Stepping In and Standing Out: What Makes a Good Supply Teacher?

In this blog, you will learn:

• The qualities that make a good Supply Teacher.
• The challenges associated with supply teaching. 
• How to overcome supply teaching challenges.
• Where the latest Supply Teacher jobs are and how to apply for them.

Working as a Supply Teacher is one of the most interesting and rewarding roles in education. Far from simply “filling in,” Supply Teachers play a crucial role in supporting schools, maintaining continuity for student learning, and bringing fresh energy and perspective into the classroom. 

For students, having consistent teaching is crucial for achieving the best learning outcomes, especially when the permanent teacher is unavailable. It’s not just about showing up on time and following lesson plans set by the school; a good Supply Teacher can make a lasting impact in whatever time they have with the students. 

In our recent blog, we’re uncovering 6 key qualities which make a good Supply Teacher and why they’re important to impress the school. We’re also delving into some common supply teaching challenges and how to overcome these obstacles. 

What makes a good Supply Teacher?

There are a number of key qualities which make a good Supply Teacher, including:

• Adaptability 
• Confidence 
• Initiative
• Reflectiveness
• Compassion 
• Organisation

Adaptability

Due to the nature of supply teaching, Supply Teachers will often move from class to class and school to school. Some Supply Teachers may spend every day of the week in a different school and therefore they must seamlessly adapt to new learning environments, with no disruption to the students' learning. 

Supply Teachers are often given minimal notice as to where they will be based, sometimes only finding out on the same morning which school they will be teaching at that day. Adapting to students' needs, school cultures, teaching styles and disciplinary procedures must be smooth and therefore Supply Teachers with strong adaptability skills are able to deliver the best outcomes for schools and students. 

Confidence

Despite not being the students usual Teacher, Supply Teachers must be able to confidently lead a class. From the moment they enter a new classroom, Supply Teachers should exude calm and confident energy to establish a strong rapport with unfamiliar students and staff. If a Supply Teacher steps in for a teacher who has unexpectedly taken leave, they may encounter incomplete lesson plans and uncertain students upon arrival. 

In this situation, Supply Teachers must assert their authority with confidence in order to maintain control in the classroom. 

Initiative

All Teachers should show initiative, but this trait is especially crucial for Supply Teachers who have not yet established a rapport with their students. Being able to act on instinct to support students they do not know well is an essential trait for Supply Teachers. 

Secondary education recruitment specialist, Liam Jones, said, “If plans are unclear or the full-time Teacher has had to step down suddenly, it is a good idea for Supply Teachers to arrive armed with backup activities or ‘emergency’ lessons and resources to cause as little disruption as possible to learning.”

Taking initiative in challenging situations, whether it be sudden changes to lessons or student behaviour, will help Supply Teachers to  manage a classroom and assert their authority to new students.  

Reflectiveness

Reflectiveness is a key quality for good Supply Teachers. This skill allows them to take what they have learnt from one school and implement this to support students in a different school. Working as a Supply Teacher offers a valuable learning experience. Each school has its own behavior policies, teaching methods, and guiding principles, which can vary widely.

It is essential to reflect on what strategies were effective in the classroom and which ones fell short. This reflection helps ensure a smooth transition for students as they move from one class to another.

Constructive feedback from current teaching staff is essential for helping Supply Teachers succeed in all schools, regardless of differing teaching styles. The advantage of supply teaching is that it enables Teachers to explore various school environments, enhance their classroom management skills, and discover the type of setting that best suits them before committing to a full-time role.

Compassion

With Supply Teachers frequently moving from school to school, exercising compassion for new students is an effective way to build rapport in a new classroom.

Supply Teachers must assert themselves as an authoritative figure in order to effectively manage a classroom, however a good Supply Teacher will also show new students that they are fair, approachable and will listen to them. 

Supply Teachers must connect quickly with new students and earn their trust and respect from the start. Therefore learning names, getting to know pupils' likes and dislikes and engaging in a positive manner is essential for a successful classroom experience. 

Organisation

Organisation isn’t just essential for maintaining control in a classroom and ensuring little disruption to students, it’s also important when handing back the reins to the permanent Teacher.

A good Supply Teacher will keep track of the work covered, any classroom issues and student learning outcomes so that when the regular Teacher returns, the handover is seamless.

Leaving the classroom tidy for the Teachers return is also important so that resources can be easily located and learning can continue with minimal disruption.

When a school appreciates a Supply Teacher's positive attitude, organisation, and flexibility, they are more likely to invite that teacher back - potentially even for a permanent position!

What are the challenges associated with supply teaching?

Supply teaching is a rewarding career which offers many benefits such as flexibility, the opportunity to experience a variety of teaching styles and the ability to build classroom confidence. However, like any teaching role, supply teaching is not without its challenges. 

The pressure to adapt to unfamiliar classroom environments and obstacles in handovers can sometimes affect Supply Teachers; however, the good news is that these challenges can all be overcome.

How to overcome supply teaching challenges

Whether it be adapting to new classroom environments, a lack of continuity within teaching styles or disorganisation when taking over a classroom, Supply Teachers must use the skills which they learnt during their PGCE to guide them through. 

Adapting to new students, schools and learning styles is much easier when a Supply Teacher prepares for lessons in advance and demonstrates confidence in their abilities. Preparing for lessons could involve creating emergency work sheets, just in case the permanent Teacher has left at short notice with no handover. 

Time permitting, a good Supply Teachers could carry out research into the school and students before arriving at the school. Supply Teachers could research school websites and social media pages to get a feel for the school culture and an idea of their ethos. This will enhance a Supply Teachers ability to adapt to their new environment and minimise disruption to the students' learning. 

If a Supply Teacher arrives at a school and receives a limited handover from the regular Teacher, there will always be other staff members who they can refer to. Supply Teachers could even ask students to recall what they have learnt so far; this is a great opportunity for students to solidify their knowledge around a specific subject. 

For a smooth start to the day and to ensure challenges which could occur are minimised, Supply Teachers are advised to arrive early, introduce themselves clearly to staff and students, establish their expectations, create strong relationships with existing team members and reflect on their learnings from other schools.

It’s important to remember that working as a Supply Teacher is a brilliant opportunity to learn from many different education professionals and different school teaching styles. Supply Teachers should use the opportunity of moving between schools to develop their skills as a Teacher and take advantage of being able to fit work around existing personal commitments.

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.