Hays Education - Training for supply teachers

Introduction to their training

Hays Education provides dedicated training courses to their supply teachers. They successfully won the tender to provide the first ever BTEC Professional Certificate in Effective Supply Teaching. From the experience gained with this pilot they now provide a wide selection of courses across the country for supply teachers working through them or with their LEA Partnerships.

The benefits

The training not only enables teachers to enhance their classroom practice and education knowledge, but also allows them to produce clear evidence of continuous professional development. These courses can be used to support their future career, in interviews for permanent posts or as evidence for performance management & threshold assessment.

Examples of courses

Below we show a selection of the courses that have formed part of the original BTEC Certificate. All cover key issues that supply teachers need to develop their skills. Hays now provide these as open courses to their supply teachers.

Monitoring & inspection

This course outlines ideas for good classroom management in both primary and secondary schools within the context of monitoring and inspection. Issues are fully developed on monitoring classroom learning and being inspected under the OFSTED model and LEA frameworks. Key issues include:

• Monitoring the curriculum
• Formal and informal monitoring
• Classroom records
• The OFSTED inspection process and how to prepare for it

The course is particularly useful to those who have not yet experienced an OFSTED inspection, but the range of the issues covered and the focus on monitoring make it relevant for all classroom teachers.

Teaching mixed ability classes

The aim of this course is to help teachers to develop the skills needed to deal with the increasing range of ability levels and needs in the mainstream classroom. The course is non-sector specific and is intended to assist with both whole class and subject teaching. The focus is on providing teachers with practical guidance to improve the quality of the teaching and learning. This will entail:

• The broad issues of equality of opportunity
• Planning and assessment
• How to establish an appropriate classroom environment
• The effective use of additional adult support

Effective classroom teaching

This course is designed to assist teachers in evaluating on their own practice and identifying elements of good practice. Candidates will consider the key elements of effective classroom teaching, explore practical strategies for achieving effectiveness and evaluate their own practice in the light of these.

The key outcome is:

• Examine the key elements of effective classroom teaching
• Explore practical strategies for effective classroom teaching
• Analyse own effectiveness in classroom teaching

Planning, monitoring & assessment

The purpose of this course is to encourage the development of these three central and inter-linked professional skills - planning monitoring and assessment. Increasingly, teachers are required to provide a range of assessments for their pupils in all areas of the curriculum and through a variety of processes. The course stems from:

• The need for careful and systematic planning to cater for all needs and ensure the appropriate delivery of effective teaching
• An understanding of the centrality of monitoring both for pupil progress and for teachers to become more reflective on their practice
• The recognition of assessment as a way to understanding both the needs and progress of children, allowing for emphasis on improvement and acknowledgement of success

The target audience for this course is all teachers form KS1 to KS3, with particular emphasis on NQTs and those in the early stages of their careers. The course will focus on essential planning, what and how to monitor effectively, key stage assessments, formal and informal assessment, ongoing assessment and the use of assessment for forward planning and improving classroom practice.

Managing special educational needs

The growing move towards inclusion means that teachers are encountering an ever wider range of pupils with Special Education Needs in mainstream classes. The aims of these two courses are to provide an overview of SEN as well as practical advice for those teachers who may not have had previous training in this area or whose initial teacher training did not cover these aspects of SEN provision. The subjects covered will include:

• Legal definitions
• The new Code of Practice
• Identifying pupils with SEN
• Understanding Individual Education Plans
• Literacy and numeracy for SEN
• Discussion of specific learning difficulties, e.g. dyslexia and dyspraxia

The course is appropriate for both primary and secondary teachers either on daily or longer placements and will focus on a number of issues raised by supply teachers during previous training.

Teachers' roles & responsibilities

The course content will include:

• Teachers' legal obligations and responsibilities e.g. the implications of the Disability Discrimination Act and the European Directive on Human Rights
• Racial discrimination
• Teachers pay and conditions
• Health and safety
• Controlling or restraining pupils

There will also be an opportunity for teachers to discuss the latest education initiatives and current issues in schools to provide them with a broader view of educational practice.

Behaviour management

The aim of the course is to provide teachers with both a clearer understanding of the complexities of classroom management and with practical strategies for improvement. The course is applicable to all teachers but will be especially useful for NQTs or for those in the early stages of their career. It is delivered through a mixture of lecture, discussion and video extracts. The areas covered include:

• Principles of classroom management
• Management of learning
• Appropriate use of language
• Behaviour control strategies

National literacy strategy

The introduction of the National Literacy Strategy requires teachers to have knowledge of the structure, objectives and teaching strategies upon which the framework is based. The course we are offering is designed to prove just such information for supply teachers. The course will include consideration of the major features of the NLS, strategies for its effective teaching, approaches to calculation and planning.

National numeracy strategy

The introduction of the National Numeracy Strategy requires teachers to have knowledge of the structure, objectives and teaching strategies upon which the Framework is based. The course we are offering is designed to prove just such information for supply teachers. The course will include consideration of the major features of the NNS, strategies for its effective teaching, approaches to calculation and planning.

Citizenship

The course aims to provide candidates with a clear understanding of the role of Citizenship in the Curriculum. It will examine how Citizenship topics can be applied across a wide range of subject areas and can be used as a means to motivate pupils, develop communication and project management skills and add value to teaching and learning.

Circle Time

The course is designed to give delegates increased confidence and help them to be better equipped to enhance the social development of pupils, assist in conflict resolution, deal with their personal needs and ultimately help them to be better citizens in society in both their childhood and adult life.

For more information contact your local Hays office.