Good Employer Practice for Short Term Supply and Fixed Term Contracts

The illustrative table below gives some examples of good and bad practice by Local Authorities or schools with regards to their working practices with short-term supply teachers and fixed term contract teachers.

The SNCT states that short-term supply teaching as engagement on a daily basis where the total number of days of any engagement shall not exceed 2 days and that fixed term temporary contracts will be issued for engagements which extend beyond 2 days.

Good Practice	Bad Practice
An open and timeous advertising process for supply and fixed-term work	An unclear or biased allocation system
A fair and transparent system to engage and appoint supply and fixed-term staff	An unclear or biased allocation system – especially for supply
A fair and clear procedure to obtaining permanent contract	A lack of information on obtaining permanency or using breaks in service to frustrate permanency
The employer provides comprehensive information or a handbook about the terms and conditions of short-term and fixed-term teaching staff as well as local authority processes around leave and pay. Written statement of particulars should be shared timeously	There is a lack of information or clarity about the terms and conditions as well as local authority processes around leave and pay
Consideration given to providing minimum guaranteed hours, or attempts made to maintain weekly hours	Erratic and variable hours provided; sometimes changed at short notice
Local policy follows or exceeds SNCT Code of Practice on short term supply and fixed term temporary contracts	Excessive use of short-term supply contracts
Supply work contracts reviewed periodically, and fixed-term contracts used appropriately	Excessive use of short-term supply teaching contracts when fixed-term contracts should be used
Working practices exceed statutory employment rights including SNCT and LNCT provisions	Employer seeks to implement the minimum possible of the LNCT/SNCT provisions i.e. a compliance mindset
Supply and short-term contract staff supported by schools’ policies and have an equitable range of classes. The hours paid reflect the work done, and there are no unpaid gaps within the working day. Supply and short-term contract staff feel valued and part of the school community	Supply and short-term contract staff are not well supported by schools’ policies or procedures or are given an unequitable range of classes. Hours paid may not reflect activities completed or unpaid gaps given during the day

Good Employer Practice for Short Term Supply & FTC Teachers