⭐ Absolute Essentials (the things you’ll use every day)
Black/blue pens (several — pupils will ask, and you’ll lose a few)
A working whiteboard marker (schools often give you a dead one)
A small notebook for seating plans, behaviour notes, and end‑of‑day messages
A clipboard or slim folder to keep cover work, registers, and notes together
Your ID, DBS, and agency details
A charged phone (for the portal, maps, and school comms)
📚 Teaching Tools That Save the Day
Two or three simple starter tasks (e.g., “5‑minute writing prompt”, “quick maths warm‑up”)
A USB stick with a couple of generic resources (optional but handy)
A mini timer or use your phone — brilliant for behaviour and pacing
A small pack of post‑its for instructions, reminders, or pupil notes
🧭 Organisation & Survival Items
A compact planner or day sheet (periods, rooms, notes)
Tissues (you’ll always need them)
Hand sanitiser
A snack (you won’t always get a break)
A lightweight umbrella (classic supply teacher problem: walking between buildings in the rain)
🧰 Behaviour & Classroom Management Aids
A simple reward system (e.g., stickers for primary, praise notes for secondary)
A printed copy of your 30‑second expectations script
A few blank behaviour notes to leave for the class teacher
🗂️ End‑of‑Day Essentials
Your end‑of‑day note template (the one we wrote earlier)
A small wallet or pouch to keep all paperwork tidy
A spare pen just for writing your notes
🛑 The “Don’t Bother” List (things you don’t need)
This is where most supply teachers overpack. You don’t need:
A full pencil case
Your own stapler, hole punch, or scissors
A huge binder of worksheets
A laptop (unless you prefer it)
A full lunchbox of resources
Keep it light. Keep it simple. Keep it usable. Remember, these supply teacher essentials will help you manage your classroom effectively while ensuring you have the right teaching tools at your disposal.
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