First Class Supply are specialists in sourcing and placing professionally qualified supply teachers, teaching assistants, nursery nurses, SEN, HLTA and NQT, wherever and whenever the need arises. Our clients include supply teaching staff who are looking for educational positions, and schools needing short or long term teaching cover. We are proud to be the fastest growing independent supply teaching agency in the North East. Our dedicated team of consultants have almost 60 years in educational recruitment between them and excel in placing the right staff into the perfect positions for them in locations such as Newcastle, North Tyneside and South Tyneside.
We have excellent relationships with many local schools who know they can rely on First Class Supply to fulfil their teaching requirements. The yearly Quality Mark audit by the REC and DfE, has consistently awarded First Class Supply 100%, and we have received extremely encouraging feedback from the scheme including statements like, ‘This award acknowledges the dedication and professionalism that go into ensuring these stringent standards of compliance are met on a daily basis. In maintaining the standards, you are a credit to the reputation of the industry’
Ted’s Pick of the pack lists the latest educational vacancies within the supply teaching sector, and the categories include, primary, secondary, further education, SEN, classroom assistant, care, residential and middle. Supply teachers seeking vacancies, can key in their required type of work, preferred location, vacancy duration and salary range. They can contact us by phone on 0191 251 5566, and chat to one of our friendly consultants, or email us via our contact form. People are also welcome to drop in to our office at 131-133 Whitley Rd, Whitley bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 2ET to talk or book an appointment. Our supply teaching agency covers areas like Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Berwick, Northumberland, Alnwick and Wallsend.
We are interested in a wide range of local educational issues and stay aware of and up to date with, legislation and developments relating to schools and teaching. The Recruitment & Employment Confederation’s (REC) Education sector group, are active supporters of supply teaching agencies. They work closely with the Department for Education and the National College of Teaching and Leadership on matters relating to supply agencies and their role in forming the school workforce. The REC, discuss and consider issues involving current and future trends in education, focusing on subjects like safeguarding children, compliance, quality of education and sustainable resourcing.
Newcastle University is an individual blend of global ambiguity and regional underpinning, and is a centre for academic excellence. The result of several merged colleges, Newcastle University became the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1963, and was later given its current title. Although this university is a renowned educational establishment, attracting tens of thousands of students, it prides itself on its response to societal challenges. With firm roots in the local area of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear and the North East, Newcastle University acknowledges the local industrial history and demonstrates this by the type of studies available. Applied sciences such as mining, geology, naval architecture, agriculture and engineering are taught alongside mathematics, physics, chemistry, literature and the arts.
The green space of Town Moor lies to the North of Newcastle city centre, and is larger than Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath put together. An ancient law gives freemen of the city the right to graze cattle on this piece of land, although the land includes part of the pitch of Newcastle United Football Club’s ground, St James’ Park. Needless to say this right has never been exercised, though the freemen collect a rent for the loss of privilege. Honorary freemen include Bob Geldof and Alan Shearer.
North Tyneside has a variety of great reasons to visit, including the Stephenson Railway Museums ‘Love Trains’ day. An active schools programme means that during workshops, children can learn how to build a train, they can climb aboard vintage carriages and learn about local hero George Stephenson. Fascinating collections are displayed with exciting pieces like Billy, a forerunner of the world famous Rocket used for hauling coal, plus steam and diesel locomotives from the 1800’s.
North Tyneside has played home to some high profile TV and drama productions, since signing up to Northern Film & Media Filming Friendly Charter a number of years ago. The charter supports production companies in their efforts to source appropriate locations for projects and organising accommodation etc.
South Tyneside College is a large college of further education situated in North East England, with its main site in the town of South Shields. With a selection of part time and full time adult courses, South Tyneside College was formed from Hebburn Technical College and the Marine Technical College. It is one of the most significant merchant navy training colleges in the UK and attracts students from places like India and Africa. Courses offered focussing on marine educational subjects include, Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, navigation, operations and catering.
