Observation day 1 survived!

I had my first day at school today and it wsa great, but I am sooooooo sleepy!

It's a lovely school, only 1 form entry. It has 97% EAL (I think) and 90% are Bengali. I was in wih Year 2 today and it was a great experience. Lovely children, and it benefits from having less children in the classes in some cases. There are only actually 19 in the class, and it is amazing how quiet they are in relation to other schools I have been in. That 11 children less makes all the difference. And the classroom seems so much more spacious. I think there are instant tangible benefits in smaller class sizes. I observed literacy, Numeracy, story reading and the end of a science lesson.

Also, there's a great acting Head master and it's fairly easy to get to. Pity it doesn't have a school field. I think that's one thing that it is a shame that inner-city schools really would benefit from. I feel so privileged remembering Barley Lane's massive field!

I had to get up at 6am this morning and my oh my was that a shock to the system! HOW do you do it every morning?????? Mind you, I didnt get to bed till midnight, due to printing my proformas. Oh how I long for my old fast laser-jet, double-sided all-singing, all-dancing printer at work. It certainly had its moods swings, flashing angry orange lights when I tried to re-use paper, chewing up documents and generally acting like a spoilt child, but it was soooooo easily! Come back, all is forgiven!

We managed to be good and get hold of the policy file and selectively photocopy (double-sided of course) those policies that were most integral, so it was a positive start to the week. Tomorrow, I am with Year 1 and then Nursery- May the Lord help me! Ahrgh!