There are several things to remember when building a good reputation amongst schools in your local area. It’s important to have a good reputation with teachers and heads if you want to be offered plenty of work. Make a good impression and you could be offered long term placements for things like maternity or sickness cover.
Arrive early and dress smartly. It’s better to be overdressed than appearing scruffy. You can always tone things down once you get a feel for the place. Endear yourself with class teachers by sticking to any planning provided. Make sure you check the schools marking policy and keep all work marked up to date. Teaching assistants can be a great help in getting to know the pupils and the school’s routines. Expect to do any break duty etc. that the teacher you are covering for would have been doing. Remember, supply teachers receive higher pay per day so expecting to just turn up and do crowd control is a no-no.