BOLTON will stage the first North West National Union of Teachers conference to highlight and address the issues facing supply teachers.

It comes after trade unions’ suggestions that supply teachers’ pay has been driven down while agencies charge schools more than the teachers receive themselves.

NUT Deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney will be attending the conference on October 11, which follows the staging of a similar event in London in June.

Julia Simpkins, secretary of the Bolton branch of the NUT, said she expected the conference to be a success.

She said: “This conference is open to all supply teachers who are members of the NUT who can share their concerns they have.

“Supply teachers are not well paid despite still having to prepare lesson plans and work at home.

“They do not get the sick pay or paid time off.

“If an allegation is made against them, they are suspended on no pay, even if they have done nothing and they cannot look for another job while they are being investigated.”

The NUT said that supply teachers “were effectively the first category of teachers to be privatised”.

Ms Simpkins said the practice has driven down terms and conditions.

She added: “A supply teacher’s terms means if they apply and get a job at the school within two years of being a supply teacher, a finder’s fee has to be paid, which is a lot of money.”

Ms Simpkins said that teachers would often work as supply to get back into work after sickness or to fit around family commitments.

The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn in Bolton, starting at 10am and going on until 1pm.

A buffet lunch will be provided and those interested in attending are asked to email secretary@nut.org.uk