Anonymous survey answerSurvey Nº 090

I have built positive relationships with children and families only for my role as a supply teacher to be removed quickly (and replaced with area cover), so children are then back to square one building a relationship up again mid-term with a new teacher.

Replaced by area cover, the children start again

Published 5 October 2026 · 1 min read

Employment situation: On a supply list, no work
Sector: Primary

The impact on the children is often overlooked. I have built positive relationships with children and families only for my role as a supply teacher to be removed quickly (and replaced with area cover), so children are then back to square one building a relationship up again mid-term with a new teacher. It must have a big and negative impact on their trust, wellbeing and academia.

This is answer 90 of the 269 written answers that teachers let us quote anonymously in the Scottish Teacher Employment Survey 2026. It answers the survey’s last question: what do the people who make decisions about teacher employment need to know?

We have corrected spelling, added paragraph breaks and removed details that could identify anyone. Words in square brackets are ours.

Every answer in the report (PDF) Survey results

You are not the only one

Has this happened to you too?

Tap once to add your voice to the tally. It is anonymous: nothing about you is stored, and it helps the campaign show how common this is.

Be the first to say so.

Or share your own account

Keep reading

Accounts like this one

All teacher voices →

Supply

What I find particularly difficult is knowing how many qualified teachers are actively looking for secure work while permanent opportunities remain so limited.

6–10 years · 2 min read

Daily supply
Family plans
Money worries

1Read the account

Supply

I now feel I am sitting here with a degree I cannot use and the more time goes on the more I feel a permanent job is not going to happen for me.

6 min read

Daily supply
Chasing interviews
Family plans
+4

Read the account

SupplySurvey Nº 210

I am in a very serious amount of debt, relying on food banks, welfare grants and Universal Credit advance payments to survive and keep my young family.

Primary · 1 min read

Daily supply
Family plans
Money worries

Read the account