The bag
The subbing bag will be the most important item. The bag will contain a number of important items.
1. CV - A CV is always useful if it is the first time in a new school. They might have heard of you from another school or through using a subbing database such as text-a-sub, sub search or sub lists available from local education centres.
2. Teaching council no./PPS no. - Without both of these numbers it is not possible to get paid. Make sure that these are given to the school secretary if you wish to get paid by the department.
3. Garda Vetting/Statutory Declaration - Both of these documents show that you are suitable to work with children. In both cases they need to be from the current or previous calendar year.
4. Pencil Case - Pencil case might seem a little obvious but you would be surprised how easy it is to forget. A pencil case should contain black pen (for marking the rolla), red pen (for correcting work), spare pencils (chunky grip for infants, normal grip for junior classes, normal pencils for other classes - there is always someone who cannot find their pencil), eraser, pencil parer, ruler, whiteboard markers, USB (useful powerpoints/videos/etc that can be used for all classes)
5. Notebook/Diary - A diary can be used to record the days that you are subbing and can be useful when it comes to remembering which schools you have been in and most importantly keeping track of who has paid you. In a notebook you can make notes about schools/classes that might be useful for future subbing in that school.
6. Computer/Tablet - I have always brought my netbook with me on TP and will continue to do so as a sub. It is useful to have something that can be used with a interactive whiteboard or projectors. Sometimes teachers bring their own laptops home to work on them not expecting to be out sick so it is useful to bring your own with you. I am hoping to upgrade to a tablet soon.
Will give further details on the sub box and sub folder next time.