Northern Ireland's Department of Education, in partnership with employing authorities, support associations and the teacher unions, is supporting the establishment of an online regional database of qualified teachers who provide substitute (supply) cover for schools throughout Northern Ireland.
 
One of the main benefits in operating a centralised approach is to avoid the duplication of effort among the employers and substitute teachers in all the recruitment, application and selection procedures that have to be undertaken. Importantly, economies of scale are also achieved in reducing the administration costs associated with undertaking checks of references, qualifications and criminal records.

All teachers on NISTR have an initial pre-employment criminal record check carried out and have vetting checks carried out every two years thereafter. The application process to join NISTR also includes a check that teachers are considered ‘eligible to teach’, satisfy relevant health requirements and are registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland.
 
The system will use the Eteach Supply Pool Software to provide a central real-time substitute booking system which operates on a geographical basis to serve the whole of Northern Ireland. This is in line with the recommendations of the Northern Ireland Audit Office report on "The Management of Substitution Cover for Teachers".
(December 2002)
 
The project represents an opportunity for the Department of Education, all employing authorities, the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council and the General Teaching Council to work collaboratively in the interests of the entire education sector.

More information for teachers
More information for schools