Many supply teachers could be suffering “significant financial hardship” as their furlough pay comes to an end this month, a union has warned.

The NASUWT teaching union says it is the “moral and ethical thing to do” for supply agencies and umbrella companies to carry on paying furlough until the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) scheme ends in October.

However, it says “many” of these employers have complained about the rising costs they are expected to pay under the scheme, including employers’ pension and national insurance contribution from August.

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An NASUWT national spokesperson for supply teachers said: “Disappointingly, many supply agencies and umbrella companies are arguing that the additional contributions they are expected to make to the cost of furlough means they can no longer furlough supply teachers.

“This is an argument the NASUWT is not convinced by, and is a decision which has left many supply teachers suffering significant financial hardship.

“The union contends that it is the moral and ethical thing to do [to continue the scheme], especially when the vast majority of costs can still be claimed for, and some agencies may pay even less depending on the costs associated with furlough for the supply teachers on their books.”

Ever since schools closed in March, many supply teachers have faced a daily fight to get paid while some highlighted the “confusion” who was supposed to be paying them, whether agencies or schools themselves. And a poll on Facebook last month revealed that a third had received no pay whatsoever since March. 

Supply teacher Tim Holden, who runs Facebook groups through which he has provided pay advice to thousands of supply teachers since the school closures, said that, even with the extra costs next month, agencies and umbrella companies would only be paying around £10 a week more for a supply teacher with a pension who is earning £200 a week.

He said: “Now agencies [and umbrella companies] have to contribute towards furlough, it would appear that they are showing exactly how much they value supply teachers. 

“Those that see they have a moral responsibility and see a value in retaining their supply teachers, have agreed to continue furlough until September. While those that don’t see much value in retaining experienced supply teachers, have cast them aside as soon as they see a true cost to the business.

“The immediate future looks very bleak for supply teachers, with many including myself having to look at leaving the profession and may never return.”

A spokesperson for The Recruitment and Employment Confederation, a professional body which represents supply agencies, said: “In a recent poll of REC education members, over 90 per cent said they had furloughed at least some of their supply teachers. However, as with all businesses, many supply agencies will be faced with difficult decisions in the coming months, having not had any income since March. Many have large numbers of teachers on their books, and employers’ contributions to furlough costs in August will quickly add up.”

A spokesperson for the FCSA, the professional body which represents umbrella companies, said members had worked hard to support their freelance population, adding: “But we must understand that they have lost a number of contracts, including in the education sector. Like many employers, our members have seen order books and income streams substantially reduce during the pandemic.” 

A Government spokesperson said: “This government has been doing everything it can to support workers. The swift action we have taken has protected millions of jobs and livelihoods, and our wide-ranging support package is one of the most comprehensive in the world.

“This package of support is available to supply teachers; the specific support available to them will depend on whether they are employed or self-employed and their individual circumstances.”

*Tes’ parent company owns three teacher-supply agencies