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Located in Waterlooville, in the Borough of Havant, just six miles north of Portsmouth, is the contemporary community of Berewood and their primary school.
But while Berewood Primary only opened its doors to young minds in 2014, its educational tradition traces a history back 180 years.
Berewood Primary is part of the University of Chichester Academy Trust. And the University of Chichester has been training teachers and bringing innovation to education since 1839, benefiting 800 schools across the south.
Berewood Primary brings tradition, innovation, talent and university resources into their classrooms, represented by their ethos: Education has the power to transform society.
Their values, the Berewood Bonds, bring together a joint commitment between students, staff, and parents working together towards the common purpose of a good education for all.
And Berewood’s curriculum, including subjects like computing, design, expressive arts, geography, health and wellbeing, history, religion, and science, works in unison to give students a well-rounded understanding of what they call the Four C’s:
As you can see, Berewood is a dynamic, innovative school. And one Humly is proud to support.
Berewood Primary creates a wonderful learning environment for 420 students ages 4-11, with 59 teachers and teaching assistants.
And we had the opportunity to sit down with Berewood Primary Headteacher, Mrs Megan Carter, to share how Humly helps them do that.
“I’d recommend Humly to other headteachers and schools 100 per cent. Humly’s helpful, efficient, and kind. And the quality of who I get through the door is key. The educators are always who I’m looking for.”
Berewood Primary Headteacher Mrs Megan Carter
Humly gives schools and nurseries unparalleled, instant, and direct access to every educator we work with. And Berewood Primary takes full advantage.
“Our supply needs vary from day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month. But Humly have always been supportive around that and supply us with the high-quality staff for the various roles like TAs, 1:1’s, class teachers, we need,” said Carter.
Humly efficiently supplies Berewood Primary with high-quality educators through our dynamic Humly Client Booking Portal. It’s a 24/7, mobile-friendly platform giving schools and nurseries unheard-of convenience and access to address all their booking needs whenever and wherever.
And so far, Berewood’s placed 15% of all their bookings through our portal this year.
“When I’m notified I need a supply teacher at 6:00 am, I can pop a booking on the portal, get in my car and drive to work, and normally, by the time I arrive at school, someone’s applied for it,” said Carter.
And that’s the power of having instant, direct access to all Humly Educators. It’s fast, too.
100% of Berewood’s urgent, same-day bookings have been applied to within 15 minutes by our educators in 2024. And 74% of all their bookings were just as fast.
“Knowing I’ve got a company where I ring or use the online portal and they get back to me so quickly gives us breathing space to make sure everybody’s prepared. And it means the children get the education they deserve.”
Being fast is crucial. But we’ve got another gear at Humly.
In 2023, 92% of all Berewood’s bookings were with preferred educators. We call it continuity: booking the same educator again and again, consistently. It’s a huge benefit because you already know they are great at the job. And they know the school, the children, and the teachers. Maybe that’s why Berewood’s at 96% continuity in 2024.
“It puts your mind at ease. Staff absence can’t be avoided for various reasons. But knowing it’s someone who knows the schools and has relationships with the kids and other teachers is everything. Relationships are the key to a successful school,” said Carter.
And continuity positively impacts the educator just as much as the school.
“Berewood is an exceptional school. As a supply educator, you can work anywhere in any setting. But when I started working at Berewood, I didn’t want to leave. The staff are warm and professional. And the culture is friendly. The leadership team are brilliant, proactive and instil wonderful values for the children,” said Rachel, a Humly teaching assistant.
Offering schools and nurseries instant and direct access to every educator is revolutionary in supply education.
And it means more educators will see your supply needs, dramatically increasing the likelihood they get sorted.
The speed at which Humly can sort your needs, thanks to our app and Humly Client Booking Portal, offers a quantum leap in efficiency. 67% of all our bookings this year get placed within 15 minutes.
That’s a vital benefit for urgent, same-day supply needs.
But those two Humly dynamics, direct access and speed, work together to give schools and nurseries arguably the ultimate benefit: continuity.
The ability to instantly connect and book supply educators you know can do the job and fit in with your team means they’re not supply educators anymore. Not really.
They’re something more.
And so is Humly.
