Teachers TV - A video for those new to Primary school supply teaching: SECONDARY teachers take note!

I have uploaded this video from Teachers TV for all those supply teachers who are currently beginning their supply teaching career in Primary schools. This video may be covering old ground for a lot of Primary teachers but I know that there are plenty of you who are newly arrived and only just setting out on your supply teaching adventure who should find this very interesting. I am also very aware that with the current slow patch in Secondary - Classroom and surely other agencies too will be supplementing Secondary school supply work with days in Primary schools. If you want to be successful in a Primary school then you will have to adopt a different approach to the one you might take in a Secondary school. Flexibility is always the key to successful supply teaching in the UK and preparation and research will only reinforce your flexibility!

Why not watch this video where you will be given plenty of hints and tips to be an effective Primary supply teacher and while your at it why not check out Teachers TV and its wealth of resources to help you be the best. I have mentioned it before but it really is a great site for teachers from every arena!

What do you think of the video? Are the presenters tips useful? Anything you would add?

Classroom Job Alert

Its Friday, which means it's Classroom's job posting day. As ever - for all teaching positions you must hold a recognised teaching qualification and for Classroom Assistant vacancies experience of working with children in some form is also a requirement.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive we can only respond to those applicants who are successful.

SEN TEACHING VACANCIES

• SLD Teacher

Classroom teaching agency has a maternity cover position in a lovely SLD school in North London. The position is starting in January and is for 2 terms.

The school supports students with severe learning difficulties. Some of the children exhibit challenging behaviour and many of them are non – verbal. The school are looking for an experienced teacher who has worked in SEN schools in the past and is familiar with the needs in the school, IEP’s etc. They should be able to think on their feet and cope well in a stressful environment.

This is a long term position to work in a year 1 and 2 class so experience with this age group is beneficial but not essential.

Please contact the SEN team on 020 7636 0600 or alternatively email us at sen@classroomteachers.co.uk

CLASSROOM ASSISTANT & SUPPORT VACANCIES

• Special Needs Support Assistant (Bromley area)

We currently have a position to work in a mainstream primary school working with students who have special education needs. You will be working one-to-one with students who may have autism, downs syndrome and emotional and behaviour difficulties. The position requires someone that does have previous experience working with special needs children. We currently have day-to-day and block bookings to fill in this in area.

Please only send your cv if you have the following:

• Recent CRB Check
• Minimum of 3 months experience of working with children
• 2 years of references - must be child related
• The right to work in the UK

• Higher Learning Teaching Assistant (South London)

A mainstream primary school is currently looking for a Higher Learning Teaching Assistant to work in Key Stage one classes. You will be working very closely with the class teacher and working with small groups of students helping to improve their numeracy and literacy skills. The placement requires you to have an extensive amount of experience working as a Classroom Assistant with key stage one or two or have worked as a Higher Learning Teaching Assistant previously. This position is long-term to begin straightaway through till the Spring term 2010.

Please only send your CV if you have the following:

• An up to date CRB
• At least 3 months experience of working with children
• 2 years of references - child related
• The right to work in the UK

Please contact the Support team on 020 7636 0600 or email: classroomassistant@classroomteachers.c.uk

SECONDARY SCHOOL VACANCIES

• Science (Central London)

One of our Secondary mixed comprehensives in central London is looking for a Science teacher for a January long term. They are looking for someone that can ideally commit for two terms and be able to teach General Science and Biology to KS4. The school will be short listing in the next few days!

• Science (South East London)

All boys Secondary school in SE London is looking for a General Science teacher for January. You will be required to teach Science and also cover ‘general cover’ lessons where required. The school has a very good reputation and has sports status so they are inclined to offer extra coaching responsibilities to teachers that are interested.

• Music (Central London)

Large mixed comprehensive with excellent Music department seeks an enthusiastic, motivated Music teacher for January. There is potential for this job to go perm if all goes well. Woodwind and Strings experience would be beneficial!

Please contact the Secondary team on 020 7636 0600 or email us: secondary@classroomteachers.co.uk

PRIMARY SCHOOL VACANCIES

• Year 5 Class Teacher

A large primary school in South East London requires a Year 5 class teacher to start in Jan 2010. You should have experience of working in upper KS2, preferably in the UK. A sound knowledge of Phonics is also very important. This position is until the summer term, July 2010.

