This incredibly challenging year has presented no end of difficulties for practically everyone. One area that has felt immense pressure and a heavier workload burden, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is the Public Sector. Because of this, the HM Treasury tributes this year’s pay rise to the ‘enormous effort’ made by the public sector staff. The nearly 900,000 public sector workers including teachers, doctors, police and prison officers will see a pay increase of up to 3.1%.

• School teachers will be seeing the largest salary increase of 3.1%
• Doctors and dentists will see a 2.8% increase
• Police and prison officers will be getting 2.5% pay increase
• Armed forces personnel, senior military, senior civil servants and members of the Judiciary will be receiving a 2% pay rise

The pay awards to the armed forces, prison officers, senior civil servants and NHS staff will be backdated to April 2020, whereas the pay increase for teachers and police was to be implemented in September 2020, as they have a different pay year. The government has also revealed recruitment goals of various areas of the public sector, including 6,435 new police officers, 16,340 Regular Armed Forces recruits and an additional 12,220 nurses and health visitors for the NHS in 2020.

Are you thinking about becoming a teacher, but perhaps you are still on the fence? There are several things to consider before making a final decision. But there are also many benefits as well. Here are 5 reasons why we think it may be a great move for you to become a teacher.

1. Make A Difference

As a teacher, you are in a position to make a difference. Instead of just sitting on the sidelines, you can positively influence young minds to give their best. If you like the idea of helping future generations prepare for adulthood and give them the best opportunities, you are going to love teaching.

1. Build Valuable Relationships

You are going to meet so many different people, and a lot of these relationships you make are going to last until the end of your days. Fellow educators and students are going to remember you long after you retire because good teachers tend to leave a legacy behind. And what about the opportunities that will be extended to you based on the relationships you build?

1. Challenge Yourself

As mentioned earlier, a teaching position is not something you take lightly. You have certain responsibilities you have to maintain. But isn’t life ultimately about constantly challenging yourself? Because you are going to get a new challenge every year when new students fill the seats. Think about it for a moment. With every young mind that depends on your skills, you have an opportunity to better yourself.

1. A Very Social Environment

For individuals that love to socialize, a teacher could be the perfect career. Not only do you get a chance to interact with like-minded individuals, such as your peers, but you also stay in touch with younger generations. This is very helpful if you want to stay open-minded about the world we live in. Because few jobs in life can give the same perspective as being a teacher.

1. Being A Teacher Is Very Rewarding

You can trust that teaching is a very enriching career path. Knowing that you are making it easier for younger generations to take charge of their lives will definitely make you feel good about yourself. And the more effort you put in, the bigger the reward is going to be.

While you are bound to hear a lot of opinions about teaching, it does not change the fact that teaching forms a valuable part of society. For example, if you were considering teaching jobs Cambridge and only wanted to try a few different schools for a few months, you can always look into supply work, which allows you to find your feet and get some vital experience in your locker. Remember, if you can count yourself among the teaching community, you should feel very honoured — it’s a job that many teachers deem to be a privelage.

If you have many local schools in your area, during the spring and early summer, you may notice that it becomes very hot inside. This could be due to the positioning of windows that are built into the structure. They could be facing south which can lead to excessive amounts of heat buildup. To avoid this, you may want to consider installing awnings on every window. This is going to help block the sunlight that is coming in. It’s good to have retractable awnings so that, during the more mild months, you can see outside without having to worry about taking them off again. Here are some of the reasons why many schools have added awnings to their windows.

Is This A Cost-Effective Investment?

Schools are always looking for ways to save money. Initially, those that are in charge of finances may believe that this is an unnecessary expense. What they may not understand is how much money it will cost to run the air-conditioning units during the spring and summer months when school is in session. That cost can be offset by simply installing awnings on the outside of the windows which are enabling heat build-up inside. Even better, if you can install those that do have retractable awnings that are automated with the push of a button, you can save money and time by installing these instead.

