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How To Deal With Bullying In School

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 15:00:46 Z

If you are new to a school, you may be wondering how to be a good supply teacher - especially when problems like bullying occur. What does a supply teacher do in such a situation? It can be challenging to know how to address this difficult issue, and here we take a look at the best ways to deal with bullying in school, and what makes a good supply teacher in this situation.

Be Proactive

You shouldn’t wait until bullying occurs to discuss it. Be proactive about speaking with students about bullying, guiding them to understand the consequences it may have, and that there is a zero-tolerance policy for it.

Keep Visible

Bullying can happen when no authority figures are close by. Make sure that you are visible and present during the day, ensuring that you are near students in areas where bullying is likely to take place. This can be in the hallways, break rooms or playgrounds.

Intervene In Situations

You may happen upon bullying taking place. If this happens, you should intervene between the bully and victim. This creates safety for the victim and puts a stop to the current bullying. Wait until later to fully discuss the situation with each student separately and gather the facts before deciding on how to proceed in order to remedy the issue at hand.

Involve Others

Don’t try and take on these situations alone - you should involve other members of staff and parents to help you to manage the issue. This will let the individual know that they are being perceived due to their bullying, encouraging them to put a stop to their behaviour.

Create Safe Spaces

Bullying can be a difficult topic for students to broach, especially if they feel they may not be believed. You should endeavour to create a safe and secure environment for your pupils so that they can speak to you if and when they need to. It can be challenging to see bullying from the outside, so be aware of the signs of bullying, as they may be extremely subtle.

Being a good supply teacher often means handling moments that could be extremely complex, and bullying is one of the most emotionally charged and complicated situations you may face. If you feel up to taking on the challenge, then get in touch with Coba Education to find supply teaching jobs across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.

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4 Benefits Of Supply Teaching In 2022

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 14:44:52 Z

In 2022, having more control over the way you work is becoming more and more common. So if you are starting your teaching career, how can you know what will suit you and find a job that you love? One of the best ways to get into teaching is through supply teaching - and here we look at four benefits you will discover when you become a supply teacher.

What Is A Supply Teacher In The UK?

In the UK, a supply teacher is a qualified teacher who does not take on a permanent role but rather works as needed across many schools. Contracts may vary from a single class to several months covering maternity leave or similar. If you are wondering “how much do supply teachers get paid?” then this can vary between roles, but the national average is around £18 per hour.

Enjoying More Flexibility

There are many benefits to becoming a supply teacher, and one of the best is flexibility. You are able to choose the days and hours that you teach and can take breaks when you want them.

Experiencing Variety

If you haven’t discovered your teaching “niche” yet, then it can be advantageous to experience as much variety as possible. Supply teachers aren’t tied down to one subject or classroom, or even one group of staff. You will be able to experience many different places, subjects, staff and students - which can be great if you don’t want to be tied to a single area or classroom.

Discovering Different Schools

Getting to be a supply teacher means that you can experience a school or area before you commit as a full-time teacher in a permanent role. This can be a big decision, so having a chance to test the waters can give you a better idea of which school will be right for you. When a permanent job offer does appeal to you, you will be certain that you’re making the right choice.

Opportunities For Development

A teacher should always be learning and growing, and there is no better way to do this than through supply teaching. Your development will be very much in the fast lane as you teach in different environments, learning from different teachers who will each have their unique styles to draw from.

How Do I Become A Supply Teacher?

If supply teaching sounds like the right choice for you, then get in touch with Coba Education to find out more. We can help you to find roles in primary and secondary schools in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire - so let us help you to kick start your supply teaching career.

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4 Types of Learning Styles In Education

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 15:51:08 Z

Everyone has their own unique way of learning, known as a learning style. Understanding different learning styles in education and how best to support each type of learner is essential for educational professionals. That’s the answer to “what are learning styles in education?” but it’s valuable to also have some knowledge of what the main styles of learning are and how you can help students learn effectively. So what are the different learning styles in education? Here are the four important ones to know about.

Visual learners

Visual learners tend to be learn more successfully while looking at pictures or illustrations of new ideas. When you’re working with visual learners, whiteboards or smartboards will come in handy. Handouts and visual presentations are also great tools. You can give students the opportunity to draw their own diagrams and pictures, either in their own workbooks or on the board, to reinforce concepts.

Auditory learners

Auditory learners absorb information effectively when they hear it. Lectures, verbal presentations, and spoken instructions tend to suit this type of learner. Aural learners might often be the first to ask a question so they can clarify new ideas. You can support this type of learner by engaging them in discussion or encouraging them to work in a group with others where they can verbally share ideas.

Kinaesthetic learners

Kinaesthetic learners learn by actively participating in tasks. Role plays and case studies can be useful teaching tools. Encouraging these students to get involved is a good way of helping them to learn. Students can act out scenes or put themselves in the shoes of a character to really get to grips with the material. You can also encourage movement through learning games, which can also be helpful for kinaesthetic learners.

Reading/Writing learners

Reading/writing learners are most comfortable when new concepts or instructions are written down rather than explained verbally. Taking notes can also help these learners to remember new information. Factsheets and textbooks can be particularly valuable tools for supporting reading/writing learners. Often these students also find it helpful to refer back to written information.

Supporting Different Learning Styles

In most classes you’re likely to encounter learners with a mixture of different styles. Incorporating a range of teaching tools and techniques into your lessons can help you to cater to everyone. If you’re looking for teaching work in Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, or Northamptonshire, contact Coba Education today to learn more about our supply teacher agency.

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What Are The Modern Teaching Methods From Around The Globe?

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 15:26:49 Z

The conventional classroom has seen significant evolution over the years, with a shift from the strict one-way teacher-to-student format to a more dynamic environment with chances for a variety of teacher-to-student and student-to-student interaction, facilitated and supported by technology. Many modern teaching methods in schools around the world are gaining attention for their potential to enrich classroom learning.

A Physical Change

In China, the concept of group learning where students are encouraged to demonstrate their abilities to their classmates, such as by solving problems on the board in front of the class, has been gaining ground in other parts of the globe. This practice has been shown to carry on to university, where students were observed to instigate group work and discussion outside of the classroom, due to the blurring of the traditional system where you only learn from the teacher.

