CLIENT INFORMATION PACK
WELCOME
At Supply Desk, we build trusted, personal and long-term relationships with schools across England and Wales and aim to match their staffing needs with the best available candidates.
Working together with leadership teams, teachers and support staff, our mission is to provide a quality, reliable service to schools, raise standards and attainment and nurture rewarding careers in education.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT US
Supply Desk is one of the UK’s leading education recruitment specialists. We specialise solely in the education sector.
We place qualified teachers, ECTs/NQTs and support staff across all key stages and all subject areas/specialisms, in short-term, long-term, supply, fixed contract and permanent positions.
Our relationships with schools, specialist understanding of curriculum requirements and commitment to pupil progress assist us in our mission to place the right teaching staff, in the right school, for every job.
Our core values were created by our staff and we are committed to ensuring that they are front and centre when we’re working with each other, our clients and our candidates:
Trustworthy
Respectful
Innovative
Creative
Supportive
Supply Desk established.
Over 4,000 qualified teachers and support staff currently registered, vetted, and available for work now Access to a talent pool of 60,000 teachers and support staff, which can be used to network and find candidates for both long-term and supply positions
Over 3,500 regular clients across England and Wales.
OUR LOCAL EXPERTISE
At Supply Desk we pride ourselves on our local presence which we successfully achieve through our investment in a branch network.
Many of our staff members are from the communities they serve too, bringing a deep-rooted understanding of local needs and values.
Our local expertise and knowledge enable us to provide schools with tailored and informed recommendations based on their individual requirements.
Buckinghamshire
Basepoint Centres Limited
Cressex Business Park Lincoln Road, High Wycombe Buckinghamshire, HP12 3RL 01296 452499 / 01494 840527 buckinghamshire@supplydesk.co.uk
Cardiff
JR Business Centre
Main Avenue
Treforest Industrial Estate
Treforest Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF37 5ST 02920 601 860 cardiff@supplydesk.co.uk
Hampshire
Arena Business Centre Barnes Wallis Road Fareham, PO15 5TT 02380 230 340 hampshire@supplydesk.co.uk
Hertfordshire
G2, 34 Clarendon Road
Watford
Hertfordshire, WD17 1JJ 01923 295 300 hertfordshire@supplydesk.co.uk
Kent Suite 2, River House
Stour Street
Canterbury Kent, CT1 2NZ
01227 450995 / 01634 404876 kent@supplydesk.co.uk
Sussex Unit 4
Hove Business Centre Fonthill Road Hove, BN3 6HA 01273 609 993 / 01273 022 222 sussex@supplydesk.co.uk
EDUCATION PLACEMENT GROUP
We are proud to be a part of Education Placement Group (EPG) - working in collaboration with our group’s sister companies: e-Qualitas justteachers Teach in TeachLondon
EPG’s mission is to provide a comprehensive range of educational services that support schools and education professionals nationwide. This is supported by comprehensive teacher training and development programmes, including EYTS Training and Initial Teacher Training. EPG is also an approved preferred supplier on the Crown Commercial Services Framework.
Supply Desk have also met the standard for Supply Teachers and Temporary Staff in Educational Establishments (RM3826). This agreement, sponsored by the Department for Education, means we have been recognised and approved as a recommended supplier of any staff member who would work within an education setting.
Being part of EPG means we leverage EPG’s resources and collaborative partnerships to: Deliver a high-calibre CPD programme tailored specifically for supply staff; addressing the professional development gap compared to permanent staff. The programme includes insights from leaders in Initial Teacher Training, Multi Academy Trusts, and education experts, delivered through podcasts, online modules, workshops, and videos. This upskills supply staff, fostering their professional growth and enhancing
school-based ITT and Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT). Their programs are highly accessible, blending in-person and online training to maximise flexibility and
Supply Desk and EPG, schools gain access to this structured pathway for developing, supporting, and retaining a diverse and well-prepared teaching workforce across early
Provide access to overseas talent via Teach In; finding exceptional candidates from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and beyond. Through Teach In, Supply Desk can offer
OUR RECRUITMENT SERVICES
Providing high calibre candidates at the right time, matched to the right school.
Supply Desk sources top candidates for local schools and is known for our fair pay. By offering competitive remuneration, we attract and retain talent, boosting candidate satisfaction and engagement while continuously improving.
We work around the clock and behind the scenes to build a continuous pool of long-term and short-term supply teachers, subject specialist cover supervisors and support staff, loaded with the best talent and experience for you to use on a prebook or last-minute basis.
