Getting Back Into Teaching: Key CPD and Support for Returning Educators
As the August sun starts to hint at autumn and the ‘back to school’ displays come out of the shop windows, you might feel a familiar pull. For anyone who’s ever stood in front of a class, there’s a certain magic to the start of a new school year. If you’ve taken a break from teaching, that feeling might be mixed with a flutter of excitement and a wave of ‘what ifs’.
What if the curriculum has completely changed? What if I’m rusty? What if the kids have evolved into tech-wizards I can’t keep up with?
First, take a deep breath. Your skills, your passion, and your experience haven’t vanished – they’re just waiting for a dust-off. At Excell Supply, we help brilliant educators get back into the classroom every single day. This is your practical, no-panic guide to making a confident return.
Brushing Up Your Knowledge: Essential CPD Focus Areas
The classroom has evolved, but the foundations of good teaching remain the same. Here are the key areas to get up to speed on.
Curriculum Catch-up (The Big One!)
This is often the biggest worry, especially for our teachers in Wales.
In Wales:
You’ll be returning to the exciting Curriculum for Wales 2022. The focus has shifted from a rigid, content-led syllabus to a more holistic and flexible framework built around Four Purposes. The goal is to develop ambitious, capable, and ethical citizens. You’ll get to grips with the six Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLEs), which encourage cross-curricular connections. It’s a fantastic, modern approach, and schools are still embedding it – making it the perfect time to learn alongside them.
In England:
The National Curriculum has remained relatively stable, so you’ll find the core subjects and expectations familiar. The main changes are often in pedagogy and assessment methods, which you can quickly pick up once you’re back in a school setting.
- Safeguarding: The Golden Thread This is the absolute non-negotiable. The statutory guidance is regularly updated, and every single person working in a school must be fully compliant. The key documents are ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSIE) in England and the ‘Keeping learners safe‘ guidance in Wales. Don’t worry about sourcing this yourself – it’s a priority for us, which is why at Excell Supply, we provide up-to-date safeguarding training to all our teachers.
- Modern Behaviour Management While your famous “teacher look” is probably as effective as ever, there’s been a welcome shift towards restorative conversations and positive behaviour strategies. It’s less about punishment and more about understanding and relationship-building. You’ll find your core skills of establishing presence, fairness, and clear boundaries are still the most powerful tools you have. You can keep an eye on our Twilight Training page to see what sessions are coming up for you to join, for FREE as an Excell Supply Candidate.
- Getting to Grips with EdTech Don’t panic! Nobody expects you to be able to code the next Minecraft. But you will find that interactive whiteboards are now the norm, and platforms like Google Classroom, Seesaw, and ClassDojo are common for setting homework and communicating with parents. The best way to learn these is by doing, and you’ll pick up the basics in no time.
Finding Your Feet: The “Soft Return” Advantage
Okay, you’ve brushed up on your knowledge, but the thought of jumping straight into a full-time contract is daunting. This is where supply teaching becomes your secret weapon.
- Flexibility First: Want to work two days a week to ease back in? Perfect. Want to try a new key stage? No problem. Supply teaching with an agency like Excell Supply puts you in control, allowing you to fit work around your life.
- Try Before You Commit: Think of it like test-driving a car. You can experience different schools across North Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire, and the Wirral. See their behaviour policies in action, get a feel for the leadership team, and discover the environments where you feel most at home.
- Confidence is Key: Supply teaching allows you to rediscover the magic of that ‘lightbulb’ moment with a child, without the immediate pressure of lesson planning, data analysis, and parents’ evenings. It’s the perfect way to rebuild your classroom confidence.
- Get Paid to Learn: Every day you spend in a school is a paid CPD session. You’re seeing the new curriculum being delivered, picking up new teaching strategies, and building your professional network.
Your Support Network: How Excell Supply Helps
Returning to teaching shouldn’t be a journey you take alone. We see ourselves as your partner in this next chapter.
- Free, Relevant CPD: As we mentioned, we provide free, essential training, including Safeguarding, to get you ready for the classroom from day one.
- A Friendly Guide: Our consultants live and work in the areas they serve. They know the local schools, they understand the challenges, and they’re always there for a brew and a chat. We listen to what you want and match you with schools where you’ll be happy and successful.
- We Handle the Hassle: From a simple registration process to managing your DBS check and ensuring you’re paid correctly and on time, we take care of the admin so you can focus on the teaching.
Take the First Step Today
The new academic year represents a fresh start for pupils and teachers alike. Your skills, experience, and unique perspective are needed in our local schools. Returning to the profession you love is more achievable than you think.
Ready to have a no-obligation chat about your return to teaching?
Contact our friendly team at Excell Supply today, and let’s get you back to doing what you do best.