Meanwhile, in Finland, students are not streamed, so the educational gap between students is reputed to be ‘the smallest in the world’. The efficacy of this practice is backed by the excellent track record Nordic schools have long harboured for producing outstanding students. Increasingly, it seems that the way forward is to allow for increased peer-to-peer learning and the diffusion of information as a multidirectional process without segregation of students based on their evaluated ability.

Role of ICTs, AI and Robotics

The role that technology has on modern teaching methods has become undeniable. Beyond the direct use of computers to facilitate online learning during the pandemic, having technology such as tablets in schools has shown promising results. The Netherlands trialled a program in several schools where all physical teaching material was replaced by digital resources on iPads. Though this program was stopped due to financial limitations, the benefits of this approach included being able to cater to a larger variety of learners and more comprehensive tracking of educational progress.

There is also an increasing presence of robotics and AI in all aspects of our life, including education. In 2016, Singapore introduced robots as teaching aids at several preschools. Though there were battery life and sensory perception limitations, the robots did encourage interest in attending school and helped several students develop more extroverted behaviour and communicative skills. As technology grows more sophisticated, there are clear applications of ICT and robotics in the classroom that benefit the students as they learn to navigate an increasingly digital world.

Contact Coba Education Now

The work of an educator in imparting knowledge on the next generation will continue ad infinitum, but the form it takes is under constant change. Consequently, it's the teacher’s responsibility to keep an eye on the trends of modern teaching methods in education and modify their teaching style accordingly. As a supply teacher agency, Coba Education is dedicated to this mission; schools in the vicinity of Bedford and Northamptonshire can contact us for resources and trusted personnel.

Get in touch to find out more.

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How To Use Google Classroom and Software Like Teams

Wed, 11 May 2022 10:22:45 Z

Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams are two of the most popular blended learning platforms on the market. Both offer a core package of tools that cover classroom essentials like Word, Google Docs, Excel, Sheets, PowerPoint and Slides. So how do you know which one is right for your students when trying to provide a blended education? In this blog post, we look at how Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams compare.

How To Use Microsoft Teams For School

Microsoft Teams is a communication and collaboration platform that is part of the Office 365 suite of productivity tools. It is increasingly being used by schools in the UK to provide a blended education for primary and secondary school students.

Teams allows teachers to create virtual classrooms where they can share resources, assign tasks, and carry out real-time discussions with their students. Students can also use Teams to stay in touch with their classmates via online meetings and/or chatrooms whilst also being able to submit their work.

There are many benefits to using Microsoft teams in schools. For example, it allows students to receive a more personalised education, as they can work at their own pace and access resources when it suits them. It also enables teachers to easily monitor student progress and give feedback in real-time.

How To Use Google Classroom In This Way

While Microsoft Teams is a good tool, when it comes to providing a blended education, we believe that Google Classroom has a slight edge.

This is because Google Classroom is more user-friendly and easier to navigate than Microsoft Teams, meaning that teachers and students alike are able to get up and running with Google Classrooms more quickly and easily than they would with Microsoft Teams.

Google Classroom also offers more features and functionality than Microsoft Teams. For example, Google Classroom allows teachers to create and grade assignments, which can be a huge time-saver for teachers.

Google Classroom also integrates more seamlessly with other Google products and services compared to Microsoft Teams. This is important because it means that teachers and students who are already using other Google products (such as Gmail or Google Drive) will be able to use Google Classroom more easily and effectively than its Microsoft counterpart.

For more information on how to use Google Classroom and software like Teams, feel free to contact Coba Education today.

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What Should Your CV Layout Be When Applying For A Job In The Education Sector?

Wed, 04 May 2022 17:16:20 Z

It’s not just teaching jobs that often require a CV as part of the application process in the education sector. Applying for research positions, support roles, fellowships and grants frequently require a curriculum vitae to be submitted.

The layout of a CV when applying for a role in education is almost as important as the content itself. The structure of the document sets out a clear framework that when laid out successfully engages the reader/recruiter and leads them through your skills, experience and best attributes.

A CV is a very personal document but it also needs to be directly framed to address the most important features an employer is looking for. There are lots of resources on the internet that will provide advice on a generic layout for applications such as a bland CV description for teacher jobs, but if you’re seeking employment in the education sector, it needs to be tailored to the role. So, the CV format for a teacher might be different from that of a headteacher. So where to begin?

CVs In Education - Your Personal Profile

We don’t need to tell you to include clear contact details at the top of the CV so that recruiters can get in touch easily. Do include neatly spaced lines though and enough white space so as not to bombard the reader with bundled up text.

The most important first feature to think about is a personal profile paragraph. This is your first chance to sell yourself and that all-important first impression. Be sure to mention your key skills and experience as they relate to the person specification and/or job description. Keep it professional but personable.

Work Experience and Meeting/Exceeding Requirements

Don’t think of the next section as ‘work history’ - think of it as the experience and skills you’ve gained from each role. What were your key responsibilities and how do they demonstrate you meet the factors required to succeed in this new position?

Also, have a think about what ‘added value’ you can bring such as achievements or attributes that will make the recruiter view you as having the potential to be a true asset to their organisation in a broader sense. Keep it brief though or risk running into irrelevance.

Education and Qualifications

Keep this brief. Obviously, make sure you list any mandatory qualifications as required by the person spec. Do outline additional attainments that demonstrate you’re a lifelong learner - just as you’ll be encouraging students to be. This might include specific courses, workshops and conferences.

Additional Sections Dependent On The Role

Most CVs are pretty dry affairs. In some ways, they’re supposed to be. The basic necessity to get your points across as to why you’re the ideal candidate in a clear and succinct manner dictates this to some extent.

However, you might want to consider an additional section or two beyond the traditional CV layout. This could be a demonstration of your skills and successes in leadership roles or research achievements in particular fields or publications that you have contributed to.

The Final Bit…

Finally, there’s a long-held tradition for CVs to finish off/tail off with a sentence outlining your personal interests and hobbies. Even more traditionally perhaps is the temptation to include rather benign pastimes in a single word such as swimming and reading. Try to make it all a little more 'real'.

What are your true interests but also passions and think about how they might be relevant to a job in education? Perhaps, reading - you enjoy sharing and making up stories with your own children. Swimming - you enjoy it for relaxation, thinking time and exercise. Simply think about every sentence as a means to showcase ‘you’ and you’ll be on the right lines.
For more advice on CV tailoring to really sell your skills to potential employers, contact the experts at Coba Education today.

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What Are Learning Styles and How Do They Apply In The Classroom?