We can help you with:
Daily supply cover (full day, morning or afternoon)
Long-term cover in case of sickness/maternity/extended leave
Permanent vacancies
Tuition and intervention staff for school-led tutoring programmes
ITT teacher training through our partnership with e-Qualitas
Short-term and emergency cover.
We can supply fully-vetted, talented and reliable:
Experienced and early career teachers
Teaching assistants
Cover supervisors
SEND staff
Support staff
Middle and senior management
Tutors and intervention specialists
Nursery nurses and childcare practitioners.
We save schools time and money through free advertising on our website, a swift search and selection process, and free trial days.
“EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE. VERY FLEXIBLE. VERY EFFICIENT AND PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BACK-UP AND ADMIN (UNLIKE ANY OTHER AGENCY WE HAVE EVER WORKED WITH!).”
INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS
Outstanding, pre-vetted overseas teachers
Our Group’s international office is located in Australia where we source and recruit the best quality teaching talent to bring to the UK.
We mainly recruit from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, but we will recruit from other areas based on British National Curriculum experience and UK Working Rights. Our office (Teach in), is run by highly experienced teachers that have been in the recruitment industry for many years and have a long history of working with schools and teachers to facilitate the best possible match.
Key facts:
Our overseas office recruits qualified early career and experienced teachers year-round. All teachers are screened and fully vetted before being cleared to work. Our teachers are also interviewed and endorsed by experienced UK headteachers. Schools can view recorded video interviews of each candidate, to compare with local teaching talent.
Australia Canada New Zealand
Four year educationspecific qualifications
Early career and experienced teachers.
QTS eligible Masters qualified Available in January, April and September.
Four year educationspecific qualifications
Early career and experienced teachers.
THE PROGRAMME
The Aspire programme finds long-term placements for highly motivated individuals looking to secure a place in Initial Teacher Training (ITT).
Each year, many talented individuals who want to become teachers struggle to access ITT because they lack classroom experience, while ITT course places remain unfilled.
Aspire aims to change this by partnering with schools to offer high-quality placements for aspiring educators. These placements give candidates valuable hands-on experience and support, while schools benefit from the energy and skills of motivated future teachers.
How Aspire works
Recruitment
Delivered by our Group partner at e-Qualitas and in partnership with the Department for Education, Aspire identifies high-potential candidates who are waiting to enter ITT. Candidates are thoroughly vetted and cleared before matching them through Supply Desk to your school’s needs.
Placement
Aspire candidates receive monthly professional development created by e-Qualitas and take part in group reflection sessions with the Aspire team, ensuring they grow into confident, reflective future teachers.
The future
Successful placements typically last between one and three terms. As the placements conclude, Aspire work with candidates and schools to help find them places on ITT programmes including the teacher apprenticeship route, a SchoolCentered ITT or via e-Qualitas.
Find out more at: www.aspire-teaching.co.uk/for-schools.
TIMESAVING SERVICES
Providing efficient services and support so that schools can concentrate on education.
Online timesheet approval
Supply Desk offers a streamlined online timesheet approval service, allowing schools to authorise timesheets easily and efficiently This system saves school staff valuable time and reduces paperwork, with the added convenience of completing approvals at the end of each week, whenever suits best.
Faster response times
Supply Desk’s advanced matching technology, combined with the expertise of our local consultants, enables us to quickly meet both short and long-term staffing needs, so you can focus on what matters most.
Out of hours support
With 24/7 support, every Supply Desk office operates an on-call system, ensuring we're always available to assist schools with any last-minute supply cover needs
By signing up for a Recruitment Partnership with Supply Desk, you ensure rapid response times in line with our Service Level Agreement and secure access to a dedicated local pool of available staff.
“SUPPLY DESK FOLLOW A STRINGENT REGISTRATION AND VETTING
KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN EDUCATION
Helping schools to meet their legal obligations for safer recruitment in education, whilst keeping children and young people safe
Our rigorous vetting policy:
Every candidate is initially registered through their local branch, with the responsibility for their clearance managed by a centralised, independent clearing team. This team rigorously verifies all necessary documentation and closely monitors critical expiry dates, including DBS checks, barred list status and work visas We guarantee that every staff member you receive has been fully cleared to work, meeting all required criteria, and we ensure that these criteria are consistently updated and renewed as needed
Safeguarding training:
All candidates, as well as our own staff, undertake safeguarding training as a legal requirement
Electronic confirmation of checks:
These are automatically sent when a booking is confirmed with a school, ensuring our client schools meet their single central record requirements. The included photograph also provides schools with a visual confirmation of the candidate
Dedicated safeguarding management:
Our dedicated safeguarding team ensures that all concerns are addressed swiftly, with the necessary resources always available to facilitate prompt and effective resolution
In-house legal and HR teams:
Our in-house legal and HR teams ensure that all Supply Desk company policies, procedures, and processes are continually updated to meet the latest legal and contractual requirements. This guarantees that our service remains fully compliant, providing our client schools with confidence in our adherence to the highest standards of legal and regulatory practice
CPD & TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS
Working with you to develop the best candidates to meet your educational priorities.
