September Prep

It's that time of year again. The summer holidays are in full swing, the sun is (probably not) shining and teachers everywhere are raiding Home Bargains and Wilko stores everywhere to set up their classroom for September. New boards are being created on Pinterest as we dream about inspiring classrooms. Nervous NQTs trawl Facebook and Twitter for advice as we aim to get our special 'first classroom' right. As usual, we all promise ourselves that this will be the year we stay organised and don't let the paperwork and filing swamp our desks. Or if you're me, you procrastinate by watching classroom tours on YouTube in between binge watching Riverdale and Stranger Things on Netflix.

I'm so excited for my recently qualified course-mates as I watch their classrooms come together on Facebook, hear funny stories from transition days and read about the trials of their first few days in their new roles. After nine gruelling months, they've overcome challenges and started on their journey to becoming the outstanding EYFS and Primary teachers they will become.Yet on the other hand, I can't help but feel a pang of envy after ill health delayed my final placement; I'll be doing supply or moving into someone else's room after Christmas rather than setting my own up this summer.

Whether we're still training, embarking on another year of teaching or just taking those tentative first steps, we're all excited to prepare for the 30 or so amazing, crazy, occasionally frustrating children we'll be teaching. They'll bring a uniqueness (whether its our first or thirty first year teaching) that will make them 'that class'- and we wouldn't want them any other way. We want to do our best as facilitators and educators so that they can make the most progress and create the best future for themselves. The year will be full of ups and downs, worries about certain pupils, endless data, fear of Ofsted and enough coffee and cake to sink a battleship. For now, let's enjoy the positive experience of setting up our classrooms to be useful, creative learning hubs, sprinkling it with both our personalities and those of our class. Rest. Breathe, and then get ready to dive into another year as September comes rushing around the corner.