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 15:55:34 Z

Did you know that not everybody has the same learning style? It can be easy to try and teach in just one way, but developing a deeper understanding of learning styles can help you to become a better teacher and get more from your students. Read on to learn more and to discover examples of different learning styles.

What Are The Styles?

There are four different learning styles that are considered to be ‘core’ learning styles. These are known as Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing and Kinesthetic (VARK). There are, of course, advantages and disadvantages of VARK learning styles - personalising your approach is a good idea, but trying to appeal to just one can be too limiting. As we uncover more about each of these styles, bear in mind that some students display attributes that line up with more than one learning style - however, most students will have one style that works better for them overall.

Visual Learners

Visual learners learn and recall best by having their lessons taught through images or diagrams. They tend to prefer learning through visual stimulus - you can provide this by introducing diagram labelling and adding annotations to pictures.

Auditory Learners

An auditory learner will learn most successfully by listening to the information being told to them aloud. They may also do well with role-play and group work, which allows for more vocalisation.

Kinesthetic Learners

You may be wondering what this one means! A kinesthetic learner is a learner who prefers a hands-on working style. They like to learn by having all of their senses engaged, and may thrive most in physically-based lessons and work that is based more on experiments and activity. Adding a hands-on element to more lessons can help to keep these learners engaged.

Reading/Writing Learners

While it might sound old-fashioned in some cases, the truth is that some learners do favour an environment where they can learn by reading and writing. These learners thrive when given activities based on worksheets, or comprehension-based activities, while many also enjoy presentations. Simply put, they do best with the written word.

As you can see, these 4 different learning styles can be integrated into your classroom, and now you should more easily be able to identify them in your students. If you are a teacher looking to get great experience as a supply teacher, Coba Education can help. Get in touch with us for support in finding fantastic supply teaching roles at any stage of your career.

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5 Tips On Writing An Amazing Lesson Plan

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:49:28 Z

As long as you are passionate, committed, and eager to teach, you’ll make a great teacher. However, many practicalities make a great teacher, too. Here, we will look at lesson planning for primary school teachers. How do lesson plans help teachers and why is it important for teachers to plan lessons? Read on to find out and to pick up five top tips for amazing lesson plans.

Decide What To Cover

The most important step is deciding what you want to share with your students in your lesson. This goes beyond what subject the lesson falls under, you should think more thoroughly about what you wish to convey. This might be a theme or topic that needs to be covered. Once you have decided on an idea, you can think more deeply about how this will benefit your students and make a stronger connection between the topic and its benefits.

Have Objectives In Place

As well as having a topic or theme to cover, you should also think of objectives for the lesson. It can be easy to get carried away when teaching - or answering student questions - and objectives can keep a lesson on target. This can also help you to grasp your goals and what you want the outcomes of your lesson to be. Objectives should create a smoother and calmer lesson overall.

Check Your Materials

Having the correct materials is vital for a smooth lesson. You don’t want to need to run out and grab supplies partway through the lesson, or not be able to teach effectively due to a lack of materials. Thinking about your resources ahead of time will also help you to structure your lesson more effectively.

Do a Write Up Beforehand

Teachers don’t exactly work from a script, but writing up your lesson beforehand can be incredibly helpful. You should plan out your delivery from beginning to end, writing down the materials required, what your objectives are, and what you are going to cover. This will give you a good overview of your lesson and let you see exactly how to proceed.

Assess and Develop

Once you have delivered your lesson, now is the time to assess what went well and what went less well. There is always room for assessing and developing your lesson plans so they can just get better and more engaging.

With these tips, you should feel much more confident in developing lesson plans that keep children interested in learning. If you are considering supply teaching in the Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire area, get in touch with Coba Education. We can support you in finding great positions where you can deliver your amazing lessons.

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4 Must Have Apps For Teachers

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 15:24:01 Z

As a result of the pandemic, teaching has taken a new form for both students and teachers. With distance learning, teachers have turned to technology to aid them in education. In this blog, we will be looking at the best online teaching apps.

Zoom

This is one of the most popular platforms for online learning. It is simple to set up and can accommodate a hundred attendees per call. Zoom has many features that can help you enhance virtual teaching for your students. These include:

• Shared screen - This feature allows the teacher to share their screen with the class. It is helpful when explaining how to complete a task or solve a problem. A shared screen gives online learning a classroom feeling.
• Breakout rooms - Zoom allows you to split your classroom into smaller groups. The teacher can assign students to breakout rooms before the class starts, then bring the entire class together later. Breakout rooms allow the teacher to move between these rooms and share information with all students.
• Non-verbal feedback - The teachers can utilise this feature to receive feedback using the meeting reactions. There are icons such as “raise hand,” which students can use to let the teacher know they have a question.

That said, the free version of Zoom limits calls to only forty minutes, after which you would have to restart your session.

Kahoot

This learning tool makes it easy for users to create, share and play games and quizzes on various subjects in any language. The app is designed to make learning fun and engaging. It is free and works well on most devices. Here are some of its features:

• Ghost - this is a feature that allows students to play against their previous top score. It enhances learning through repetition.
• Analysis - using the analysis of the results, the teacher can see which areas students are struggling with and focus more on that area.
• Copy - this feature allows the teacher to combine other readily available quizzes to create the final examination.

Google Classrooms

This free online tool allows teachers to set assignments, receive submitted work, mark, and send them back to the students. Storing students’ work on your classroom drive folder makes everything easier to find and grading quicker and hassle-free. Here are some useful features of Google classroom:

• A gradebook to keep a record of students’ grades and assignments.
• A comment section to use when giving students feedback.
• An option for parents to receive emails on their child’s progress in class
• The teacher can copy and assign comments

Trello

This is an online organising platform that teachers can use to easily plan out their syllabus and keep students on top of their work. Teachers can use Trello to do the following:

• To organise student assessment data
• To organise meeting agendas
• To create a resource organiser
• To coordinate with other teachers

At Coba Education, we specialise in providing qualified teaching support staff for primary and secondary schools. If you are considering supply teaching contact us today for more information about our services.

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A Day In The Life of a Supply Teacher

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 17:16:33 Z

Teaching is a fantastic career, but if you want more flexibility and to work in different school environments, then supply teaching might be a better choice for you. If you are looking into a career as a supply teacher, you may wonder what the average day in the life of a supply teacher looks like. Read on to find out!