• Reception Class teacher

A small infant school in the borough of Croydon requires an experienced Foundation stage practitioner to take on a Reception class which starts in January. You should have a clear understanding of the UK foundation curriculum and have good behaviour management skills. UK is experience is a MUST.

Please contact the Primary team on 020 7636 0600 or email us: primary@classroomteachers.co.uk

That's all for this week and in fact this blog will not return until Monday 2nd November as we are breaking for half term. We hope everyone has a relaxing and rested week!

Tormented by the Under Fives....

Can children as young as 3 years old really cause chaos in the classroom? Are there really 3 year old bullies using violence in schools and intimidating teachers and other pupils?

When I first read the article published in The Times by Frank Furedi about toddlers terrorising their teachers I was shocked and more than a little sceptical. How can a very young child threaten an adult? It seems that they can.....

Frank Furedi's article looks at government figures which show that more than 1000 pupils aged 4 or below were suspended from state schools and nurseries in England last year. The figures also reveal that children of the same age group have been expelled for "racist behaviour, sexual misconduct and theft". Going further the figures reveal that 390 children were sent home from school in 2007 for a racist offence and 240 suspended for sexual misconduct.

In his article, Furedi questions if young primary pupils are turning into "sexual predators or racist zealots". One might be tempted to agree until, like Furedi you stop and think about what this means.

Perhaps this is only an opinion but surely children as young as 3 cannot be held accountable for an innapropriate comment or action? Furedi believes that the issue is more about an obsession in society to control children by means other than exercising child authority. In other words - telling children off isn't enough today and neither is explaining to a young child why their remark or action was wrong. Instead, teachers today are relying on the bureacracy of warning letters to parents and school suspensions rather than dealing with the issue directly.

Furedi is correct in pointing out that authority in British schools is struggling. Gaining respect from even very young students is tough. Many teachers can I am sure give examples of occasions where they have felt uncomfortable or even threatened and perhaps the biggest issue facing teachers is the fact that they feel helpless to deal with the situations without fearing they will be accused of stepping over the line either by parents or by colleagues. Furedi points to an example where a teaching assistant was reprimanded at her school for raising her voice and pointing a finger at a child who had just bitten her! Instead of being able to deal with the bad behaviour there and then she was expected to write a report about it. She felt helpless and resented the fact she was not trusted to do her job.

Perhaps the bad behaviour noted in Furedi's research is because of an adults changing response to a situation rather than a epidemic of bad behaviour developing amongst very young children. Furedi points to an example where a 4 year old calls a classmate "gay". Is it right for a teacher to interpret this as homophobia? Is it right to treat young children to the same moral standards as those we impose on an adult society? If we do then perhaps it is easier to understand why 3 and 4 year olds are being expelled for racism and sexual misconduct.

So if the children aren't changing but the way in which we deal with them is - where do we go from here? I for one do not feel qualified to answer this one but it is certainly food for thought.

As professionals who are here teaching in the UK Your views on Frank Furedi's article would we welcomed.

How to enjoy Guy Fawkes night - At school and beyond!

Remember remember - the 5th November! Yes its that time of year already. Thursday will see firework and bonfire displays up and down the country as the UK celebrates the plot to kill King James the first in 1605. Click here to read the history of Guy Fawkes!

Lots of Primary schools up and down the country will be incorporating the excitement of Guy Fawkes in to the curriculum this Thursday. For those of you keen to do the same and perhaps new to teaching in the UK I have a fantastic link that will give you everything you need to know from literacy lesson ideas, Art and design classes and IT online activities. If you dont want to hand over the whole day to the event then maybe just pick one activity and if you are a daily supply teacher - you should still be able to incorporate something Guy Fawkes related in to your day!

Click here to plan your Guy Fawkes day.

Obviously Guy Fawkes night isn't just for the children! For those of you who might want to join in the celebrations, my colleagues at Classroom and I have located some of the best Firework displays in London -either this Thursday evening on Nov 5th or on Sat 7th.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5th:

Clapham common

Starts: 7.30pm

Tube: Clapham Common

Price: FREE

Matt says " I have been to the Clapham display and its great. The fireworks were great and there are so many people there on the common - its a great atmosphere and best of all, it's free"!

