Monday
As always time flies when you are having fun doesn’t it and today is the second Monday back for teaching staff. Our new Year R children have their first unaccompanied visit and start full time on Wednesday. No doubt it will be like getting wasps into a jar to start off with but they will soon get into the routine of school life and it will all become second nature. If this is your first child starting big school you too will need to get used the new routines and it is emotional to begin with. I still cry when my daughter leaves after visiting and she is 28! Children are very happy at Tavistock and our motto of ‘Achieving Happily Together’ sums up life in school. Obviously some days are not quite as happy as others but we all look after each other and we can achieve anything!
You may have seen in the news that there are new reforms in OFSTED which in my humble opinion are most welcome. I completely agree that schools should be held accountable but the old system of having the dread 3 days per week of ‘will they ring or won’t they’ was horrendous. As much as I tried to put it out of my head, the knot was always there in my stomach. This new system of getting a call on Monday only will certainly help my nerves and of course the nerves of staff. Even though I have undertaken OFSTED as a teacher numerous times and as a head twice with all outcomes being positive, the anxiety hasn’t gone away. I will of course always dig deep and do my utmost to make sure that school is a safe and happy place for everyone. There will always be things as a school we can improve on or haven’t thought of using a different system but we will always listen and reflect on suggestions made.
Right, emails to answer, school communications to read and my to doeth list to consult. Please never feel that you can’t talk to me about anything at all. I will be outside every morning I am in school at one of the two gates. I try to share myself equally so if I’m not at one end I will be at the other, just hunt me down! If I am not in school Mrs Jamfrey my lovely Deputy will be there and she will be able to help you too. We might not always know the answers straight away but will always know someone who can.
It’s not raining at the moment so I hope you have a dry journey to school. To be on the safe side you might want to bring a dingy with you and/or wear a swimming costume under your clothes because it always pays to be prepared. 😊