Additional job options for supply teacher

zurpher

My partner is currently registered as a supply teacher. However, currently no jobs are coming in and bills have to be paid. Therefore she is considering to take on other jobs (for example baby sitting) that she could combine with potential teaching days.

What jobs do you recommend to fill in gaps as a supply teacher?

How much should she charge for baby sitting? What taxes etc. would one have to pay on such income?

kingfisherblue

Exam marking (resits are in November), private tutoring, sign up with more than one supply agency, check for other education related jobs such as education welfare officers or HLTAs.

Check websites from other councils for education related jobs.

Volunteer in a school one day a week (inform them that if you need to take a supply job that day, you will let them know as soon as possible) - this can get a 'foot in the door', so to speak. Schools often use supply teachers that they know, either because they have used them before, because the teacher has retired and returns for occasional supply, or similar.

Check https://www.tes.co.uk - there is a forum over there for supply teaching.

zurpher

Excellent suggestions! Thank you!

She signed up for quite a few supply agencies but some are still waiting for references and other paperwork. Apparently, September is low on supply work as most teachers return fresh and healthy from their holidays.

The volunteering option is good as a starter. Especially, to get to know schools. We will definitely look into that.

chika

I'm a teacher but also do nannying in the holidays and some weekends. I'm not qualified as a nanny but a lot of agencies will take you on, especially if you have experience. I did a lot of babysitting in my youth and worked as a mother's help PT while at uni. The pay is great and the job is fun too. I'm nannying this weekend for the whole weekend and getting paid well over a third of my monthy take home pay as a teacher for one weekend. Look into it. Good luck!

kingfisherblue

Another thought, although it isn't much use at the moment. I know some teachers and TAs work for the local council as play leaders or play assistants during Easter and summer holidays. It is for the playschemes at the special schools. As well as being paid work, it is a good opportunity to work with children with a variety of special needs, which can be rewarding and enlightening for many people.

Also, slightly different but worth looking into - what about Direct Payments? Many people, children and adults with disabilities, receive DP to help pay for respite. The disabled person (or their carer) employs someone to look after the disabled person for a set period of time. You might look after them in their own home, take them shopping, bowling or to the cinema, help them to attend a group or class - almost anything really. Any costs incurred are paid by the employer (so you don't pay for your own cinema ticket), but you do need to provide receipts.

For both of the above, you might need to provide personal care, including toileting or changing, so these jobs won't suit everyone.

For second jobs, tax is paid at 20%. Depending on how much supply work is undertaken as a first job (and yes, September is always a quiet month), it is possible that the full tax allowance might not be used by April, in which case, overpaid tax from the second job can be claimed back from HMRC.

zurpher

Two weeks into the term and still no supply work. My partner is chasing up references from previous schools. Some supply agencies refuse the portability of CRB's which adds to our financial pressure.

However, my partner now started volunteering for one school nearby and the deputy head already considered her for supply work but the registration process with their two agencies is not completed yet.

Chika, can you give me an idea how much you can earn? With which agencies are you registered?

When you babysit privately, do you have to pay the 20% second job tax immediately or can you declare the income at the end of the tax year?

I wonder if it would have been good for my partner to register for job seeker allowance until supply works keeps picking up. She has still a few k in an ISA account but nothing else left. Would she qualify?

TeaCake

chika wrote: »

I'm a teacher but also do nannying in the holidays and some weekends. I'm not qualified as a nanny but a lot of agencies will take you on, especially if you have experience. I did a lot of babysitting in my youth and worked as a mother's help PT while at uni. The pay is great and the job is fun too. I'm nannying this weekend for the whole weekend and getting paid well over a third of my monthy take home pay as a teacher for one weekend. Look into it. Good luck!

Can you recommend any agencies?

Oldernotwiser

Depending on her skill set, she could contact local colleges to see if they have any part time sessional vacancies.