Cover+Work+Guidelines+and+Expectations

Expectations:
All full time teachers on a contact teaching load of fewer than 29 periods are expected to do cover for absent colleagues from time to time when necessary. These teachers select four potential cover periods which are identified on the Internal Cover Roster. The administrator responsible for cover keeps accurate records of cover requests and ensures an equitable distribution of cover between teachers. External cover teachers will always be used as a first preference. Following that, part-time teachers are offered the cover work if they are available. Only after these two options are tried will a full time teacher be asked to do a cover. If a teacher loses a class due to a school trip or school event etc, it is likely that he/she would be asked to cover during the lesson time that has been missed.

Setting Cover Work:

 * Write clear, step by step instructions in a lesson plan format.
 * If it is helpful, include information about what the students did last lesson.
 * Be explicit about what is expected by the end of the lesson; indicate what the students should do if they do not finish
 * Be clear about any homework expectations, when HW is due etc.
 * Give clear information if you require work to be collected; where it should be left etc.
 * If the students are working on a project please outline the nature of the work expected of them.
 * Remember that a non-specialist will most likely be covering for you, please set work that is easy to understand and follow for a non-specialist. Do not expect a cover teacher to ‘teach’ new content/do practical lab work/introduce new vocabulary etc.
 * If you set a quiz or test, please provide the cover teacher with the answers.

Logistics:

 * Send Andy electronic copies of all your lessons plans and worksheets (ahead of time if the absence is planned, ASAP if unplanned due to illness etc).
 * Include your name, the teaching location and the specific class on the plans. If you have booked an IT lab/library/AV theatre please indicate if the students are aware or if they need to be met at the classroom first.
 * Include a class list/register for each class that will be covered.
 * Arrange all photocopying in advance and leave any required materials, clearly labelled in your teaching space (or with Andy). Ask your HOD to assist with this is the absence is unplanned.

Unplanned absence:
If you need to be absent at short notice due to illness or a personal circumstance:
 * Contact Andy by phone as soon as you know you will be absent. The earlier this information is provided the lower the cover impact will be on colleagues. This is especially important if cover is needed for period 1.
 * Please send an SMS (or call) and await a reply. No reply to an SMS means the message was not received, so send again. Please do not email instead.
 * In your SMS indicate the periods you require cover for. Please have a copy of your schedule available at home.
 * If a Student Services teacher normally supports a class and can cover, please let Andy know.

If a teacher is needed to do a cover:

 * Andy will try to email with as much notice as possible so you can prepare and plan.
 * When possible Andy will email lesson plans etc to you in advance.
 * If it is short notice Andy will send/bring a cover slip to notify you and try to speak to you in person. In this case Andy will also bring a paper copy of any plans.
 *  Andy will try to only use a teacher in his/her designated cover slots.
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> Andy will try to not ask a teacher to cover more than once in a 10 day cycle. (FYI: in Term 1 most people did one cover, fourteen
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">people did two covers and one person did three covers.)