In the last few weeks, I have had to work with at leat 2 supply teachers who, each time, have openly admitted to me that they wouldn't be able to deliver the lesson planned by the class teacher. The first one was a secondary science teacher (NQT) who said she did not know how to explain the grid method in numeracy. She looked completely lost and just stood there. I offered to do the lesson which she gladly accepted. On another occasion (yesterday) the lesson involved the children designing their own loop card game. Again the supply was secondary trained, this time in drama and music. She looked panicky and said she had not idea what the game was about ! As this activity was for the Y5s in the class, I led the lesson whilst she supervised the Y6s who were doing something else.
Although I felt pleased that I could easily step in, I felt irritated that these teachers are paid a lot more than me and are not able to do their job! I intend to discuss the matter with my line manager next week.
Has anybody been in the same situation ?

Have worked with supply teachers from very unprepared to excellent. Your HT can feed back to the agency if someone is unsuitable for a particular reason.

The grid method is enough to confuse anyone, children included. (my own personal opinion)

I feel sorry for some of the supply teachers who get sent out, usually at short notice. Either their agency hasn't passed on the relevant information or the HT/Secretary hasn't given the agency enough information.

I agree with True, give your HT feedback.

It's the supplies that can't control a class that I find hard to work with. It sends out the wrong message to the children and makes it much harder for the class TA as the children don't usually understand the protocols involved between the CT and the TA.

i had a simular situation when i was a TA1 in nursery ,A supply came in with no experience of nursery children at all , she could not do the lesson input , the lesson [without me telling her , she could not control thier behaviour etc . Like you i stepped in and took her role [without the pay ] i may add. I did think the head was at fault bringing in a person with no knowledge of early years . I remember the teacher running out of the door at 3.45 .breathing a sigh of relief .

I agree it is annoying to think you took the lesson and they were paid for it!

Our head likes us to feed back to the CT or himself about supply staff.Our teachers generally don't provide a lesson plan but allow the supply to plan their own.Only regular supply staff are asked to follow plans and they ring and explain to them or they might be in that week and have a discussion.
We have had some interesting lessons and recently a two day mini project which the kids thoroughly enjoyed.Only one this term was a bit of a waste of time.At short notice and able to control the class but the activity was something I thought was thrown out with the bath water years ago.Talk about money for old rope.The teacher wasn't too pleased so I'm not sure whether she will be back next year.

I remember an appalling supply teacher once, who thankfully was only in for one day and then never seen again. She taught a year 6 class the biggest load of b******s in maths, and I just sat there supporting my 1-1, thinking "those poor kids". It was something to do with decimals, I seem to remember, and she was muddling up tenths and tens. Pityful.

The problem is the agencies sending secondary trained teachers to primary schools. They only specialise in two subjects so I'm not surprised they come across lost.

One supply teacher was so bad that when the teacher came back and heard how useless she was, she phoned the agency and asked her not to be sent again!!

Thanks for your replies. I will mention it to the Head as not only they couldn't deliver the lessons, but their behaviour management was poor. I always step in when this happens as the children are obviously taking advantage!