What Is a Supply Teacher?

So, what is a supply teacher in the UK? A supply teacher is a teacher who works temporarily, covering a role normally held by a permanent teacher. This can be due to several reasons, and you may find yourself working in many schools on different days, or you may provide more long-term cover to a single school. This is common when the regular teacher is away for a longer period of time, such as on long-term sick leave or on maternity leave.

Why Become a Supply Teacher?

At the start of your teaching career, you may feel that you lack experience and aren’t sure where you want to work permanently. Finding that perfect role can take time, and you just want to start working now. Taking on the role of a supply teacher can give you the experience you need to help build your career while revealing the classes, age groups and schools you most enjoy. On the contrary to this, you may be a very experienced teacher with decades of experience behind you and the desire to start ‘winding down’. If you are a passionate teacher who loves what they do, but you don’t love the workload that goes hand in hand with being a full-time teacher with a permanent position in a school, you may turn to supply. Supply is fantastic for its flexible nature and providing the ability to work round your other commitments or picking up a few extra days’ work each week to supplement your pension. At whichever stage of your teaching career you’re at, you can make supply teaching work for you.

What Is Involved In a Day In The Life of a Supply Teacher?

As a supply teacher, no two days will be the same! But a typical day will usually involve you being up, dressed and ready to receive a call by no later than 07:00 am. This is normally when you will hear about last-minute supply work, and you can usually expect to hear until around 8:45 am. Once you have received the call, your consultant will inform you about the job and the school.

Leave Yourself Time

As a supply teacher, you must allow yourself plenty of time to get to the school, due to unpredictable traffic or public transport. If you find yourself running late, don’t panic, but do give your recruitment consultant a call so that they can inform the school of the delay. Once you arrive, it’s time to head into your classroom and do what you do best - teach!

Is There a Typical Day as a Supply Teacher?

No, there is no typical day for a supply teacher – you may be covering a class of any age group and there’s no telling what their regular teacher was covering in the curriculum, so you’d be best off expecting anything!

As a supply teacher, you may teach the same subject to different classes for the entire day, or you may stay with the same class and teach a diverse range of subjects (this is more common when teaching younger age groups).

Supply teachers are not expected to review or set homework, so you don’t have to worry about that.

At the end of the teaching day, you just pack up your things and go home – no staying behind marking papers for hours or attending staff meetings like the regular teachers, and there’s no lesson prep needed to be done for the following day either!

Simply kick back and maybe get an early night – after all, you might get a phone call early tomorrow morning asking you to do it all over again!

Life as a supply teacher can be unpredictable but very exciting and varied. If you want to kickstart your supply teaching career with a professional and supportive specialist education company, get in touch with Coba Education to find out more.

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Covid-19 and Education – How Has It Affected UK Schools?

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 16:22:37 Z

Nearly two years on from March 2020, we are reflecting on the impact that COVID-19 has had on schools and students. Schools in England closed on 20th March 2020, except for vulnerable pupils and key workers' children, and all exams were cancelled. But how has that impacted UK schools going forward? Read on to find out what lessons the pandemic has taught us.

Early Precautions

Because schools couldn't carry out their normal hours and activities with children, educators had to think on their feet to provide as much as they could to enhance children’s wellbeing during such a difficult time. Instead of normal lessons, teachers provided many different learning experiences for pupils at home.

Short Term Impact

Switching to online learning proved to be an effective tool when it came to retaining pupils and maintaining access to learning and learning materials. However, such a shift shone a harsh light on issues which restricted such access to education. Teachers, especially those in deprived areas, felt this keenly. A report by Sutton Trust found that 15% of teachers stated that more than a third of their pupils did not have easy access, or any access to devices that would allow them to learn online. Many also lacked fast internet access, which meant that these students could be left behind without in-person learning.

Long Term Impact

Now, nearly two years on, the impact of the COVID-19 related school closures and how this impact education is being fully realised - and lessons are being learned. Schools will now need to reflect back and look at working harder to support children in adapting to the new normal of a post-lockdown reality. There will likely be more education provided on digital platforms, developing these so that they are more accessible and easy to use for children. As other corners of business and education stick with a hybrid approach, this may even be applied to schools. Offering a blended learning approach, which would be a mix of online and in-person learning, could increase accessibility for some students even after the pandemic.

With COVID-19 schools had to adapt very quickly and make changes that were completely unexpected. Going forward, the right staff can help you to provide for your post COVID-19 school teacher life - get in touch with Coba Education to discover the right supply teachers for you, no matter what your approach to learning may be.

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Well-Being Tips For First Time Teachers

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 16:35:59 Z

While fulfilling, teaching can take a toll on your mental health. Therefore, it is crucial for teachers to prioritise their wellbeing, just as they do their work. If you are a first-time teacher, here are a few teacher wellbeing ideas.

Set Clear Boundaries Between Your Home and Schoolwork

It is not uncommon for teachers to stay at school till late in the evening, helping students and planning lessons. However, failure to strike a healthy work-life balance can leave you physically and emotionally exhausted. Achieving a work-life balance is easier said than done, so here are some tips to guide you.

• Set a reasonable time to leave work every day and stick to it
• Avoid checking and responding to work emails while at home
• Create an end of day ritual to help you relax and unwind after a long day at work
• Limit the amount of work you bring home with you when possible

Find a Mentor

Finding your way as a first-time teacher can feel overwhelming at times. Even though you have trained for the job, you'll need a mentor to show you the ropes. A mentor will help you adapt to the school's culture, guide you with the school curriculum, and advise you on teaching strategies and communication skills. In addition to that, they will supervise you and make suggestions on what areas you can improve on.

Set Some Time To Reflect on Past Work and Work On New Ideas

There's great value in accepting past mistakes and trying new things. Adopting a growth mindset early on in your career will help you become a better teacher and have a greater impact on your students. So, ensure that you have a set time every week to reflect on areas that you found challenging and think of how you can improve on them. That said, do not be hard on yourself. Teaching is a learning curve for both the students and the teachers.

Spend Time With Friends and Family That Do Not Work In a School Environment

Interacting with people outside the school environment is crucial for improving teacher wellbeing. It allows you to discuss things that are not school-related which helps focus your mind on other things.

Also, take a break from work once in a while to treat yourself to wellbeing activities for teachers. It could be seeing a film at the cinema, going for a walk, going on holiday, or having a quiet night in.

