SEND school

“We were facing a number of ongoing staffing challenges which prompted us to reach out to Spencer Clarke Group. The primary issues included the high cost of supply staff and our continued reliance on the same supply personnel, which was not a sustainable long-term solution. Despite our best efforts, we were also unable to successfully recruit to several key vacancies, further increasing our dependence on agency cover.

The business need, therefore, was to find a more cost-effective and stable staffing solution that would reduce our reliance on supply, address recruitment difficulties, and ensure continuity and consistency for our students and staff teams.

These challenges had a significant impact on the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the organisation. The ongoing reliance on supply staff led to increased operational costs, placing pressure on the school’s budget and limiting the ability to allocate resources to other priority areas. In addition, the lack of consistency from temporary staffing affected continuity in teaching and learning, which in turn influenced student progress and staff morale.

The difficulties in recruiting to permanent positions also created additional workload for existing team members, impacting productivity and wellbeing. Overall, the situation highlighted the need for a sustainable workforce strategy to ensure financial stability, consistency in provision, and improved long-term planning.

Before reaching out to Spencer Clarke Group, we had explored several options to address our staffing challenges. This included working with a range of different supply agencies in an effort to fill vacancies and maintain classroom stability. However, despite these efforts, we found that this approach did not provide the consistency or continuity we needed.

The frequent changes in supply staff disrupted routines, affected the quality of teaching and learning, and made it difficult to build strong working relationships within the school. These ongoing issues highlighted the need for a more strategic and reliable staffing solution — one that could provide both cost efficiency and long-term stability, which ultimately led us to partner with Spencer Clarke Group.

Spencer Clarke Group provided a highly supportive and tailored approach from the outset. Liam Richmond visited the school beforehand to gain a clear understanding of our context, staffing structure, and specific needs. This proactive engagement allowed them to identify the right type of candidates who would be a strong fit both professionally and culturally.

In addition, Spencer Clarke Group offered a cost-effective rate which helped to ease budget pressures and made the partnership financially sustainable. They also reduced the temp-to-perm timescale, enabling us to secure high-quality staff on a permanent basis much more quickly. This not only improved continuity and stability across the school but also supported longer-term workforce planning and reduced our overall reliance on supply cover.

Partnering with Spencer Clarke Group has had a highly positive impact on the school. Their tailored approach and understanding of our specific needs have resulted in greater stability across our staffing structure. The candidates provided have been well-matched to the school’s culture and requirements, leading to improved consistency in classrooms and better continuity for pupils and staff alike.

From a financial perspective, Spencer Clarke Group’s cost-effective rates have significantly reduced our overall spend on supply staff. The shorter temp-to-perm conversion period has also allowed us to secure strong permanent members of staff more quickly, further reducing reliance on agency cover and associated costs. Overall, Spencer Clarke Group’s support has provided a sustainable solution that has strengthened workforce stability, improved value for money, and contributed positively to the school’s long-term planning and success.

Liam Richmond has been excellent from the start, he has supported our needs and done his utmost to suit our requirements. He has found a replacement if for any reason someone has not quite worked out as well as expected. Liam has also offered other services to school, and is currently working with our Careers Lead to offer mock interviews.

Spencer Clarke Group stands out from other agencies through their personalised and strategic approach. Unlike traditional supply agencies that simply provide staff on a short-term basis, Spencer Clarke Group takes the time to understand the school’s unique context, culture, and specific staffing needs.

This ensures that candidates are not only qualified but also a strong fit for the school environment, which improves continuity and consistency. Additionally, Spencer Clarke Group offers cost-effective solutions and a reduced temp-to-perm timescale, allowing schools to secure permanent staff more quickly and efficiently. Their proactive engagement, hands-on support, and focus on long-term workforce stability differentiate them from agencies that focus primarily on short-term placements.”

School Business Manager