Putting YOU first.  Every time.

Q: How does supply work?

A: Supply is an excellent way of starting your teaching career.

Not only does it offer flexibility and variety, it also opens up a whole range of experiences you may not have considered previously. Once you are registered with First Class, we then offer you assignments that we know are right for you – whether this is on a day-to-day, long-term, or permanent basis – or a mix of all three! We will already have formed an excellent personal relationship with you by this stage and we will have a real feel for the best roles for you. Likewise, we have built equally excellent relationships with our many partner schools, nurseries and colleges throughout the North East and we will know which will be an excellent fit for you. We will always get your feedback to make sure we are getting things right for you – and to hear how you have enjoyed your role. You will never have to accept any role you don’t feel comfortable with – remember supply is about flexibility and working together to find what works best for you!

Q: How does day-to-day supply work?

A: We want you to enjoy all your day to day assignments and the best advice we can offer is ‘be prepared and be ready!’

Wherever possible, we will give you as much information in advance about your assignment so you have time to find out the location of the school, plan for your lessons etc. However, this is not always possible, and you might get called for an emergency assignment. This is where being ready comes in! Always have your Enhanced DBS, and the forms of ID which will be discussed at interview and when you first meet your consultant, to hand, together with a range of resources to help you in case work is not set, as well as a First Class timesheet. We will always be honest with the school as to when we expect you will arrive so don’t panic! Once in school, you will meet the person relevant for supply who should make you familiar with their school policies and then you will be ready to start your day! Remember, if in doubt, ask. Emergency assignments are a great way of being asked to return to a school, and a great way to discover what suits you best on supply – often this is the exact opposite of your original ideas!

Q: How do Long-term Assignments Work?

A: Long term assignments tend to have specific requirements, for example, a Year 6 specialist in primary, or a Music specialist in secondary.

TA examples could be someone with solid one-to-one experience with children with learning difficulties. Our schools in general trust us to know the right people who would fit their specific needs. We may also be asked to forward CVs, so it’s essential we have an up-to-date CV for you at all times! Schools will always want to meet the people they are interested in, either to attend an interview, or to carry out a lesson, or even to work a day on supply. We will never put you forward for a long-term assignment without your permission, and will always speak to you and/or email you prior to forwarding your details. If you are lucky enough to be successful, you will continue to complete a First Class timesheet at the end of each week. We will still keep in touch with your on a regular basis and you can call us at any time. Again, long term assignments are a fantastic way of gaining experience within a school.

Q: Do First Class work with permanent positions?

A: Absolutely! We have our own Permanent division and have an unrivalled record for helping teachers in all sectors, as well as teaching assistants and support staff to gain permanent employment.

Often a long-term assignment could lead to a candidate being asked to become a permanent member of staff. We do not penalise our schools with fees which really enhances your chance of being asked to join the permanent school staff. Permanent roles can work a little like long term roles, so again, it’s important we have an up-to-date CV. Again, we will not put you forward for any assignments unless we have your permission first.

Q: How can I maximise my chances of work?

A: Keep in touch! It’s vital that we know your availability on at least a weekly basis, and every time something changes.

The more we know how available you are, the more we can offer you work! Be as flexible as possible, and always be prepared with your ID and resources. The more experience you gain, the more you will be asked to return to schools and the more work will be offered to you.

Q: Can I complete my NQT Induction on Supply?

A: Yes! We have an incredibly high success rate of helping NQT’s through their induction.

You have 5 years from the date you were awarded QTS to complete your induction and you can complete this in more than one school. Each assignment towards your induction must be for a minimum of one term.

Q: Can you use my current DBS Certificate?

A: We can use your current DBS if it is registered with the DBS Update Service.

With your consent, we can perform a status check which will give us full access to your current certificate. You can subscribe to the Update Service whilst your application form is in process, or you can subscribe to the Update Service once you have received your certificate. However, you must register within 19 calendar days of the certificate issue date. If you do not hold a certificate that is registered with the Update Service then unfortunately it is illegal for us to use it and you must apply for a new one – we can do this for you.

Q: Do you offer Safeguarding and other CPD Training?

A: Yes! It’s very important to us that our supply staff are kept up to date with current training standards.

We offer Safeguarding training to all of our supply team. Our virtual course covers up-to-date, essential knowledge in relation to Safeguarding, Child Protection and Prevent, through videos, audio and engaging interactive activities.

Our other courses include:

A guide to being an effective supply teacher; An introduction to Early Years Foundation Stage; An introduction to phonics; An introduction to special needs and disabilities (SEND); Behaviour management training – Level 1; British Values; Cover Supervisor Training – Level 1; Effective listening in schools; Effective personal communication in schools; Equality and Diversity; Teaching in the UK: An introduction for overseas teachers