How to set cover work

 Sooner or later as a teacher you will have to set cover work. For the last few years I've experienced a wide variety of cover work, and I can say that a large number of teachers seem to have absolutely no idea how to set suitable work for their class. 

 

 So here is a list of do's and don'ts: 

Do: 

Leave a seating plan: This is a basic one, but it makes a massive difference. If the students realise that you know where they sit they're far less likely to try it on later. You give the supply teacher power from the start. If you don't have a seating plan then write that somewhere. 

Don't: 

Set group work: in a supply lesson this is just giving a class a lesson off and allows chaos to mount. 

Do: 

Leave the answers: not every supply teacher is going to be a subject expert, so if they don't know what appears to you to be a basic answer they'll appear extremely stupid to the students. Having a copy of the answers available helps them beyond measure. It also keeps the lesson moving along. 

Don't: say "the kids know what they're doing" Whether they do or don't they are highly unlikely to actually reveal this to a supply teacher. Even the best classes enjoy the chance to have an easy lesson, and this is giving them a great opportunity to do nothing. 

Do: keep it simple, keep it clear: 

 The work shouldn't be complicated. This doesn't mean it just has to be book work, as you can still include a starter, a plenary, and many varied tasks. However, it should be straightforward and easily accessible. You should be able to immediately understand what to do at a quick glance. 

Don't: leave an irrelevant task. 

 Try and keep it focused on something you have been doing. Students hate to do something they know will be thrown in the bin at the end of the day, and as a result put in practically no effort. 

Do: make sure all the resources the supply teacher needs are actually in the room. So often the book needed is nowhere to be found, there aren't enough copies of the worksheet, and there isn't even a sheet of paper for the kid who's left his book. It's very hard to complete the tasks on page 50 if there's no page 50.

Don't: leave nothing at all. This happens with alarming frequency and even the best supply teachers will struggle to contain the chaos that ensues. Someone is having to take that class with absolutely no work, and it's not fair on either them or the students. 

Ultimately if you follow these then the supply teacher has no excuse. You've made it easy, and they can do their job. It might all sound basic but so many don't do it, and it makes the covering teacher's job far harder than it should be.