Finding your perfect fit
Supply teaching gives you flexibility, variety and better control over your time.
But how you choose to work matters just as much as where you work.
Different providers offer different levels of support, pay transparency and flexibility. Before you decide, it's worth understanding what each model really looks like — so you can choose what fits your lifestyle.
Not all supply models work the same way. Compare your options and decide what fits your lifestyle.
Quick Overview
The three main models at a glance
Model
Booking Style
Control Level
Payroll
Best For
Benefits & Extended Comparison
A deeper look at what each model offers
Support
You have access to a dedicated team of local and level experts, but the model is built for your agency. You are the expert in your diary.
You usually have one dedicated consultant. While personal, their "local knowledge" is sometimes limited to the schools they have a sales relationship with.
Support is often centralized via a "help desk" or chat, focusing on technical troubleshooting rather than career coaching.
CPD (Continuing Professional Development)
Digital-first training modules accessible via the platform, allowing you to upskill at your own pace.
Often offer face-to-face evening seminars or weekend courses to keep you "compliant" and "placeable."
Varies but often have a digital library of articles or "courses".
Guaranteed Pay
Offers guaranteed pay to educators in some areas for early morning availability. Also offers guaranteed pay for their "top" educators as a loyalty benefit.
Some offer a "Guaranteed Pay Scheme" (GPS), but these often come with strict clauses (e.g., you must accept any school within a 1-hour radius).
Usually don't have any guaranteed pay.
Referral Program
Simple and generous – every referral you make gives you £100 after they worked one day.
Often offer one-off "Refer a Friend" vouchers (e.g., £100–£200) once the friend works a set number of days.
Varies — some have programs, many don't.
Timesheets
100% Digital. No paper, no signatures. Verified automatically by the school's digital portal.
Ranges from old-school paper signatures to digital portals that still require manual school approval each Friday.
Usually simple and digital in the app.
Pros and Cons
An honest breakdown of each model
Humly
- Total transparency of pay and school locations
- No early morning "surprise" calls
- See school photos and instructions before you go
- Full access to all available jobs that suit you
- Requires you to know your preferences and availability
Traditional Agencies
- A human advocate who can "sell" you to a school
- Often the simplest PAYE tax setups
- Good for those who aren't tech-confident
- High "commission" margins often mean lower pay for you
- Less transparency on which schools are available
- Pressure to take roles you don't want
Tech Platforms
- Faster than traditional agencies
- Usually higher daily rates than high-street recruiters
- Often use Umbrella companies (meaning extra fees for you)
- Can feel "transactional" with less personal support if a placement goes wrong
Ready to find your perfect fit?
Join thousands of educators who chose a smarter, fairer way to work in supply teaching.