Whether you're new to the teaching profession, looking to gain classroom experience, a retired educator seeking a flexible return to the profession or someone in the midst of a career change, supply teaching offers an ideal route into education. 

Supply teaching can help you progress into an adaptable and confident educator, especially because every day may look different! 

If this sounds up your street, but you’re scratching your head and asking the question, “how do I find supply teaching jobs near me?”, you’ve hit the jackpot. 

Here at Elevate Supply, we are passionate about helping educators find their way in the teaching field. Whether that’s by providing you with advice, guiding you in the process of finding the right role for you or simply being a helping hand at the end of the phone, you can feel safe in the knowledge that we’re here! 

So, without further ado, let’s dig in! From deciding who you’d like to teach, to ensuring you have the correct qualifications, this blog will guide you step by step through the process of finding supply jobs. 

Step 1: Do your research and understand what supply teaching involves

Before diving into job searches, it’s essential to have a clear and confident understanding of what supply teaching actually entails. Supply teachers are typically employed on a short-term basis to cover the absence of regular teaching staff.

Sometimes, supply teachers can be offered a permanent position at a school, where they may undertake other roles too. The positions may be for a day, a few weeks or even a whole term, depending on the situation! 

If you’re looking for flexibility, variety and a valuable foot in the door for early-career teachers, supply teaching is a fantastic avenue. However, it’s essential for individuals to understand that supply teaching also demands adaptability, classroom management skills and a willingness to embrace change—often at short notice.

Step 2: Decide who you’d like to teach

Even if you haven’t taught before, we imagine you may have a preference on who you would like to teach. So, when you are asking the question, “where are the supply teaching jobs near me?”, it’s essential to identify your preferred age group and subject area. This will help you tailor your application and find suitable placements. 

Consider important variables such as subject knowledge, qualifications, your availability, and arguably the most important one, your passion!  

So, let’s start by looking at the differentiation between the groups you may be considering. 

Primary supply teaching covers students aged five to eleven. It covers Key Stages 1 and 2, so a broad understanding of all core subjects is really important. Of course, most of the knowledge will be the basics to relay to young learners, but you need to have a wide understanding of many different topics. From fractions to phonics, your overall educational experience will be influenced by the importance of a well-rounded understanding of the primary curriculum. 

Secondary supply teaching covers students aged eleven to eighteen. It covers a broader range of Key Stages, going all the way up Key Stage 5, beginning at Key Stage 3. Typically you would focus on specific subject expertise, so if you have a passion for your subject and wish to specialise, this is the route for you!

SEND supply roles (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) are also widely available. If you have experience or interest in working with pupils with additional needs, this can be both rewarding and in high demand. The age ranges are exactly the same as primary and secondary schools, but you won’t follow the Key Stage process. Instead, SEND schools often have personalised learning plans that suit the individuals at the school, such as the ‘Five A Day’ principle - 

1. Explicit instruction

2. Cognitive and metacognitive strategies

3. Scaffolding

4. Flexible grouping

5. Using technology

SEND schools can often have much smaller classes and you may be working on a one-to-one basis with children. 

You should also consider whether you’re looking for day-to-day cover, short-term or long-term placements. Knowing your specific preferences allows you to communicate clearly and ensures better job matches.

With day-to-day supply teaching, you can benefit from the adaptability and flexibility of differentiating roles, a variety of experiences in many different classrooms and reduced pressure. However, you aren’t guaranteed to get work every day, especially during exam season, for example. It may also be difficult to build a rapport with students and you may not get the CPD opportunities as a long-term supply teacher. 

With short-term and long-term supply teaching, you can establish more of a stable routine, which will guarantee work and income for a set period, such as a term or a year. You can also get to know your students better, which can improve behaviour management and teaching impact. You may also experience a greater sense of purpose when you’re part of a student’s academic journey, as you will see how they flourish! Like any role, there are downsides too. Short-term and long-term supply teaching may require larger workloads, as you may be expected to plan lessons or mark work. You may also have to take on extra responsibilities and the emotional investment is certainly higher, as longer placements may bring more stress and emotional burden. 

These are all important things to consider when you are asking the question, “how do I find supply teaching jobs near me?” 

Step 3: Check your qualifications and eligibility

If you wish to teach in state-maintained primary, secondary, or special schools in England, you must hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This can be obtained through several routes, such as a PGCE, SCITT, School Direct or an Undergraduate degree with QTS

If this is all sounding a bit unknown to you, don’t worry, we have curated a fantastic guide that takes you through every step that leads you to Qualified Teacher Status. 

If you don’t have QTS, you may still be able to work in some independent schools or academies, where regulations may be different. However, this work may be much less frequent than the opportunities that arise when you are fully qualified. Alternatively, you could work as a cover supervisor, teaching assistant, or in a support role while working towards QTS.

