What Supply Teachers Should Know About SEND Classrooms
Walking into a new classroom is always a little unpredictable. Walking into a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) classroom as a supply teacher, sometimes with less than an hour’s notice, can feel genuinely daunting — even for experienced practitioners. The truth is that with the right preparation and the right mindset, supply teachers can […]
Supply Teaching in Specialist and Alternative Provision Settings
The school looks different from the moment you arrive. Smaller classes, specialist equipment, sensory spaces integrated into the building design. This is a specialist SEND school, and today you’re the supply teacher. As you sign in, you notice the detailed safeguarding procedures, behaviour support plans and multi-disciplinary team meeting schedule. This placement feels different from […]
How to Support SEN Pupils as a Supply Teacher
You arrive at school. The office hands you a class list with several names highlighted. “Those are your SEN pupils,” the receptionist explains. “Profiles are in the folder.” You glance at the clock. Fifteen minutes until registration. This moment is familiar to every supply teacher working in inclusive classrooms. You want to support every pupil […]
Adapting Lessons for SEND Pupils on Supply
You walk into a Year 5 classroom at 8:45am. The lesson plan looks straightforward enough, but then you notice the note scribbled at the bottom: “Three pupils have EHCPs, two with autism, one with ADHD. See individual profiles in the folder. TA assigned to support.” You open the folder to find dense documentation that would […]
Working With Teaching Assistants as a Supply Teacher
The classroom door opens and thirty pupils look up expectantly. You’re the supply teacher, arriving with limited briefing time and no knowledge of individual pupils’ needs. Then you notice the teaching assistant across the room, already helping a small group settle into their seats. In that moment, you realise this person could be your greatest […]
Behaviour vs Additional Needs: What Supply Teachers Should Understand
Walking into a classroom as a supply teacher, you’re often met with challenging behaviour. A pupil refuses to sit down, another shouts out repeatedly, and someone else has pushed their work onto the floor. Your instinct might be to manage the behaviour firmly, but what if that behaviour is actually communicating an unmet need? Understanding […]
How to Handle EHCPs as a Supply Teacher
Stepping into a classroom as a supply teacher can feel daunting, especially when you discover a pupil has an Education, Health and Care Plan. You might only have minutes to read through the document before the lesson begins, yet you’re legally required to follow the provision outlined. This guide will walk you through the practical […]