Supply Desk understands the importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and actively offers opportunities for candidates to enhance their skills and knowledge, ensuring they stay current with evolving procedures and best practices
Engaging in CPD fosters ongoing learning and development, which in turn boosts confidence and job performance This heightened confidence not only improves decision-making but also strengthens the ability to face new challenges. CPD demonstrates a commitment to professional growth, encouraging individuals to set clear goals, reflect on their strengths and areas for improvement, and take proactive steps toward advancing their careers
From face-to-face accredited training events to distance learning, our courses are designed to help candidates meet their career objectives and ensure they are in the best possible position to add value when working at our client schools Below are some examples of the CPD training courses offered by Supply Desk:
Mandatory training:
Safeguarding
Safer Working Practice
Online Safety
Adaptive teaching and scaffolding workshop:
Delivered in partnership with Proxima Education and exclusive to QTS supply candidates, this workshop covers three key areas: an overview of the latest research on scaffolding and adaptive teaching, practical application of these principles to classroom scenarios, and an opportunity to share strategies and receive constructive feedback in a supportive, low-stakes environment
Autism awareness training:
This training covers key aspects of Autism, including identifying signs in the classroom, fostering an inclusive environment, and supporting the development of students with Autism.
Behaviour management training:
This training provides practical tools and strategies for creating a positive learning environment Participants will learn how to document behaviours and interventions, monitor and evaluate behaviour management plans, and effectively respond to challenging situations Emphasis is also placed on fostering collaboration with colleagues and parents, as well as enhancing communication and feedback to support ongoing progress.
Cyber Security
Cyber Security training is designed by the National Cyber Security Centre to help schools protect themselves, their staff and students with the ever-increasing reliance on IT and online systems
De-escalation workshops and Team Teach training:
The de-escalation workshop and Team Teach training equips candidates with essential skills for managing challenging situations. The workshop and training covers mental health awareness, stress management, and techniques for recognising aggression and anxiety They also includes active listening, calming strategies, positive handling techniques, and provides guidance on risk assessment and legal considerations to ensure safe and effective responses
Wellbeing and resilience programme of learning:
This includes frequent one-hour webinars covering key topics to support wellbeing. During this candidates will explore resources and ideas to enhance emotional, physical, and mental health. There is also access to online learning content
TO QUALITY
Delivering a specialist service and ensuring the best candidates are prioritised for your school.
Specialist Consultants:
At Supply Desk, one of our key differentiators is our focus on recruitment consultant specialisms Instead of having generalist recruiters across all school types, we recruit and train our consultants to become experts in specific sectors, such as primary, secondary, or special education. This targeted approach enables a deeper understanding of the roles, the skills required from candidates, and the unique challenges faced by school leaders within each sector We believe this specialisation leads to a higher-quality service for both our client schools and registered candidates
Continuity of candidates:
Supply Desk is committed to continuously attracting new candidates while ensuring those already registered are satisfied and remain with us as long as they need our support. By combining these efforts, we build local pools of candidates who provide continuity and familiarity for schools and students For specific schools or groups, we can secure key personnel through our Guaranteed Pay Scheme (GPS), ensuring the availability of essential candidates, even during times of high demand
Promoting and selecting quality supply staff:
We believe that the true measure of any recruitment partnership lies in the quality of the candidates we provide. After all, it is the teaching and support staff who have the greatest impact on each child's outcomes
Unique to Supply Desk, our quality control system ensures that highly regarded supply candidates receive regular work, while those in need are offered professional development courses to enhance their classroom skills Informal feedback is gathered daily through 'checkin' calls, while more formal evaluations are captured through our exclusive 'Supply Teacher Assessment Rating System' (STARS).
Know a school in need of top-tier educators or innovative solutions to boost their programs? Your referrals can make a real impact, and we’ll reward you for helping us drive educational excellence!