Why Retractable Awnings Are A Better Investment

If you have standard awnings on the outside of a home or building, they are essentially stationary. If you want to remove them, or even retract them, you will have to be outside to do so. This could become very problematic, especially if you are installing this at a school where there are rooms that are two or three stories high. Instead, you can install automated awnings that have a built-in motor system. They will also have a remote control that will allow you to extend or retract the awning. Though this is extra money, it’s going to save you time when it comes to retracting or extending the awnings. It will also improve safety by not having individuals climb to extreme heights to accomplish the same task.

How To Get Good Deals For Schools If They Need Awnings

The best deals tend to come from businesses that work with large companies or corporations already. They will already have contracts with major businesses that buy in bulk. When you purchase anything in bulk, they have an obligation to offer you a discount. If you can find a business that is dealing with awnings, that is willing to cut the price on multiple units, this is the company you should consider buying them from.

Awnings can also add a unique appearance to any structure they are on. If this is for a school, you may want to consider having them created with school colours. You may also want the emblem of the school, or the mascot, embroidered on the exterior of every awning. Although it is cheaper to get standard awnings, you now know why investing in automated awnings for schools would be a much better choice. You should be able to find one business that is willing to provide you with a low-cost solution toward purchasing and installing these awnings at your school if you want them.

No matter how well you know your stuff, sometimes the hardest part is just getting kids to pay attention long enough to learn something. A few helpful tips to maintaining your young students’ attention are:

1. Reach out

Instead of calling out to a child across the room, try going to them, positioning your body at their level and requesting in a firm but friendly voice to look at you before beginning your discussion.

2. Use attention grabbers

Use sensory motivational devices with varied colours, textures, shapes, movements, smells or sounds to help them focus. Warm, soft colours and an orderly environment can help with kids who may get over-stimulated.

3. Be playful

You can use a dramatic voice, sensational hat, clapping, a secret hand sign for them to duplicate or rolling a ball to each child to keep them alert.

4. Describe what you see

Refocus their attention by labelling activities or objects and talking or asking about the similarities and differences.

5. Be clear and specific

Keep directions short, direct and simple. Avoid saying ‘don’t’ statements, instead clearly say what they need to do.

Are you thinking about becoming a teacher or are you currently a teacher, but looking for a slightly different role? If so, then consider becoming a supply teacher. There are many reasons to become a supply teacher, and the top ones include:

1. Flexibility Scheduling
   The first reason to specialise in supply teaching Cambridge is that your schedule will be flexible. In general, you can work a three day week, which allows you to enjoy more time off. It also frees up time for you to work a second job, if that’s what you want to do.

Teachers tend to work on a traditional schedule and a set schedule. This doesn’t work for everyone. If you want flexibility and you want to teach for a living, then you’ll want to look into becoming a supply teacher.

1. Entry To Teaching
   Supply teaching is a great entryway into teaching. If you currently don’t have your NQT, then working as a supply teacher is for you because you’ll learn about vacancies as they come about. Not only that, but you’ll have experience and you’ll gain a competitive edge over other applicants.
2. Not A Lot Paperwork
   Many teachers become stressed out due to the paperwork involved with their job. They have to do things such as marking, set targets and do a lot of planning. While many teachers enjoy what they do, the amount of paperwork can leave them feeling drained.

As a supply teacher, you won’t deal with a lot of paperwork. It’s possible that you’ll simply go into work and be able to leave on time. Best of all, the chances are you won’t be bringing any work home with you.

1. Work At Multiple Locations
   Supply teachers have the opportunity to work at multiple locations, as they are not tied down to a permanent position. This means you can “sample” different types of schools, locations and so forth. This isn’t possible if you take up a permanent teaching position.

Plus, this allows you to scope out different prospective employers before you lodge an application for a permanent position. However, you might like working on a temporary basis and having the freedom to work at various locations. If that’s the case, then feel free to continue doing this.

Those are the top reasons to become a supply teacher. If you want to enjoy a flexible and rewarding career, then consider working as a supply teacher. All you have to do now is gain the qualifications required to be a supply teacher or start applying for supply teaching jobs.