Teaching is one of the most fulfilling careers. If you would like to work as a supply teacher, contact us today to discover how we can help.

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How To Prepare For School Inspections

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 15:12:57 Z

School inspections can feel like one of the most challenging parts of your career as an educator or administrator. Even when you know that your school is doing well, preparing for school inspections can be difficult. Here, we will look at how best you can prepare for Ofsted school inspections to feel more confident.

Preparation Is Key

Hoping for the best is not enough when it comes to Ofsted inspections. You need to prepare well in advance of your inspection. This is obviously not as simple as keeping the school clean and tidy - you will need to look at what the inspection includes, which will help you to know what resources you need. This is going to be the key to ensuring that you have the correct resources on hand so that you can meet the expectations laid out by the inspection.

Carry Out Regular Training

Do you often find yourself wondering “how do Ofsted inspect schools”? This means that your staff probably do, too! It is important to hold regular training sessions in your school, as well as attend them yourself. Every member of your staff should be confident about answering questions about students and the school as a whole. Everyone should understand what is expected of them, and thorough training can help to make sure you are all on the same page. This can help an inspection to be smoother and more successful.

Work Towards The Inspection

Look at your processes and think about what the inspector will see. It is easy to become emotionally involved in your work and processes, but try to look at them with a cooler head. Even something you have worked hard on may not be functioning to help you succeed - so now is the perfect time to change and adapt it to meet Ofsted requirements.

Look At Positives And Negatives

Focusing on the positives is a great thing, but when it comes to Ofsted inspections, you also need to look at areas where you are not doing as well. Take a step back and analyse your work so that you can see areas where an inspector may think you are falling short of expectations.

With these key objectives in mind, it will be much easier to understand both the importance of inspection in schools and to feel that you will do well when an Ofsted inspection occurs. One of the key parts of having a successful school is your staffing - if you are looking for Teaching staff to help your school succeed, get in touch with Coba Education.

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Ex Teachers Called Back To The Classroom – So What Does This Mean For You?

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 16:47:08 Z

As the Omicron wave surges across the country, staffing shortages are becoming a huge challenge for many businesses.

Not least, absenteeism is taking its toll in schools, where it's been claimed by the BBC that one-in-twelve teachers were off ill as the new term of the year began. This equates to 8.6% of teachers and school leaders being off sick, the majority suffering from Covid. Many schools have also been struggling to find cover.

With schools battling to stay open as teacher shortages hit hard, the education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, has been pleading with ex-teachers, and teachers who are trained but working in other professions, to step in and help during the current staffing crisis.

Keeping Schools Open

It has always been the government's pledge to keep schools open wherever possible, but with staff absenteeism at an all-time high, the threat of school closures is never far away. With children having already missed out on so much of their education during the previous lockdowns, sending students home to study online is the last thing that both teachers and education ministers want.

Even if schools do continue to stay open, with staff absenteeism rife, students could be forced to join up with other classes, which could still have an impact on a child's learning.

For these reasons, ex teaching staff are being urged to sign up now to plug the gap.

Do Your Bit To Help

If you're a retired teacher or an ex-teacher working in another profession and have time to spare, you can do your bit to help the current schools staffing crisis. Start by registering with Coba Education today, or re-register if it's been a while since you used Coba Education recruitment services. Thanks to your help, you could keep a local school open, and enable students to have the complete education experience they deserve.

Recommend a Friend

When registering with Coba Education, you can also take part in the recommend a friend scheme.

You can recommend another teacher or other education professional to us, and as a thank you for doing so, you'll receive £100 Voucher Express vouchers of your choice, once the candidate has completed 10 days of work. The 10 days of work doesn't have to be consecutive and can be completed over a period of time

Don’t Delay!

If you’ve previously worked in the teaching industry – or maybe you still are but are still looking for a role – get in touch! We offer competitive hourly rates and total flexibility over your schedule. Contact Coba Education today!

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How To Create a Positive Classroom Environment

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 16:13:31 Z

A positive classroom environment is essential for students' success, but what is a positive learning environment in the classroom?

A positive learning environment is a setting that offers safety, trust, respect and open conversations between students and teachers. Developing a positive environment should start on the first day of school, but it is never too late to get started. Below are a few tips on how to create an effective learning environment in a classroom.

Create A Structure For Your Students

Structure is extremely important in a learning environment. Setting behavioural and academic expectations from the very beginning enables students to know what is required of them at all times, negating the need to tell them off.

Creating structure in a classroom goes hand in hand with accountability, so let your students know that actions have consequences. Be tough, but listen to them and take what they say to heart. This will help your students gain a sense of responsibility for their actions and create order in the classroom.

Allow The Students To Get To Know You

Students have preconceived notions about their teachers. So, it is up to you to create the perception you want your students to have of you. A Q&A session on the first day is a great way to break the ice and give students some insight into who you are. Doing this creates a free and comfortable learning environment and helps nurture a trust-based relationship between you and your students.

Address The Students' Psychological Needs

Students come from different backgrounds. So, to make them feel comfortable in your classroom, you must create a sense of love and belonging, safety, freedom, personal power, and fun. Addressing these needs will help improve student engagement and reduce behaviour incidences.

Celebrate Success Where Necessary

Although rewards, monetary or otherwise, are discouraged in a learning environment, celebrating successes can make students feel valued and encourage them to do better. Unlike rewards, which are hinted at ahead of time, a celebration is a spontaneous event meant to recognize achievement. You can select a class goal and put on a celebration when it is reached. The rewards should not be placed as a necessity since the primary purpose is to ensure the students put more effort into learning.

Creating a positive learning environment in the classroom can change students' perspectives towards learning and produce outstanding results. Read our blog or get in touch with us today for more insight on how to create a safe environment for students.

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How To Go Paperless In The Classroom In 2022

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:09:04 Z

Going paperless can make classrooms more efficient and can save time, money and the environment while promoting more connected teacher-student networks. But how do you make the transition to a digital learning environment when your school can’t afford top-of-the-line tablets or technology managers? This blog post covers the five tips you need to get started.

1) Use Whiteboards and Other Paperless Teaching Aids

Cost is often the main concern for educators trying to figure out how to go paperless in the classroom. If your budget is limited, an excellent place to start is to get traditional whiteboards and laminated materials that teachers and students can write on and erase. If you can afford to spend more, get interactive smartboards. With these digital aids, teachers can present graphics, PowerPoint presentations and movies and better engage with students.

