Large numbers of supply teachers are still going without pay more than 10 weeks after schools closed, according to sources in the sector.

The NASUWT teaching union says the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is being accessed by less than a third of agencies and umbrella companies (which employ nine out of 10 supply teachers).

Meanwhile, two polls by Facebook, which together surveyed almost 1,000 supply teachers, showed that almost a third have “not been paid in any way”.

Read: Supply teachers fight for equality in pay

Coronavirus: Supply teachers unpaid due to ‘cash flow’

Read: ‘Supply teachers face greater insecurity’

Supply teacher Tim Holden, who carried out the poll, said: “Supply teachers have been let down by the whole sector. It is shocking that over 10 weeks since the closure of schools, that poll suggests that a third of all supply teachers have not been furloughed or paid directly by their school in any way.

“It continues to be a total mess. We have managed to get about 65-70 per cent of supply teachers paid in some way. However, lots of problems remain.”

The NASUWT says that, out of the 204 supply agencies and umbrella companies it was aware of that were employing supply teachers, only 29 per cent stated that they had accessed the CJRS and furloughed teachers they employed (including a number who said that they had not furloughed all their supply teachers), leaving the majority without pay.

A union spokesperson said: “The NASUWT has serious concerns about how many supply teachers are still not accessing the government’s Job Retention Scheme because agencies and umbrellas are refusing to furlough them.”

The FCSA, a national body which represents umbrella companies, said 29 per cent was higher than the proportion of agency workers across all sectors in the UK who had been furloughed.

A spokesperson said: “This does not mean that 29 per cent within education is an acceptable figure and for that reason FCSA has been working with the DfE [Department for Education] and all of the education trade unions to ensure more people can access the CJRS.” 

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), a national body that represents supply agencies, said it “did not recognise” the NASUWT data.

REC director of policy Tom Hadley said: “Our surveys of REC members tell us that the vast majority of agencies have furloughed at least some of the temporary staff on their books, including in the education sector.

“The priority for education agencies has been supporting their supply teachers during this time, and many REC Education members have also registered new teachers during this time.

“A lack of clarity in government guidance and a lack of awareness from schools about the Cabinet Office scheme when lockdown kicked in has caused some practical challenges around furloughing temps.

“Despite these issues, we are confident that education agencies have furloughed as many staff as possible, ensuring that they can continue to support schools as the lockdown eases.”

The DfE has been contacted for comment.

Tes’ parent company, Tes Global, owns three teacher-supply agencies