Our son completed a PGCE in July 1999. He studied for a further year and from last autumn started doing odd weeks and days of supply teaching. He is travelling for a year from May. How will the DfEE know that he has been teaching and started his one year and a term? Would he do better to start his induction year on his return in May 2002 and say nothing about his supply teaching to date?

I think your son needs to start his induction as soon as possible. The longer he leaves it the harder it will be to complete - things change so quickly in education.

His supply teaching will keep him up to date to an extent, but he needs a long-term placement so that he can really develop his skills, particularly planning and assessment. It’s a shame that he in’t working in the same school this term because that could count as one of his three terms of induction, and he’d get the support he needs.

I recommend he gets a full-time job as soon as he gets back in May 2002, or does supply while applying for a position starting in September. He will then complete his induction year. Either way, he can do supply for only four terms - this is to protect him and ensure a good deal for the children he teaches. The fact that he hasn’t worked on supply every day is immaterial: one day counts as having worked as a supply teacher in that term. And he must declare the supply teaching on job application forms.

Email your questions to friday@tes.co.ukSara Bubb regrets she cannot enter into correspondence. More of your questions answered at www.tes.co.uk