2) Sign Up To Google Classroom

Google Classroom is an easy-to-use app that allows educators to manage multiple classes. You can easily share learning materials with students, post announcements, and email parents with the free version. Students get instant access to learning resources at the tap of a button, eliminating the need to photocopy and hand out papers.

You can also integrate other apps into this tool, including Google Docs and Google Forms. These apps make it easy to create and store learning materials, and some of them even allow you to auto-grade assignments.

3) Screen-Casting For Homework

Educators transitioning to a paperless classroom can also use screen-recording tools such as Vidyard to walk students through their digital homework and suggest improvements they could make. When they are done, they can send over the videos, and students can review them as many times as they want. Students don’t have to keep stacks of graded papers for reference, and they get access to much-needed feedback wherever they are.

4) Start Small

Going paperless can feel intimidating for educators who are not confident in their technology skills. To make the transition easier, pick one aspect of your daily routine that you want to make digital or paperless. You can start by scanning learning resources and sharing them over email or creating assignments on Google Docs. When you are familiar and comfortable with one activity, move on to another one.

5) Be Willing To Learn

Ultimately, you will learn more about going paperless in the classroom from your students than from anywhere else. They have access to the digital tools that appeal to them, and chances are they have interacted with these tools more than you have. Cultivate an environment where sharing and experimenting with new ideas and resources is the norm, and they will be eager to teach you what will work and what won’t work.

If you're looking for an education recruitment agency you can trust, contact our team at Coba Education today.

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How To Deliver an Awesome Online Lesson

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:54:27 Z

The Education sector has undergone something of a digital revolution in recent times and this has seen online lessons become more common. Whilst this might have started out mainly in higher education, online teaching is now common in primary and secondary schools. It goes without saying that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this process and online learning may well be something all teachers have to engage more with in future.

However, it can seem a little daunting if you do not have much experience in online teaching. Let's take a look at a few tips for delivering an awesome online lesson.

Make It Interactive

Teaching has come a long way from kids copying information from the blackboard in silence! Modern lessons need to have an interactive element to pique pupils’ interest - this is certainly true for online lessons.

A great tip for delivering the best online sessions is to make them interactive. This will help the pupils engage with what is being taught. Just make sure to tailor the interactive elements to the age group of the class; games are perfect for primary ages, whilst quizzes are better for secondary school kids.

Make Use of Animations and Short Videos

Another great tip is to include short videos and animations. This will go down well with kids of all ages, but it is key to tailor the content to the age range being taught. Animations that are too young in tone, for example, may fail to engage older secondary school children. Visual learning can be very effective for children and finding ways to include this in online lessons is a wise move. It not only gives a break from verbally passing on information but also offers a fun way to deliver content.

Set Ground Rules

Just like real-life lessons, your online sessions should have clear ground rules. Getting these in place from the start ensures pupils know what is expected of them and what is off-limits. It will also encourage them to take the session seriously and engage fully with it. It will also give all pupils an equal opportunity to participate.

From how and when they should ask questions to being on 'mute' while listening, setting rules for your online lessons is crucial.

Think About Micro-Learning

The simple truth is that any teacher can only maintain the attention span of students for a certain period of time. A good idea to combat this is to break up online lessons into shorter chunks. This enables content to be delivered in shorter bursts, which can be consumed more quickly. If you also use breaks to give students a chance to reset, you should find this principle works well.

Supply Teaching Opportunities With Coba Education

Of course, you need to find the right role first before you can put the above tips into action. Here at Coba Education, we help supply teachers across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Yorkshire find the role of their dreams. Get in touch at sales@cobaeducation.com for more details or register with us to find work today.

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How To Achieve a Positive Work/Life Balance as a Busy Supply Teacher

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:40:19 Z

Working as a supply teacher in the education sector is always full-on. While this is something most people with a passion for teaching relish, it is important to achieve a positive work/life balance. This will stop work from taking over your whole life and ensure you continue to get the most from teaching.

But how can you achieve a good work/life balance as a teacher?

Use Calendars/Diaries To Block Out Times

A great place to start is getting on top of your schedule. This is important because it allows you to manage your time effectively and stop work from taking over your personal life. For most people, the best approach is to use calendars or diaries to help. The key is to block out times for each specific task and then stick to it. This will soon see you achieving a better work/life balance, whilst also getting through what you need each day.

Wind Down After Work

The hectic pace of life in the education sector can be an issue if you do not switch off once you leave work. Many supply teachers struggle to do this and find that work ends up encroaching into their personal time. A good tip is making a concerted effort to switch off from work when you leave for the day. Once home, take time to recover from the day and wind down. This will leave you feeling calmer and help you put work to bed until tomorrow.

Take Time To Do Things You Enjoy

It is also a good idea to do hobbies you enjoy out of work. This will stop work from being the only focus in your life and stop it from taking over. Doing things you like out of work will also make you happier and give you something to talk about when you're back in school. Whether it is yoga, meditation or any other hobby you like, taking time to do things you enjoy is worthwhile.

Get a Good Night's Sleep

Sleep is crucial for achieving a positive work/life balance. Ideally, you should aim to get between 8 and 10 hours of good quality rest per night. Getting enough sleep gives your body a chance to recover and repair and allows your mind to take a break from thinking about work. It also means you wake up feeling alert, energised and happy each day and stops work from taking over your evenings.

Find The Right Job With Coba Education

As well as the above tips, finding a job that respects your right to a positive work/life balance is also key. If you are looking for this kind of work as a supply teacher in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes or Yorkshire, contact us at sales@cobaeducation.com.

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How To Support Stressed Students

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 14:40:06 Z

Teaching is a multi-faceted career and one that is also very rewarding. Whether you work as cover staff or a supply teacher in primary or secondary settings, it is a vocation with many sides to it. One of the most important is lending support to students who are stressed. This enables you to get to the root of what is causing their stress, help if you can or suggest other ways of resolving the issue.

As a result, supporting worried students is essential for teachers and can be done in a number of ways. But what are some of the most effective to know about?

1:1 Catch Up Sessions

A good place to start is considering 1:1 catch up sessions and personal tutoring. 1:1 sessions are particularly good if the student is stressed about falling behind in normal lessons or feels they need extra help to succeed. This is because sessions like this enable you to give the student your undivided attention and hone in on areas they might need specific help with. Sessions like this can also help the student engage with the work, without other people around to put them off.