Southwark Park

Starts: 7pm

Tube: Canada Water

Price: Free

Jenna says "I went to Southwark Park last year and it was so much fun. Great fireworks and although cold - I loved it"!

Roundwood Park

Starts: 8pm

Tube: Willesden Junction

Price: Free

Jason Says "I will be taking my son to Roundwood Park on Thursday night. Apparently there are some great fireworks lined up"!

SATURDAY 7th November

Battersea Park

Starts: 8pm

Train: Battersea Park

Tube: Pimlico

Price: £6

Nicole says "This is one of the biggest and most spectacular displays in London. I really think the £6 price tag is worth it"!

Blackheath Common

Starts: 8pm

Train: Blackheath

Price: FREE

Matt says "This is possibly the biggest firework display that London puts on. Not only that its free and Blackheath common is such a lovely location".

Alexandra Palace

Starts: 7.30pm

Train: Alexandra Palace

Price: £4

Deon says "Alexandra Palace is an amazing venue for fireworks. I have been here before and its such a dazzling display. I thoroughly recommend"!

We hope this has wet your appetite for Thursday and that you will be incorporating the event in to your teaching day and possibly even your own free time! If anyone can recommend any other great fireworks displays or some great lesson plan ideas - do let us know in the usual way.

Classroom Job Alert

Its Friday, which means it's Classroom's job posting day. As ever - for all teaching positions you must hold a recognised teaching qualification and for Classroom Assistant vacancies experience of working with children in some form is also a requirement.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive we can only respond to those applicants who are successful.

CLASSROOM ASSISTANT AND SUPPORT VACANCIES

• Experienced Learning Support Assistant to work with students who have mental health problems

We currently have two long-term positions (South and East London) to work with primary and secondary aged students who have psychological difficulties. You will need to have previous experience working with students who have depression, anorexia, anxiety, autism and behavioural difficulties. Ideally you would have a psychology background but this isn’t essential. Both positions are to start after half-term so you will need to have a recent CRB check. Please only send your CV if you have the relevant experience and the following:

• Recent CRB check
• Excellent communication skills
• At least two references covering the last 2 years of your employment. One must be child related
• Relevant experience working with psychological needs

• Special Needs Support Assistant to work with PMLD students (South East London)

We are looking to fill a position to work in a primary school which caters for students who have severe learning difficulties. This particular position is to work with a group of students who have profound and multiple learning difficulties. The students will have more than one disability and will have complex health needs. It’s essential that you have previous experience working with students who either have severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties.

This position is long-term but we are always getting similar day-to-day work so please still send your CV if you’re only looking for short-term work.

Please only send your CV if you have the relevant experience and the following:

• Recent CRB check
  Excellent communication skills
• At least two references covering the last 2 years of your employment. One must be child related
• Relevant experience working with psychological needs

Please contact the Support team on 020 7636 0600 or email: classroomassistant@classroomteachers.c.uk

SECONDARY TEACHING VACANCIES

• Government & Politics and Sociology – A Level – East London

A mixed comprehensive school in East London are looking for a qualified teacher to teach AS and A2 with some KS3/4 Humanities lessons. This is an ideal post for teachers who enjoy working with post-16 students. The post starts in January 2010 until July 2010 with the chance of the right candidate going on permanent contract thereafter.

• Mathematics – KS3 &GCSE – SW London

A very well run girls’ school in SW London are looking for a teacher of Mathematics to start in January 2010, perhaps sooner for the right candidate. This is a Maternity cover which would take you up till the end of the academic year in July 2010.

The school is set in a beautiful, leafy, SW London suburb with fabulous grounds and facilities. The results are above average and the staff are dynamic and very supportive of new staff members. The school has excellent training for Newly Qualified and Overseas Trained teachers in place.

• English – KS3, 4 and 5 – NE London

One of our top schools are looking for a teacher of English to start in January 2010 until the end of the academic year in July 2010. They would like a candidate with at least one terms experience teaching English to at least KS3 and 4 levels.

The school is the top Secondary school in the borough, boasting excellent results, fantastic facilities and brilliant senior management staff who are very supportive of new staff members. The students are a delight to teach – classroom management will never be an issue there!

