ABSTRACT
Not every new teacher gets a permanent job for the start of the academic year following qualification. For some, the flexibility that supply teaching offers is just what they need to broaden their experience and allow them time to gain confidence before launching their careers with a full-time permanent position. Supply teaching helps teachers to gain confidence in their ability to think on their feet, to adapt to the changing circumstances around them, to assess the mood of a class in a moment, to find out about a range of schools in an area and to gather vital skills such as classroom management and time management. Local education authorities have the right to extend new teachers' entitlements to work on short-term supply jobs in 'exceptional circumstances'.
