If you've spent any time in the staffroom of your placement schools so far you'll know that most employ at least one supply teacher each day, and some rely on many more. Yet while this most flexible of jobs used to be the preserve of the early-retired, many newly qualified teachers (NQTs) are now drawn to the experiences and lifestyle that supply teaching can offer.

Supply teachers essentially take short-term contracts of anything from half a day up to a term or longer. They are temporary staff employed for a number of different reasons. Typically this is for sickness absence for short-term supply but longer-term contracts are given for example, for maternity cover.

Supply teaching offers many advantages to NQTs, and with just a little awareness of the best approach to take, it can be an incredibly fruitful time.

To get into supply teaching, NQTs register with independent supply agencies or with their local education authority (LEA). Be sure to go with one that's been awarded the Quality Mark; evidence that it's reaching certain objectives. Your professional association will be able to advise you on questions about pay.

The primary concern for new teachers is induction. It is possible to complete induction through supply teaching, and many agencies are now offering effective induction support, but the post must be of one term or more in length, otherwise it isn't 'inductable'. In addition, there's a limit on the amount of time you can supply before starting induction. This is set at four terms and the clock starts ticking from the time of your first job as a supply teacher after gaining qualified teacher status. However, in areas of high competition, or in extreme circumstances, LEAs now have the power to extend this four-term rule on a case-by-case basis.

For any new teacher, the support offered by their first employer is crucial to their initial success in the profession. John White, head of Management Consultancy, 4S (Surrey Schools Support Service - part of Surrey LEA), feels that NQTs considering supply teaching must be aware of this.

"NQTs should find out about the support, mentoring and training they will receive from the school itself. Invariably a school will appoint somebody to look after its NQTs. If I was a newly qualified prospective supply teacher I'd want to make sure that whoever is in the school to support me is experienced and able to perform that role."

The main advantages for NQTs of supplying for a while is that it provides the opportunity to work out what you want to do and where you want to do it. Ultimately, it's a way in.

For this reason, John White believes that "One strong message that new teachers should hear is that it's no disaster if you don't get a job for September. Supply teaching can be a perfect way in for some teachers and often they will find a school that suits them very well so that when a position becomes available they can take up permanent employment. If an NQT does supply for a while it can certainly open doors for them job-wise. Quite often the need for a supply teacher turns into a need for a permanent teacher. If NQTs can't get a permanent job straight away they certainly shouldn't give up when supply teaching is such a valid alternative to permanent employment."

For further information visit the supply teaching area of TeacherNet, where you will find self-study materials and guidance on teacher effectiveness and behaviour management among others: www.teachernet.gov.uk

To discuss supply teaching with other teachers visit: The Eteach Forums

'The NQT Handbook' by Elizabeth Holmes is published by RoutledgeFalmer. See http://www.nqthandbook.info for further information. yes">

Louise Sherry, 23

My experience of supply teaching has been really good. Originally I was supplying in London and Surrey and now I'm doing it just in the Surrey area. I get work everyday and once the term got underway properly (the first few weeks of September are always quiet) I've never been waiting for work to come in. I'm completely in control and can say whether I want to take the work or not. Overall it has definitely been a positive experience for me. I'm so glad I didn't go straight into a permanent job. I had a few interviews but I felt that I just wasn't confident at all. I knew I needed to broaden my experience and boost my confidence. Now I've taught from nursery to year 6 across the key stages and in different schools. It's been an amazing insight into where and how I want to work and has definitely helped me in deciding what I want to do. I wasn't at all confident about committing to a permanent post but now I would be. The flexibility is great; I like being a free-spirit! My agency has been very good to me. I've with Timeplan and I'm an ambassador for them which means that they find me work everyday and I have to be prepared to work across the key stages. I know that if I went for an interview for a permanent job now I'd be doing it from a totally different perspective.

Carrie Ashcroft, 25

I'd been applying for vacancies for a while and I thought that it would be a good idea to supply as a way into a job. You get a lot of experience going into different schools and seeing the way that things are done there. Plus, you get to see so much more of a school when you're on supply than you would just in an interview.

I'm doing day to day supply at the moment but one of the schools I've been working in has offered me a permanent job to start in January. I'm a primary teacher and I've been working in both key stage one and two. I've really enjoyed that. It's given me much more confidence especially in behaviour management.

I signed up with three agencies but I've got all my work through one, Lancashire Teaching Agency (LTA), and they've been really good to me.

It's been a blessing in disguise that I didn't get a permanent job in September. I'd recommend it to any new teachers. Just have a go, you may really enjoy it. I was really nervous at first and thought 'what am I doing this for'? But once you get into the first school it's fine. And nearly all the schools I've been in have been supportive and it's a great way of getting resources and ideas from a huge range of sources. It's given me a far wider perspective of the profession, too, which has to be a good thing.