As a supply teacher, preparation is key to delivering outstanding lessons. With the vast amount of online teaching resources available, knowing where to turn for the best materials can be overwhelming. To help you navigate through this sea of information, we have compiled a list of the top five teaching resources, both free and paid, that will assist you in delivering exceptional lessons. These resources have been recommended by Teaching Tomorrow’s experienced supply teachers and teaching assistants, then further reviewed by our in-house supply teaching experts to give you our top 5 supply teaching resources – whilst ensuring their quality and effectiveness
1. TES
Offering Free and Paid Teaching Resources
TES (Times Educational Supplement) is widely regarded as the go-to site for supply teachers and support staff. It offers resources covering all aspects of education, from early years foundation stage (EYFS) to primary, secondary, and special educational needs (SEN). Registration is free, and once signed up, you gain access to a comprehensive collection of over 640,000 resources. Many of these resources have been peer-reviewed by teachers, ensuring their quality and relevance. With over 36,000 lesson plans available, TES is a valuable resource for supply teachers.
Why we think you should make use of TES:
- Extensive Resource Collection
- Quality Assurance through Peer Review
- Abundance of Lesson Plans
Visit TES here to access thousands of quality assured, relevant, teaching resources.
2. SupplyBag
Paid Teaching Resources and Support
SupplyBag is a website dedicated to supporting supply teachers in their career. They offer a wide range of teaching resources specifically tailored for supply teachers. From emergency lesson plans to top tips for supply teaching, SupplyBag provides valuable resources and information to help you excel in your role. You can also join their Facebook forum to connect with other supply teachers and engage in conversations about supply teaching and schools education. The forum currently has over 5,000 members, making it a vibrant community for support and advice.
Why we think you should make use of SupplyBag:
- Truly Tailored Resources for Supply Teachers
- Engaging Community Support (5,000+ members)
- Practical Information for Career Success
Click here to explore SupplyBag’s supply teaching resources, support and community.
3. Twinkl
Versatile and Customisable Resources
Twinkl is an online platform that provides award-winning teaching resources for all key stages, including SEN and English as an additional language (EAL). While signing up is free, a paid subscription is required to personalise and access the full range of resources. However, the subscription fee offers excellent value for money, costing roughly the same as two cups of coffee per month.
Twinkl offers a wide variety of downloadable and customisable content, included;
- Guides
- Packs
- Teaching aids
- PowerPoint presentations
All of which can be easily downloaded then personalised to assist with your supply lessons. They also have dedicated Facebook groups for each key stage, providing a supportive community for sharing ideas and tips.
Why we think you should make use of Twinkl:
- Comprehensive Teaching Resources (for all Key Stages)
- Value for Money Subscription
- Supportive Community through Facebook Groups
Take a look at Twinkl for all of your customisable teaching resource needs.
4. Primary Resources
Abundant Free Activity Ideas
Primary Resources is a website that offers over 3GB of free activity ideas, lesson plans, and resources for primary supply teachers and teaching assistants. With hundreds of resources available for all subjects, year groups, and key stages, you can easily find and download materials with just a click of a button. The resources are conveniently divided into topics, making it simple to find relevant activity ideas. Primary Resources also provides lesson plans, activity ideas, and resources specifically designed for students with special educational needs (SEN) and those with English as an additional language (EAL).
Why we think you should make use of Primary Resources:
- Extensive Range of Free Resources
- Easy Navigation and Accessibility
- Inclusive Resources for Diverse Needs
Visit Primary Resources website to learn more.
5. Teaching Tomorrow
Connecting Educators with Opportunities
Teaching Tomorrow is a leading education recruitment agency dedicated to connecting teachers with the right opportunities. They offer personalised services to support supply teachers in their career journey. With a professional and passionate approach, Teaching Tomorrow strives to find the perfect match between teachers and schools. Registering with Teaching Tomorrow gives you access to a wide range of teaching positions and exclusive resources to enhance your teaching practice.
Why we think you should make use of Teaching Tomorrow:
- Supply Teaching Agency and Education Recruitment Specialists
- Teaching Opportunities across a number of regions; Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire.
- True passion for connecting Teachers and Schools
Register with Teaching Tomorrow to take advantage of their tailored services and find the perfect teaching role.
Utilising These Resources
These top five teaching resources for supply teachers in the UK provide a wealth of materials, support, and inspiration to help you deliver outstanding lessons. Whether you are looking for lesson plans, behaviour management strategies, activity ideas, or even your next supply teaching role, these resources have got you covered. At Teaching Tomorrow, we highly recommend taking advantage of these valuable and trusted tools to enhance your teaching practice and positively impacting your students’ learning experience, no matter what you teach.