How to Support Supply Staff in Your Centre and Set the Day Up for Success

Having a supply educator come into your centre can be a huge support to your team, especially on busy days or when you are short staffed. But for that supply educator, they are walking into a new environment with different routines, children and expectations.

A little support at the beginning of the day can make a big difference in how smoothly the rest of the shift goes.

Here are a few simple things centres can do to help set supply staff up for success.

Give Them a Proper Welcome

When your supply staff arrives, take a moment to greet them and let them know where they will be working that day.

Introduce them to the educators in the room and make sure they know who to go to if they have any questions.

It seems simple, but feeling welcomed right from the start can make someone feel much more comfortable stepping into the room.

Show Them Around

Even if an educator has worked in many childcare centres before, every centre is different.

A quick tour can help them get familiar with where things are, including the staff room, washrooms, playground, emergency exits and where they can keep their belongings.

It does not have to take long. Even a few minutes can help them feel more confident throughout the day.

Go Over the Room Routine

Let them know how the day normally runs.

What time is snack or lunch? When do the children go outside? What happens during rest time? Are there any transitions or routines they should know about?

Supply staff are there to help, but they cannot know your routine unless someone tells them.

Let Them Know What You Need

One of the biggest things that helps supply staff is clear direction.

If you need them to help with getting children ready for outside, supporting lunch, cleaning up an activity or supervising a certain area, let them know.

Sometimes people hesitate to jump in because they are not sure how your centre does things.

Giving clear direction makes it easier for everyone.

Share Important Information

Make sure supply staff are aware of any important information they need to know about the children they are supporting that day.

This could include allergies, medical needs, toileting routines, communication needs or anything else that is important for the educator to know in order to safely support the children.

Of course, this should always be shared appropriately and according to your centre’s policies.

Encourage Them to Ask Questions

Every centre operates differently, so questions are completely normal.

Let your supply staff know that if they are unsure about something, they should ask.

It is much better for someone to ask a question than to guess.

Make Them Feel Like Part of the Team

Supply staff may only be in your centre for the day, but while they are there, they are still part of the team.

Include them in conversations about the room, communicate with them throughout the day and give them the same respect you would give any other educator.

When people feel included, they are usually more comfortable, confident and ready to help.

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

Supply educators are coming into your centre to support you, but they still need some support from your team too.

Taking a few minutes at the beginning of the shift to welcome them, explain the routine and let them know what you need can help the entire day run more smoothly.

At MeLor, we work with childcare centres every day and know how valuable great supply staff can be.

When centres and supply educators work together, it creates a better experience for everyone, especially the children.