Please contact the Secondary team on 020 7636 0600 or email us: secondary@classroomteachers.co.uk

SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHING VACANCIES

• SLD (Severe Learning Difficulties) teachers

A small and supportive Special Needs school in South East London are looking for a confident and versatile teacher to cover in a number of classes. The school caters for Primary and Secondary students with severe learning difficulties, many of the students will have physical difficulties, may be in wheelchairs and have medical needs. The right teacher must have experience working with children with severe needs, the confidence to lead and coordinate a small team of support assistants and the ability to deliver an appropriate curriculum based on the needs of the students. The class sizes in the school are small with no more than 7 students in each, you will also benefit from experienced teaching assistants and a great team atmosphere.

• EBD (Emotional and Behavioural Learning Difficulties) teachers

Classroom's SEN division is looking for exceptional teachers who are up for a challenge! Whether you are Primary or Secondary trained we have opportunities available across London in PRU’s. Working in EBD/PRU schools with pupils with emotional or behavioural difficulties is a demanding yet rewarding role for any teaching professional. It gives teachers the opportunity to support students with a number of Educational needs in small groups of 6-8 pupils which can often be more personal and yield even greater benefits.

PRIMARY TEACHING VACANCIES

• Year 2 Teacher

A top school in the area of Highgate, Islington is looking for a strong Year 2 teacher to start soon after half term. Year 2 is important as its the SATS year and you must therefore have sufficient knowledge of the UK keystage 1 curriculum. The headteacher maintains very high standards and this is a high achieving school. You must be prepared to work hard to maintain such standards. You should definitely have long term teaching experience in the UK in a relevant year group. Overseas trained teachers will be considered.

• Year 3 Teacher (Nov start)

A church of England Primary School in West London is seeking a teacher with long-term lower KS2 experience to take on a Y3 class from mid November through to July next year for a maternity cover. The ideal teacher will have a minimum of one academic year in a class teacher role and will be familiar with the curriculum at this level of KS2. This is a great opportunity for a teacher with enthusiasm and a sense of humour to take on a lovely class in a well supported school with a very positive ethos and genuinely friendly team. The school is well placed for public transport links, and is within a few minutes of Central London.

Please contact the Primary team on 020 7636 0600 or email us: primary@classroomteachers.co.uk

That's all for this week and in fact this blog will not return until Monday 2nd November as we are breaking for half term. We hope everyone has a relaxing and rested week!

A day in the life of a Classroom Consultant

Just what does a Consultant at Classroom do I hear you ask?! Whenever you call - we always claim to be busy - but busy doing what? Take a look at a typical day in our lives at the Regent Street offices:

6.45am - For those of us on the early shift we must drag ourselves out of bed at a time when most people are still dreaming sweet dreams! Arriving at work in the dark and wiping the sleep out of our eyes we check the answerphone for messages. Most days there will be messages - more often than not from our poorly teachers or support staff who (bless them) have called at 3am to say they won't be going in to school today.

7am - The onslaught begins. Our available teachers begin calling in their masses (at our request of course!) to remind us that they are still available for work. At the same time, the schools begin to call. Most of them are stressed out about the fact they need a supply teacher and they need them quick smart! Our job is to fulfill their requests in the quickest time possible. We must match their requests to the right teacher with the right skills who is living in the location most accessible to the school which might mean we can't always offer the work to the teacher who might need it the most if they are not living in the most suitable location. Sometimes the school ask for a particular person and so the race begins to try and track down that teacher and find out if they are actually still available. Amongst all the mayhem - we have to input all the bookings on to our computerised system, organise journey plans and act as guide when our teachers get lost en route. Its a two hour period during which time we have no idea if we will be busy or not - and if its manic - we thrive on the stress!

9am - Breakfast run. After 2hrs at our desks the stomachs need sustenance - we just have to hope that when we are out ordering tea and hot toast that we don't receive any late late bookings from schools..... it happens!

10am - 3pm The late shift arrives for work. The teams meet for a debrief of the mornings events and to discuss the days timetable. No day is ever the same for a consultant at Classroom! Perhaps we will have a string of interviews with new teachers and support staff. We might possibly have arrivals from one of our overseas offices which means we might have some very nervous and exhausted people who need our help, guidance and reassurance. Our job is to support, induct and prepare these brave individuals for the British education system and its so rewarding when things work out well for them! We might find ourselves anywhere in London visiting one of our schools. We visit all schools that we send our staff to. Its important for us to check out the environment into which we will be sending our staff and to meet the education professionals whom they will be working alongside. No one visit is ever the same. Last week for example, I visited a wonderful Primary school and met the most extraordinary Year 6 boy who gave me a tour of the building. He felt it was important for me to see where "gold class line up and indigo class line up and where magenta class line up - because the supply teacher ALWAYS gets it wrong"!! Come 3pm - the early shift at Classroom are meant to go home - but it doesn't always work out that way - bookings are coming in for the following day and teachers need to be spoken to, debriefing with them on how their day has gone and ironing out any possible issues that have arisen.