Guide Them on Managing Work Effectively

A lot of stress can often be caused by poor organisation, especially when there is a lot of homework or revision to be done. Try to guide anxious students to set out an organised plan for revision or completing homework. If they do this and stick to it, it will help them feel more in control and less stressed. It is also key to guide them on not leaving revision or homework until the last minute! Many students fall into this trap and it can leave them nervously eyeing deadlines that are fast approaching.

Provide Guidance on School Counselling Services or Recommended Outside Organisations

Although teachers can give great general advice on work management and offer 1:1 sessions, this may not be enough at times. This is especially true if the reasons behind a pupil's stress are not to do with their schoolwork. If you think a student needs expert help to feel better, it is wise to tell them about school counselling services. This will allow them to speak with experienced counsellors who can help further. In addition, it is also worth passing on details of any reputable, certified outside organisations who can help.

Supply Teaching Roles With Coba Education

Although it can be challenging, supporting students who are stressed is a key part of teaching. To find the best supply teacher roles which give you chance to do this, let Coba Education help. Sign-up today to access vacancies in the Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Yorkshire areas.

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Behaviour Management Tips For ECTs (Early Career Teachers)

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 13:49:23 Z

Being an Early Career Teacher (ECT) can be incredibly exciting. However, there are some challenges that you will face as an ECT.

One of these challenges is behaviour management in the classroom. This is just as important as learning, as poor behaviour can impact the learning of all students. But how can you manage this as an ECT teacher?

Examples of Poor Behaviour

Poor behaviour may be displayed in a number of ways. For example, you may notice that students are not attentive to you - they may fall asleep, play on an electronic device, or daydream. More noticeable displays of poor behaviour include students talking among themselves or interrupting during lessons.

On the most serious end, poor behaviour can result in threats and verbal or physical bullying of you as the teacher, or of other students.

Why Might Students Behave This Way?

Every student is unique, and the reasons for poor behaviour can vary widely. However, there are some common reasons such as boredom and having no motivation or self-discipline. Your student may want to get extra attention or have trouble understanding instructions, or they may have a personal issue that they cannot communicate with you.

You should also never underestimate the role of peer pressure, especially if a group of students are all behaving in a similar fashion.

The Effects Of Poor Behaviour

Children who behave poorly are likely to achieve less in the classroom, both in the short and long term. There can also be a hefty impact on both the other students and you as a teacher.

Other children may become distracted and upset if another child is behaving poorly. They may also be led into misbehaviour themselves, which can quickly lead to your classroom environment getting out of hand.

Dealing with this behaviour day in and day out can often lead to increased stress for you, and many teachers end up leaving their roles, or the profession entirely, due to not being able to manage this.

How To Manage Poor Behaviour

There are some things you can do to manage poor behaviour. Plan your lessons ahead of time, and consider your class. If you find out the unique personalities and learning styles of the students, you can tailor your lessons to try and engage each child.

As an ECT, you should also focus on building rapport and trust with your students, so they have respect for you. You should also be clear from the outset about what you expect from your class, and offer them a consistent routine.

Are you an Early Career Teacher looking for your first role? Coba Education is on hand to help you find a fantastic supply teaching role to fit your personality and teaching style. Get in touch to find out how we can support you as you begin your teaching journey.

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What Is The Difference Between PGCE and QTS?

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 15:56:05 Z

Are you looking into becoming a teacher but find yourself a little confused about the different qualifications you can take, and what the requirements actually are to be a teacher? We have broken down the difference between QTS and PGCE to help you understand how they differ, and whether QTS or PGCE is right for you.

What Is QTS?

QTS stands for Qualified Teacher Status. This is the required qualification that you need to work as a teacher in maintained or special schools in England. You may wonder how to get QTS; well, to gain QTS, you will need to show that you meet the Teachers' Standards that have been laid out by the government.

While you only truly require QTS to be a teacher, it is not generally seen as an academic qualification when compared to the PGCE. That is to say, you may be qualified to teach, but you will not have studied the theory and background needed to be considered an academically (or fully) qualified teacher.

What Is a PGCE?

A PGCE is a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. It is not technically required to teach in England; however, the academic study that you undertake while studying for a PGCE provides you with a more thorough understanding of teaching practices, helping you to develop your own teaching strategies and styles. You will also learn more about educational research, giving you the background information you may need.

You may also wonder how to get QTS after PGCE. This is fairly straightforward, as it is a separate qualification you will need to take unless you wish to only teach adult learners. Many PGCE courses incorporate the QTS qualification for ease.

Benefits Of a PGCE

There are many benefits of completing a PGCE. You will gain credits that can be put towards a Master’s degree, which can give you an even broader understanding and experience of academic research. While the PGCE is an extra qualification on top of QTS, it is the one that truly encompasses the theory of education, and gives you a chance to understand and interact with the latest research, ensuring you are on the cutting edge of education before you begin teaching.

Are you looking for a supply teaching role? Whether you hold QTS or a PGCE, get in touch with Coba Education to see how we can help you to find your ideal role.

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SEN (Special Educational Needs) Teacher: What Are They and What Do They Do?

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 16:12:34 Z

Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers, especially when you're helping children with special needs get an education. If you are passionate about teaching and would want to pursue a career in this field, here are a few things you should know about being a special educational needs teacher.

What Is A SEN Teacher?

A special educational needs teacher educates children with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, emotional, social, and mental health needs, learning difficulties such as dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia, autism, or a combination of these difficulties. A key aspect of working with special needs children is identifying each child's needs and then creating a safe, stimulating, and supporting learning environment.

To become a special educational needs teacher in England and Wales, you must have a bachelor's degree in education or PGCE. While having the required training is essential, you must also be passionate about helping children with special educational needs. Remember, it is against the law to discriminate against disabled students according to the special educational needs and disability act 2001.

What Are The Responsibilities Of A Special Educational Needs Teacher?

Children with special needs mentioned above have a harder time learning compared to other students. Although many of them are educated in mainstream primary and secondary schools, they need additional help to thrive in their studies, and this is where SEN teachers come in. Your responsibilities as a SEN teacher will include:

• Planning, preparing and researching lessons
• Developing programmes of learning activities
• Preparing teaching materials
• Utilising special facilities and equipment
• Assessing students' work and providing feedback
• Creating teaching time with students on a class, group and individual basis
• Collaborating with parents and other professionals such as physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and educational therapists

Who Are The Typical Employers Of Special Educational Needs Teachers?