As a supply teacher there are some considerations to bear in mind, ensuring that your working day goes as smoothly as possible. Whilst you probably won’t be able to cover every eventuality, there are certain things you can do and prepare for to get you through to 3.30! Helpful golden rules for every supply teacher include things like, finding out if the work has been pre-set, with teaching plans left for you. It is a good idea to always have some work prepared in the event of a position at short notice. You may also want to check if there will be a white board available to you. Make sure you arrive at the school in good time, so that you can be made aware of any key policies, school rules, read through any teachers written plans and note where you can arrange any resources.
Remember to take a set of back up plans with you, in case of any mishaps like existing plans being mislaid. It is wise to make yourself known to other members of staff at the school, including the caretaker and office staff, they may be able to answer any queries or assist you if the need arises. Its nice to create a good impression by smiling and saying hello to other teachers, teaching assistants etc.
The beginning of the day is important and will affect how the rest of the day goes, if you know all of the relevant routines etc, the children will see that all is usual and that you are in charge.
In order to best utilise any teaching assistants within the class or adjust any lesson plans accordingly, you should be made aware of any children with particular needs. You should also discover if there are any children who are taking medication, and general information like the daily timetable, specific class behaviour rules, the writing style and how children are meant to move around the building. Learn where the fire escapes are and the procedure in place in the event of a fire. Find out from the teaching assistant what the toilet rules are, generally there are a maximum of two pupils using the bathroom at one time.
Methods practised by many supply teachers include, giving children an immediate challenge, by for instance, writing the name of a well known story character on the board and getting the class to write a list of as many words associated with that character as they can. The child with the most words can get a reward hand stamp. Try to assertain vaguely which groups the children are in so there is no confusion [either for them or you!]. It is a good idea to have some ‘time filler’, activities which can be carried out when there is a short gap in the timetable.
A significant portion of the famous Roman landmark, Hadrian’s Wall exists in North East England, stretching 73 miles across the country from Wallsend, Newcastle to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria. There are Roman artefacts at regular intervals along the length of the wall, in museums and sites, where stunningly recreated replicas of Roman buildings and a dramatic cityscape of Tyneside can be found. The most spectacular part of the wall is thought to be the section between Birdoswald in Cumbria and Housesteads in Northumbria National Park. Hadrian’s Wall reached a height of 6 metres in some areas and was built in around 6 years by 3 legions [15,000 men].
It was an incredible feat of engineering, winding its way over rolling countryside, across rivers and through crags and valleys, and it is nowadays a magnet for ramblers and hikers.
A new and unusual course is to begin at Northumberland College in hexham, teaching a traditional skill that has been practised in the area for centuries. Students can gain a certificate in Creative Leather Work, taught at the college’s, Hexham Centre on St Mary’s Wynd, by local craftsman Andy bates. Included in the course will be a study of the history of leatherwork, as well as business opportunities and enterprise. Students will be taught on how to become successful designers and makers. Andy has produced pieces for Grayson Perry, the Turner Prize-winning potter, the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition in Durham, the Discovery Channel, Channel 4 and the Grange Park Opera, amongst numerous others. He has also been commissioned by Bloomsbury to write a book about leather and working with it.
The Sage Gateshead, is a centre for musical education and performance, it is also used for conferences, consisting of three separate buildings, encased in a glass shell like structure. The centre has an exciting range of accessible courses for all ages, and an active interaction with local schools and academies, attracting many educational visits. The outer building has an impressive almost surreal architectural design of curved glass and steel. The unique construction of the centre incorporated a ‘spongy’ concrete mix, which has a higher than usual air capacity, in order to improve the acoustics. The dimensions of each hall are adjustable, making them conducive to a variety of different sounds, and catering to a wide range of music types.
According to the Times Higher Education’s 2014 THE Best University Workplace survey, Sunderland is one of the best universities to work at in the UK. In an online survey, 4,500 higher education staff from 150 UK institutions, completed the form. The University of Sunderland scored highly in several categories which included questions about how the leadership was performing, work responsibility balance, working conditions and benefits, being taken seriously and being happy to remain employed there. The result was a big thumbs up for Sunderland University!
