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Pro |
Con |
Supply Agency |
- Often a ready supply of work especially if you sign up with the dominant agency in the area. - Your marketing and advertising is done for you. - Great for short-term jobs allowing you to get a feel for schools in the area. - Will be able to supply you with a professional reference. - Most will happily accept you on their books as long as you are qualified and able to represent their image well (i.e. lack of references or experience not necessarily a deal-breaker). - Many agencies add an increment as ‘holiday pay’ in lieu of actual holidays. - Many agencies provide CPD training to their members. - Sense of community – you feel as if you are working with a team. - You avoid the problem of ‘putting your eggs in one basket’. If you decide not to return to a certain school, or they stop booking you there are other options available. - Short notice cancellations are honoured by the agency – you still get paid. - You are paid directly by the agency – issues are quick and easy to resolve. |
- Once you have been introduced to a school through an agency you are not allowed to engage in work with them directly. - Daily rates vary, but they are usually noticeably less than you would get privately. - Communicating through a 3rd party can sometimes have a ‘Chinese-whispers’ effect if your agency is poorly organised. - The application process usually involves applying for a new CRB – at your cost. - If a school you work for wishes to employ you full-time, an introduction fee is charged to the school by your agency. - You lose ongoing teachers pension benefits. |
Private Freelance |
- The pay is higher. Usually matched to your pay spine without deductions from an agency. - You communicate directly with the schools you work with. - You often get more notice about when you are required to work – bookings often happen days or weeks in advance. - You are often included as part of the school community, and have a closer understanding of the mechanics of how the school runs. - As a ‘regular face’ behaviour management and relationships can improve. - There is no impediment to converting to a contracted member of staff. - There are no application forms to fill in! - Any new CRB cost is usually covered by the school. - As long as there are no breaks of employment of more than 3 weeks, your teacher’s pension is unaffected. |
- If your booking is cancelled at short notice, you lose out. - Your pay is actually organised and issued by the LEA. This can be tiresome if/when anomalies occur. - Generally, more is expected of you in terms of administration and paperwork. You role is considered to be closer to a permanent staff-member. - Relying on private work can leave you exposed if it dries-up. - It can be tricky balancing private bookings with working for a supply agency.
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