As a SEN teacher, you can work in mainstream schools or special schools. SEN Schools offer support and education to children with additional needs ranging from Moderate to Severe learning difficulties. Whether you teach in a mainstream school or special educational needs schools, your teaching experience will be equally rewarding and challenging. You will have a huge impact on your student's education and life in general, so it is important that you develop a profound understanding of every student's needs.

At Coba Education, we connect primary, secondary and SEN schools with qualified teaching staff for permanent or temporary placement. If you are a qualified teacher, register with Coba today to discover exciting job opportunities.

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Tips For Teachers: Meeting Students' Needs In The Classroom

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 15:24:22 Z

It's so easy to get so caught up in the lesson plans you've meticulously planned out over the past few months that you can find yourself forgetting one key fact: not all students learn the same way. To help you meet the learning needs of all your students, read on for some top tips and find out how supply teachers may be able to assist you in achieving your goals.

Use Digital Tools

One of the biggest benefits that schools have gained from the digital revolution is the sheer amount of tools that exist to support students now. For example, My Water Balance is an app designed to encourage students to drink more water, improving their concentration; Exam Countdown Lite allows them to keep track of when their next exam is, ensuring they're prepared in advance; and Todait is as a study planner which helps students better schedule their studying time. Encouraging the use of these tools will ensure your pupils take better control of their time and make the most of exam season.

Offer Feedback And Support

As a teacher, you're not just there to give the course/national curriculum content to your students and leave them to it. You play a fundamental role in supporting them through their exam period, and you have to be there to support them to get through the emotional stress that comes with it. Whether they just need your support in terms of offering them more information and resources surrounding the subject, or they want somebody to talk to in more detail about life outside school, it's important to let them know help is available. Hiring extra supply staff can be ideal for this, freeing you up to offer more one to one support while they guide lessons, or vice versa.

Stay Ahead Of The Curve

While your students will have predicted grades, it's important you do what you can to offer them assistance above and beyond their expected grades. You never know when a student might have a breakthrough, and without the resources to push them to the next level, you could find them stagnating. By always looking ahead, you can meet the ever-changing requirements of your pupils.

Use Coba Education

If you're looking for supply staff agencies to support your school, get in touch with the Coba Education team today. We have supply staff that can support any teaching needs, even if it's just offering you an extra pair of hands in the classroom. Something as simple as this can enable you to focus on individual students more closely whilst retaining overall control. Talk to the Coba Education team today to learn more about our expert supply teaching staff or for more guidance with SEN students.

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Why Should Teachers Use A Teaching Agency?

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 15:19:04 Z

Finding a supply teaching job can feel like a real challenge. When you are at the start of your career, how do you source quality jobs that suit your skills and help you to develop into the teacher you want to be? Rather than going it alone, you should consider joining up with an education agency. But how can they help you? And is this really better than applying on your own?

Save Time

Applying for jobs can take a huge chunk of your time. Searching for schools in your area, deciding whether they are a good fit for you, researching their policies and procedures, and writing out your application can take hours each time! If you work with supply teaching agencies, they will do all the hard work for you. You can rely on them to source the schools and do this homework before they even contact you about a role.

Get The Right Role

Are you worried about ending up in a role that is a bad fit for you? You don’t want to take on a job that will knock your confidence as a Newly Qualified Teacher. Thankfully, supply agencies know exactly what to look for, and how to match your personality and skillset to an appropriate role and school where the culture fits with you. This will increase the likelihood of you only working in places and roles that suit you as a person, allowing you to give the job your best, whilst growing your confidence and building on experience so you can develop your own teaching style.

Make A Good Impression

When you are new to teaching, you may feel concerned about how you make a good impression on a school. Agencies work closely with both the school and you to give you the best chance to make a great first impression. They will be able to tell you about the expectations of the school ahead of time, allowing you to really shine. This can take a lot of the fear factor out of a new role, as you will not be going into it with no knowledge of what to expect.

Are you considering joining up with a supply teaching agency? Get in touch with Coba Education. We work to help all education professionals, including newly qualified as well as the more experienced, to find the ideal teaching jobs for them, so you can become the teacher you have always dreamed of being. Find out how we can help you land that great job by getting in touch today.

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What To Expect From A SEN (Special Education Needs) Teacher Role

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 14:13:49 Z

Being a Teacher is an incredibly rewarding career, but just like most other professions, Teachers will always encounter challenges and difficult tasks. Even the most experienced education professionals will experience challenges within their jobs and once you introduce the Special Educational Needs aspect the role can get increasingly complex. Despite how challenging their jobs may become, SEN Teachers are so important and valued, particularly at agencies like Coba Education. Read on to find out more about what being a Special Educational Needs teacher (or SEN teacher) entails, and the main differences between teaching SEN students and the wider student population.

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001

This is the act that truly outlined the role of SEN teaching in the UK, and encouraged schools to open up to students with different needs to a much greater extent. One of the most important changes made in the Act was setting out a range of duties for schools, including demanding that schools act against discrimination wherever they see it, and making sure that disabled students have a right "not to be substantially disadvantaged" by their condition. Ensuring there is no substantial disadvantage is primarily the role of a SEN teacher.

What Are Some Skills A SEN Teacher May Need?

The first thing you should expect from a SEN teacher is their ability to adapt. Special Educational Needs schools will likely have dozens of teachers all with specialised training in dealing with different aspects of Special Education. However, more standard schools will only have one or two SEN teachers. These teachers will need to work closely with students that require help and support and get to know their specific educational needs. By understanding their students properly, a good SEN teacher can ensure that a disability has no impact on a student's learning experience.

How Does This Differ From A Normal Teacher?

Whilst you may believe that all teachers change their teaching to suit the specific learning styles of their students, which is true, they are not able to the same extent as SEN teachers. A SEN teacher has been specifically trained to resolve issues surrounding Special Educational Needs. Whether it's offering resources in braille or being able to communicate with their students in sign language, SEN teachers are trained from the very start to be in the best position possible to help the students that need the most support in reaching their full potential, no matter their ability.

If you need a SEN teacher for your school or academy, get in touch with the Coba Education team today. We offer teacher recruitment services which can match up perfectly with your vacancies, providing you with the right staff to keep your school running at its full potential. Call our team today to find out how we can help your SEN students.

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