Struggling with last-minute teacher cover and escalating agency costs?
Schools and academy trusts across the UK are now using AvailabilityGrid to take control of their supply staffing — reducing disruption, improving value for money, and ensuring better outcomes for students.
The Problem: Lack of Choice and Visibility in Supply Cover
Unplanned absences often leave schools scrambling for last-minute supply teachers. This results in:
- Higher costs for emergency agency cover
- Disruption from unfamiliar supply staff
- Limited control over who comes into your classrooms
- Little visibility into trust-wide supply spend
Many schools rely on agencies to choose staff on their behalf — which can lead to unsuitable placements and further issues in the classroom. Without the ability to select preferred staff, schools lose out on consistency and cost-efficiency.
Why Trusts Struggle to Track Supply Spend
CFOs and Business Managers across MATs often face difficulty in reporting on supply staffing costs:
- Invoices arrive weeks after the event
- Lack of clarity on why cover was needed
- No centralised view across trust schools
This makes it difficult to budget, forecast, or evaluate effectiveness — especially when each school operates in isolation.
The Solution: AvailabilityGrid
AvailabilityGrid is a powerful online platform that gives schools and trusts full control over their supply staffing. Here’s how it works:
✅ Build Your Own Trusted Supply Pool
Create a pool of local, pre-approved supply teachers made up of:
- Preferred supply staff from your existing recruitment agencies
- Retired teachers on payroll
- Known parent volunteers
- Part-time employees
✅ Real-Time Visibility & Reporting
See who is available, skills, qualifications, ratings, reviews across your entire trust. The reporting tools give Business Managers and CFOs complete transparency over supply usage and spend.
✅ Keep the Agencies You Trust
Maintain your trusted agency relationships. AvailabilityGrid complements them by making your preferences visible — reducing admin, avoiding miscommunication, and ensuring schools get the right staff at the right time.
A Hybrid Approach That Works for Everyone
Rather than replacing agencies, AvailabilityGrid strengthens partnerships:
- Schools choose whether to request cover from their agency, multiple agencies, or directly from known staff
- Agencies see exactly who the school prefers, avoiding guesswork
- Recruitment consultants can confirm assignments faster
- Supply staff and schools develop longer-term relationships that improve consistency and quality
Safe, Compliant, OFSTED-Ready
We know that safeguarding and compliance are non-negotiable. That’s why our platform works alongside your accredited education agencies to ensure all supply staff meet the OFSTED standards.
Trusted by Schools, Built for Communities
AvailabilityGrid fosters a community-led supply network, helping schools:
- Reduce classroom disruption
- Manage supply spend
- Improve outcomes for students
- Maintain trusted relationships with agencies and staff
- Support known, trusted professionals in their local area
Book Your Free Demo Today
Ready to see how AvailabilityGrid could help your school or trust take control of supply staffing?
📅 Book a one-to-one demo with our team:
👉 Schedule Now
Or simply leave your details,(click the link) and we’ll be in touch to show how we can support your goals.
Join the growing number of schools and MATs optimising supply cover with transparency, choice, and cost control — powered by AvailabilityGrid.