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 Kia ora everyone! My name is Karla and I have been a member of the TimePlan Guaranteed work Scheme for the past year. It was about this time 2 years ago that I was churning my way through my third year teaching in New Zealand and wondering exactly where I wanted to head with my teaching career and what my next adventure might be. Overseas was a fairly obvious choice, as it seemed to be the thing to do, but I really wasn’t sure if it was for me. As I pondered the idea I was filing through the teaching magazines in the staffroom at school and amazed at how many recruitment agencies there were and really a bit confused as to where to start!
My motivation to travel was to see as many new and exciting places as possible and to seize fresh and stimulating opportunities as they came along, but also to gain teaching experiences around my travels. I bit the bullet and decided I was going to do it and it was time to get organised. Talking to friends who were already abroad I limited my choices down to 4 agencies that sounded pretty good and got it touch with all of them. I was amazed at the support I got from different agencies and particularly impressed with TimePlan and the effort they made to keep me updated in the processing of my application and also their interest in my travel plans and preparation.
Upon arrival in London I had a mixture of experiences meeting with different agencies. TimePlan were amazing!! I had an interview in their office 3 days after arriving and they were warm welcoming and organised. I was offered Guaranteed Supply work at my first meeting and thought there must be a catch!!! Guaranteed work whenever I needed it except for a few days on either side of the school holidays and if I wanted time off to travel just to let them know?!? Sounded too good to be true to me especially after the run around I had been given at other agencies. I made the decision there and then to only work for TimePlan and haven’t regretted it since.
Supply teaching in London has been an incredible experience for me. I have had a lot of fun meetings many remarkable students from all over the world who each have their own story to tell. Visiting numerous schools (last count I’d worked at 38 different schools!!!!) has been a refreshing experience. A great way to see how things are done in a different part of the world and also a fantastic way to reflect on my own teaching practice. I have certainly had to refine my skills in different year groups, as I taught Year 7 and 8 for my three years of teaching before leaving New Zealand and English primary schools can start at Nursery (ages 3 and 4 years) and generally finish at year 6. I have been really lucky with the work offered to me from TimePlan as I have had work in a huge variety of schools both Independent and Mainstream many of which I have gotten to know well and often return to. For the last 3 months I have been working 3 days a week fixed term in a Hospital School, teaching children in the children’s ward. This has been some of the most amazing and rewarding work I have ever done. Don’t get me wrong not everyday has been a walk in the park supply teaching, but I wouldn’t trade those rare hard days for anything, although it can be a bit of a nightmare at the time you are always learning from the experience and it’s usually those challenging classes that you never forget and that you actually feel like you can make a difference in.
The team at TimePlan are so supportive, flexible and always helpful if I need assistance with anything. The Guaranteed Work Scheme has allowed me so much freedom (and MONEY!!!!) to travel and it is always such a relief to know I always have work to come back to when coming home form a adventure around Europe.
I have settled into London life well and although I am a bit of an outdoor addict back home it certainly does not take much to find some wonderful parks and countryside within and surrounding London when craving some fresh air and space. Flatting has been great fun over here and there are loads of places available for both short and long term stay, if not dosing with friends on the odd occasion between trips!!! It is certainly a great way to make new friends from all over the world. Another excellent skill soon well mastered when Supply teaching in the London public transport system. After my first few weeks of work I was becoming a bit of a pro and finding my way around from place to place really easily, a good skill to master.
The traveling experiences I have had in the past year far surpass anything I would have dreamed of when leaving New Zealand. I made a promise to myself when departing my homeland that my time overseas was going to be an adventure and I was going to take up as many new and different experiences as possible while over here! So in my first year here I have been lucky enough to work for 3 months over summer in Austria and Switzerland on Outdoor Education camps, spend Easter in Paris, Christmas in a Castle in Scotland, Sail around the Croatian Islands, explore Sweden, Holland, Italy and of course loads of fun and exciting sites and sounds around England. The year ahead looks to be teaming with loads more fun and fantastic adventures before heading home, the hard part is decided which amazing location to plan the next holiday for!
I will never forget this time spent teaching in London and feel like I have progressed ten fold in my teaching ability. I would recommend it to anyone and know that this experience would not have been the same without the opportunities that have been made available to me through the team at TimePlan and the flexibility and reliability of the Guaranteed Work Scheme.
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