Triibe (our platform) hints and tips

As I’m sure you’re aware, we have an excellent online platform that schools are able to utilise to book you in just a few clicks. For this to work as effectively as possible, there are some things you will need to do for us.

Availability Calendar:  This tells the schools and your account manager when you’re available for work so we ask that you keep it up to date on a weekly basis.  This is even more important as if you do not fill it in at all it will show you as being unavailable meaning you could miss out on work!

Morning Check-in: If you are showing as available on your calendar then we will be in touch each day via a text to make sure you’re still free (this gives you the opportunity to let us know if something has come up).  Please reply to this if you’re no longer available so that we know not to consider you for work! If you get back to us to let us know that you are still available then we will have a real focus on trying to find you work for that day!

Responding to Bookings: Our online platform means that bookings will come through to you as a simple SMS/email with the details of the booking and two clear buttons asking you to accept or decline.  This sends your response straight back to the school so that they can receive your confirmation within seconds of making the booking. 

There will be occasions that schools send out messages to multiple rTriibers to widen their chances of getting the booking filled.  For this reason, we ask that you keep your phone handy (especially in the mornings) and respond as quickly as possible so as not to lose out on work.  If you are pipped to the post by someone else then you will get an automated message to tell you the booking has been filled (don’t worry though, your account manager will be working hard to find you something else!)

rTriibe- how to get the most out of working in schools

Supply work isn’t easy! Having to go into new settings, learn how they work and make a good impression whilst doing so, has its difficulties.  There are however, things that you can do to help you make that positive impression and help prepare you for anything that can be thrown at you (not literally) whilst on your placement. Take a look at some of the things we have to suggest below!

Be Prepared: We will try and give you advanced notice on bookings wherever possible, so when we are able to do this please make try to make the effort to prepare in any way possible.

• Locating the School: Taking a look at where the school is located if you’ve never been there before will help you get to the school on time (if you tap on the postcode on your booking confirmation it should bring up the schools location in google maps).  This seems simple but sometimes the official postcodes for schools can take you to the wrong place entirely on your satnav so it’s always worth checking. We advise aiming to get to the school 30 minutes before the start of the school day.
• Research the School: I know some staff like to research the school they go into to get an idea of what the school is about when going in, this can include looking at Ofsted/Estyn reports or looking at the school’s website
• Take your ID and DBS: Please do this as a matter of course, not all schools will ask for it but it’s always best to take it;
• Always take Resources (teaching assignments): I would advise any teacherto have a box orbag of resources available to call upon if needed.  Lesson plans which can be adjusted, reading books, worksheets are all useful.  If you are struggling there are a lot of sites online which can aid you with this. I would also advise you to always take a PE kit and coat, just in case PE or outside learning is involved in the day;

First Impressions Count: Please remember the person greeting you might have no idea why you’re there so please be clear on who you are, why you think you’re there (ie which class you’ve been told you’re in – please note this can change without our knowledge) and where you’re from (rTriibe).  If you’re polite, friendly and professional in the way you do this, you’re starting off well!

Fulfil expectations:

• Leave the class clean and tidy: As it was when you entered that day;
• Follow the planning which has been left: Please do this as accurately as possible. If nothing has been left then speak to the school.  The key is to ensure that the children have a good understanding of each lesson, sometimes this may mean you overrun but it is always better that pupils have a proper understanding of 3 or 3.5 lessons then an unsatisfactory understanding of 4.  As long as you go through this in your feedback there should be no issue;
• Follow the policies of the school: This will help the children and help you.  Familiarise yourself with these as much as possible so that any change to the pupils is minimised;
• Mark the books (Primary teaching): If you have been given the marking policy then please follow the policy of the school.  Please ensure all work is marked and that the marking is accurate;
• Leave written feedback: Good feedback will be of huge benefit to the returning teacher allowing them to pick up where you have left off as seamlessly as possible;
• Give verbal feedback: I would always advise taking the opportunity at the end of the day to leave verbal feedback with a key person in the school whether this is the head, deputy or a head of department. This not only allows you some face time with that person, giving you an opportunity to build rapport/make an impression, thank them for your day, but also a chance to go through anything which has happened in the day which they may need to be aware of;

Going the extra mile: This may not always be possible, but if you ever see an opportunity to really help a school and you’re able to take it then these kinds of actions are what schools remember and what help you build longstanding and strong relationships with those schools.  All schools want continuity in the staff they receive, and I’m sure you would appreciate a degree of continuity in the schools that you attend.  So if you’re able to make your personal service to the school consistently as good as possible then you’ll soon find schools are requesting you specifically, you’ll be getting booked in advance, and hopefully before long, getting a long-term placement.

Networking: Working on supply through rTriibe is a fantastic way to build relationships with schools so make the most of your opportunity to do this.  Find out about the school, show an interest and let the schools know about you.  Working for yourself like this and being proactive can really help you open up opportunities for yourself in the workplace.

Social Media: Please always be aware of what you are posting on Social Media, and in particular, please never comment on a school in which you have worked on any social networking site in a negative way.

Help us help you: We take pride in our service to schools and staff alike so please let us know if there’s anything we need to be made aware of.  Things such as schools having hidden entrances, there being two schools on one site, postcodes which take you to the wrong place on your satnav and earlier than usual start times can all be something, that can cause confusion and inconvenience to yourself and schools.  Please let us know about anything like this so that we can ensure they don’t inconvenience the school, or those attending the school in future!  We also value your feedback so please let us know if you have any favourite schools you’d love to attend again!

rRewards: We want to reward you for making referrals to rTriibe and we have an amazing way to do it! Basically, each time someone you refer to us works, you get a bonus the equivalent of 1% of their pay.  Not only this, but for anyone they refer you’ll get a bonus of 0.5% every time they work.  If you do this consistently then you will be amazed at how much this bonus can grow! For example if you refer 10 people and they all refer 10 people, suddenly you have 110 people making money for you every time you work!  Furthermore, if you get us an opportunity in a school who haven’t used our service before then you will also get a percentage of anything they spend with rTriibe moving forwards.  Have a think, is there a relationship with a school you could take advantage of? Perhaps you’ve worked or been on placement there before?  Do you know anyone looking for work in schools?  Have you recently been on a course with Teachers or TA’s?! Start talking about rTriibe and using your Q Code to refer anyone you can and see how much extra money you can earn!!

This list is by no means conclusive, after all, I’m not a teacher and I haven’t worked on supply so there may be other things you do that you think I could add to this list. If so feel free to let me know!!