effective option for Supply Teachers looking for extra work.   

Pet sitting or dog walking

For the animal lovers, pet sitting or dog walking is a wholesome way to boost your income and the perfect way to unwind over the summer. Dog walking allows you to exercise in the great outdoors, providing much needed opportunities for a mental reset. 

Studies have shown that spending time in the company of animals can help reduce feelings of anxiety, stress and loneliness, making this one of our favourite ways to make money over summer.

Selling handmade items or crafts

For those with a creative side, making and selling handmade crafts, on sites such as Etsy, can be an enjoyable way to make extra money. Whether you’re in the business of designing greetings cards or wedding stationery, it provides a great opportunity to provide additional income throughout the 6 weeks of summer. 

Claiming benefits

If you are unable to undertake additional work during the summer period, you could explore the option of claiming benefits. Should you meet the eligibility criteria, you may be able to claim Universal Credit throughout the summer weeks, to give yourself a financial boost while the schools are closed. 

Setting money aside

Our final method to boost your income over the summer holidays is simply to save. Whilst employed, we advise setting aside a certain proportion of your income to help see you through the summer time. 

Even just small savings throughout the working months can help you build a pot of money to support energy, electricity, rent and food costs. 

Monzo provides effective money saving pots on their banking app which can be very useful for allocating money and budgeting over the 6 weeks of summer. 

Supply teaching jobs for Early Career Teachers

Passed your PGCE but struggling to secure a permanent teaching job? 

As specialists in education recruitment, we work alongside hundreds of primary and secondary schools throughout the North West of England who regularly need Supply Teachers. 

Whether you’re looking to build your classroom confidence, fit your new teaching job around existing responsibilities or test the water before committing to a permanent position, we can help you enter the wonderful world of supply teaching. 

We usually find that schools love our Supply Teachers that much, they end up taking them on in a permanent position. 

Even if you’re not searching for supply work, if you refer a Teacher to us and we successfully place them into a teaching role, you could earn yourself £250 in vouchers! (Ts & Cs apply)

Recruit Supply Teachers

As a specialist education recruitment agency, we support mainstream and SEND schools with Supply Teachers and support staff across the whole of the North West. If you’re struggling to find cover, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?

• Primary schools - Jimmy Callagher 
• Secondary schools - Liam Jones
• SEND schools - Jamie Heath 

Meet Liam Jones 

Who is Spencer Clarke Group?

Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations. 

In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.