After all of your hard work and qualifying as as ECT, you may be wondering what your next step is? How do you apply for your new role? Are you interested in a particular sector?

 

Supply teaching can offer you great work life balance, a variety of experiences in a number of school settings and can be the first step to a rewarding career. It will give you the chance to explore different classroom settings so you can decide how you want to progress in your teaching career.

 

Here at CER, we can provide short or long term work to suit you. There are many benefits to both, which will help you gain exposure to a range of different learning styles and receiving great training opportunities first hand. Now that classrooms are full again, we are guaranteed to find you a suitable school to gain the experience you need.

So what are your options as an ECT?

 

Short Term

 

Short term work allows you to sample a number of different schools, ranging in a variety of age groups and learning capabilities. You will gain exposure to a wide range of teaching styles, with mentoring on the job and the chance to observe experienced teachers who are happy to offer support.

 

By gaining ideas from various learning technique, you have the ability to use that knowledge to become an established teacher school, which can guarantee regular work and consistent pay.

Long Term 

 

CER can offer long term roles such as maternity cover, which is a great way to cover your ECT induction period. Every ECT must complete an induction period which is equivalent 3 school terms including regular observations. Completing a long term role is a great way to sample different subject topics that you may not have a chance to teach in a short term role.

 

Tempany McFadden, a ECT from 2019, told us, ‘Going in to different schools allows me to see the different ways in which they teach, behaviour management strategies, new schemes of work and I magpie these ideas and apply them to my teaching which has been recognised in other schools.’

What makes a successful ECT?

 

  • Go the extra mile – make yourself available at all times and be flexible when it comes to placements. Offer to work whenever you can at short notice, this will give you a better chance at securing something more permanent.

 

  • Come prepared – Have a structured lesson plan and always arrive on time.

 

  • Be confident – Teaching a classroom of students can be challenging, be firm and have your discipline plans in place from the beginning of the lesson.

 

  • Listen – Children may be more anxious/curious about being back at school after lockdown and may find it hard to settle back into learning. Be sure to be patient and acknowledge if there are pupils who may be struggling.

 

  • Talk – Be sure to communicate with colleagues around you and ask as many questions as possible. Always seek advice from more experienced teachers who can provide tips on how to make your first year a success.

 

  • Ask for feedback – This is the best way for you to improve in each lesson and to make sure you have a proper handover at the end of the day.

Petrina Gaile has reaped the benefits of our supply work over the last year. She says, ‘There are so many good parts, from meeting new people, gaining a vast amount of experience and getting your name in schools for possible long term work. Another good part is that fact that despite having the main consultant, there is many other staff members who try their hardest to get you out into schools’.

 

CER is here to take you step by step into your new career, offering guidance and providing the best support for your new role. Get in touch with our friendly recruitment consultants today via our Contact Page and see how we can help you.