There are also some essential documents you may need. 

• Enhanced DBS Check: Required to work with children. Many agencies will help you apply for or update your DBS. Not sure how this all works? Don’t worry, we’ve got a blog on that too! Simply click here for a full guide on the DBS process.

• References: Two professional references are normally required, one of which must be recent and education-related.

• Right to work in the UK: If applicable, ensure you have valid documentation, such as a passport, birth certificate or visa.

• Up-to-date CV: Ensure that you tailor your CV to highlight classroom experience, behavioural management skills, grades and flexibility.

Alongside documents, you could also refresh your skills:

• Consider completing a short safeguarding course (many are available free online, such as this one!).

• Update yourself on the current national curriculum and ensure you feel confident with what you need to know!

• If it’s been a while since you taught, consider visiting a local school or volunteering to ease back in.

Step 5: Register with us!

The next step is finding an agency that will be supportive, informative and productive (hint - it’s us!) 

We are a dedicated supply teaching agency that works with teachers at all stages of their careers. With over fourteen years of expertise, we created Elevate Supply to bridge the gap between supply educators and schools.  We’re designed with educators in mind, offering a sleek and modern experience that focuses directly on your needs. 

Our platform is free to use, with no hidden fees. What you set as your day rate is exactly what you earn. We’ve combined innovative technology with real insights from experienced educators to ensure the benefits of being a supply teacher are fully realised.

You can also tailor your pay to suit your preferences by setting rates for daily, long-term, or permanent roles, giving you full flexibility over your earning potential.

This educator-first approach ensures you’re properly compensated for your dedication. At Elevate Supply, your worth is in your hands. With us, you’ll experience one of the greatest benefits of being a supply teacher—fair pay and financial control.

You can set your availability through a personal and customisable calendar, so you’ll never receive calls or requests on your days off. You can also tailor your preferences to choose your ideal roles, subjects, year groups and travel distance. You can also let us know whether you want full-time, part-time, daily, long-term, or permanent positions.

When you register with us, you can also get access to a FREE Twinkl Ultimate Membership. 

This means you’ll get access to top-quality resources to make your supply teaching journey as seamless as possible. Fancy an insight into some of the amazing supply resources you may find? 

Check out the Supply Teaching Hub on the Twinkl website for all kinds of help! From toolkits to interactive tools, your Twinkl membership will benefit you in so many ways. 

We aim to simplify your transition into supply teaching with tools designed specifically for ECTs, ensuring you feel supported from day one.

All you have to do is…..

1. Create Your Profile and share your skills, experience, and preferences so we can match you with roles that fit your expertise.

2. Complete the compliance process - We will guide you through all of the necessary checks and confirm your qualifications, identity and right to work in the UK.

3. Set your availability and get matched - Once you’re all sorted and verified, you’ll be able to begin your journey! You will begin to receive tailored job offers that align with your preferences, schedule and goals. 

For schools, it’s a pretty similar and simple process…..

1. Firstly, create a School account and one of our fantastic in-house experts will contact you to help you get the most out of your Elevate Supply experience. 

2. Then, you can build your School Profile and work with us to document the key information that will help educators prepare and know what to expect when they arrive. 

3. We provide the most suitable educators in your area and handle the admin side of your supply requirements! 

Sounds like a pretty dreamy situation either way, if we do say so ourselves! 

Step 6: Get ready to embark on your educational journey! 

Once you’re registered, you can begin your supply teaching experience. Check out the Three P’s to prepare!

Preparation - Make sure to be organised and productive when you begin. Whether that’s making sure to provide all of your important documents to the school or bringing specific supplies or resources, such as the set texts in English, it’s really important to stay prepared. You will set an amazing first impression and show your eagerness! 

Plan - Stay practical and make sure you have planned accordingly. We don’t just mean lesson plans here, we mean other important things too. Such as your commute time, your opportunities for CPD, even what to wear! Planning in advance is essential - it helps you to stay calm and feel in control 

Passion - Show your passion for teaching. Positivity is key for embarking on your supply teaching journey. Your peers and students will immediately notice if you’re happy, calm and confident, with a warm presence. Even if you’re nervous or overwhelmed, greeting everyone with a smile can make all the difference! 

Step 7: Evaluate and evolve 

After a few weeks or months, consider how your supply teaching journey is going. Are you enjoying the variety, or do you want more consistency? Do you want to specialise in a particular phase or move toward a long-term contract?

You might request more long-term bookings, reduce your working days to focus on other commitments or consider CPD or mentorship options. 

If you’d like to reflect on your experiences with us, you can simply send us an email at contact@elevatesupply.co.uk or call us on 0114 7008490. We are here to help you! 

Finding supply teaching jobs near you doesn’t need to be daunting. Although it may feel overwhelming, our ultimate aim is to make the process easy for you. So, all that needs to be said now, is good luck!