3pm - 6pm - The late shift. If we are not busy organising teachers for schools the following day, then perhaps we are busy working on longer term positions which might have come in. We search the computer systems to match the right candidates with the skill set required by the school. Perhaps we have to work with the candidate on updating their CV to ensure they are promoting themselves as the best person for the job. We might need to advertise for the job (cue online ad design) or we might need to organise interviews for candidates. If we aren't working on a particular vacancy then perhaps we are engrossed in a big marketing campaign to attract new schools for our teachers or to attract new candidates to Classroom. Amongst all this - we must call around all of our teachers and support staff to confirm their availability for work the following day and/or week. That's a lot of telephone calling, and that is without any major drama's occurring for our teachers who will need our comfort, support and most importantly, our time.

6pm - If we are lucky we can leave on time! If its been a stressful day then we might have a glass of wine en route to our homes and if its been a successful day (we celebrate just like you do if you've secured a longed for job!) we might just do the same, just like the rest of you I am sure! Our days are varied and we love what we do. We all feel a sense of triumph when we see how well our teachers and support staff are doing and a day doesn't pass without the sound of laughter filling Classroom's offices!

Still don't understand what we do or what you need to do to make sure you are making the most of your agency? Don't hesitate to give us a call for a chat!

When should children start learning?

Nicole Morgan, Primary consultant at Classroom returns with her second blog examining the recent debate in the media about delaying the age at which Primary school children begin formal learning:

"The education columns have seen some animated debate over the last week upon the release of the Cambridge Primary Review, a document that has made some controversial suggestions about the direction in which the education of our youngsters should be heading.

Six years of research and several hundred pages of report later, the review is largely centred around the concept that our nation’s children should be starting formal schooling later than they presently are, and thus benefitting from a further year’s worth of play-based learning as currently taught in our Nurseries. This change in policy would bring us in line with many European and Antipodean countries where serious and structured education begins at age 6 or 7, not to mention our Welsh neighbours who have already extended the Foundation stage to the age of 7.

On publication of the review, opinions have been bandied around left right and centre, with the government instantly rejecting the report on several counts. In the meantime however discussion amongst journalists, parents and many currently working in education suggest that there could be many who are pro the initiative, perhaps those who place great value on the extra time children would have to learn to play, socialise and generally adapt to the way of a classroom in a Nursery setting.

Dame Gillian Pugh who acted on the advisory board for the review claims ‘If you introduce a child to too formal a curriculum before they are ready, you are not taking into account where they are in terms of their learning and their capacity to develop’. With such a push in recent years on the numeracy and literacy strategies, the review argues that where play-based learning ceases too early, formal education could actually become ‘counterproductive’.

Philip Collins, Times Online columnist suggests perhaps we should be following the example of our Scandinavian counterparts in an attempt to raise the standards of our children’s education over the long-term;-

‘Finnish kids don’t’ start until 7 either and they are the brainiest in the world at 11’

Incredibly, within a few days of the Cambridge Review being published we have also been privy to a debate that would reinforce the views of those in Government such as Chris Woodhead, former Chief Inspector of Schools who has voiced concerns that a delayed start to formal education would result in lower standards overall.

In its frightening account of the basic levels of language and communication with which some children are entering school, the Times outlines a grave situation that Ms Gross, former director of the Primary National Strategy calls a ‘ticking timebomb’. With some students beginning their education with a speaking age of just 18 months and 18 % of children aged 5 failing to meet the anticipated level of speech for their age, a further delay in formally educating our little ones would surely only exacerbate this issue?

So, what do you think? For many of you who were educated and trained overseas, does a later start in Primary education make for a positive or a negative effect on a child’s education? Does that extra year allow for important development both short and long-term, or should our focus lie on pushing the levels of language and communication forward, so that Foundation stage children start their formal education with solid bricks on which to build"?