View from the bridge …..

Attend all the meetings (be mindful of Ofsted meeting!) Ask questions Be honest Attend all the meetings (be mindful of Ofsted meeting!) Don’t check emails before going to bed Keep in contact with the colleagues you are meeting today Make sure you find something you enjoy to relax Keep the balance – you can’t keep everyone happy and you can’t do everything on your to do list! There is nothing that is a foolish question – there is so much to learn! If you don’t know about the Health and safety regulations and risk assessments – just say so and ask for help! Every induction meeting was valuable – it is tricky to get out of school, I know, and your to do list is huge and just when you need to be in school you are on training but it really helps! Every single meeting was valuable and informed me of something I needed to know – it is only ½ a day, prioritise it and be there – I know you’ll be grateful you did, mind you Ofsted meeting was Thursday – I got the call Monday (handouts were sent as Ofsted were in the building! I shouldn’t have said to my lovely colleague, this is the first time that I feel it is okay if they some, I’d rather have longer but it would be okay! Anyone sending you an email after 9 and 10pm at night is probably not going to say thank you or be sending you a well done I’m really happy email! You can’t do anything about it at that time, you will just lose sleep so don’t do it! Colleagues you are meeting today will prove to be brilliant – they are going through the same thing and will be an ear to listen and share your good and bad days. Find something to relax, I have teenagers (GCSEs are fun!!) but my husband started making me cycle – I also read – it really helps. Accept you are only human, we try our best!

For every difficult day there are dozens of amazing days, for every tricky parent there are dozens who are so grateful and appreciate all you do! I tell teachers when I think I’ve got it right is the day it may be time to stop! We never stop trying to improve as teachers, it is the same as Headteachers. I love my job, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Everyday something happens that makes me smile – you are expected to know all sorts of knowledge you really didn’t train for – you also get to make a positive impact on a community, on children’s lives. I wonder if we really remember how important valuable the job we do is …. Can you go back and remember the books you started to read on, can you remember how you learnt multiplication or Pythagoras? Even if you’re not sure or can’t remember I’m sure you can remember your favourite teacher and every single headteacher in your school life. In this job you will be remembered, there is no other job more important than building the next society, the citizens of the future.