HEADTEACHERS struggling to cover chronic staff shortages are being tempted with the offer of free kettles and DVD players.

One of the country's biggest teacher supply agencies is running its own supermarket-style loyalty scheme with a range of prizes on offer.

For every £500 spent with Spring Education, which supplies teachers to schools all over the region, schools will be rewarded with one point.

Colin Taylor, marketing director at Spring, said: "We had schools spending rather sizeable amounts of money with us, yet they were in some cases desperate for logistical things such as fax machines and coffee makers. This was really a way of putting something back into the sector."

Agencies charge an average of £90 to 95 per day for a supply teacher outside London.

With some overburdened headteachers being forced to spend thousands of pounds a year on supply cover, the points will add up.

For those quickly-snatched drinks in the staff room, 15 points can get a coffee maker. Staff working through lunch may appreciate a stainless steel toaster with six position variable browning control, available for 35 points.

At the top end of the scale, for 200 points heads can pick up a 21in television with remote control, or for another 80 points an impressive camcorder.

But not all teachers are in favour of the scheme. Keith Cotgrave, president of the National Association of Headteachers in County Durham, said: "People can see there's a growth business in supply teachers out there.

"But I think it's an appalling suggestion and a very sad indictment of the current state of play regarding the teacher supply crisis."